The most frequently heard complaint from people with gluten intolerance is that they suffer from digestive problems. Perhaps that is what led you to this resource you are reading now. Studies indicate that as much as fifteen percent of the United States population has trouble digesting gluten. You may very well be part of that statistic.
There are many symptoms which you might experience that could be related to a problem digesting gluten. People who have gluten intolerance are technically allergic to the gluten protein that’s found in wheat, barley, and rye. You may feel badly after eating these things.
#9. DIARRHEA OR CONSTIPATION
The most obvious symptoms are problems with diarrhea or constipation. While these two symptoms are at the opposite end of the spectrum, they’re both possible if you have gluten intolerance. People with celiac disease may also experience diarrhea and constipation. They may also have poop that smells particularly unpleasant, as the condition causes poor nutrient absorption.
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#8. BLOATING
Another very common symptom that people report in cases of gluten intolerance is bloating. This refers to the feeling of a full stomach that is uncomfortable and lasting. It is common also to feel a buildup of gas.
Over-eating is the most common reason for bloating, but it can happen for a number of different reasons. In people with gluten intolerance, the feeling of bloating may occur very regularly and is not necessarily related to the amount of food they eat.
#7. WEIGHT GAIN OR WEIGHT LOSS
If you have long-term problems with gluten intolerance you may begin to either gain or lose weight without changing your diet very much. Weight loss is particularly common in people who have problems with frequent diarrhea. Unexplained weight loss is a common side effect of undiagnosed celiac disease. In one study in celiac disease patients, two-thirds had lost weight in the six months leading up to their diagnosis.
The weight loss may be explained by a variety of digestive symptoms, coupled with poor nutrient absorption.
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#6. LOW LEVELS OF NUTRIENTS
When you go to the doctor, your blood tests may reveal that you have a problem. Many people with gluten intolerance have low levels of nutrients in their blood. For example, you may have a low amount of iron. This malnutrition is due to your body not being able to absorb nutrients.
#5. SKIN PROBLEMS
Beyond your digestive system you may also have other symptoms. People with gluten intolerance often report having skin problems such as dry skin or eczema. Many wonder why they seem to bruise for no reason. They also sometimes experience joint pain. These aren’t symptoms you would necessarily expect to be related to a food allergy, but they are.
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#4. MENSTRUAL CYCLE PROBLEMS
Women who have gluten intolerance also tend to have more problems with their menstrual cycle. It may be irregular with no other explanation. Because of this they may even have problems with fertility and women who have gluten intolerance are also at greater risk for miscarriage.
#3. HEADACHES
Headaches are another common symptom of gluten intolerance. You may also find that you’re more irritable and moody than normal because of this food allergy. Depending on your body, you may experience only one or two of these symptoms while some people experience a multitude of them.
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#2. BEHAVIORAL DISORDERS
There are behavioral conditions that are provoked by a gluten allergy such as, depression, irritability and constant fatigue. In fact, if you’ve recently been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, consider getting tested for celiac disease. Often these two disorders of misdiagnosed as the other.
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#1. AUTISM
One other condition that seems to have a connection to gluten sensitivity or allergies is autism. The theory behind this is since the adult human body has a hard time processing the wheat grains, children have greater difficulty. This has been linked to a condition referred to as “brain fog”, which provokes symptoms of autism such as poor focus, irritability, and hyperactivity in children with autism. Removing gluten-based foods from the autistic child’s diet reduces these negative symptoms and improves the child’s ability to cope.
A recent study1 by researchers at Penn State documented survey data gathered from parents of autistic children regarding the effectiveness of a gluten-free, casein-free diet on children diagnosed with autism. The survey results suggested that parents who completely eliminated both gluten and casein from their child’s diet reported the most benefit.
The good news is that you and our healthcare provider can eliminate these other problems once you conclude the symptoms are caused by gluten intolerance. You can begin to change your diet and experience a great deal of improvement in all of these symptoms.
If you have symptoms of gluten intolerance it’s important to speak with a healthcare provider to rule out other health problems with similar symptoms. If you have an autistic child, don’t postpone getting a specialist involved. And once you’ve narrowed the source of problems down to gluten intolerance, you have the power to improve your lifestyle and health rapidly.
