Stressed About Gluten Allergy? What Is It?

ShradhaTiwari
13 Min Read

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gluten

Gluten is a substance that is one of the varieties of protein1. Its maximum quantity is found more in grains like wheat, barley, rye. Therefore, everything made up of them also have an identical amount of gluten. As Rava, Pasta, Bread, Maida, Sevaiya, Oatmeal are all made up of wheat, so they also contain gluten.

This gluten content of protein helps in maintaining the food items in one shape. It’s completely sodium-free. Gluten is created of two different proteins, and 80% of wheat seeds contain both these proteins.

gluten in wheat seeds

What Is Gluten Allergy?

Gluten allergy 2is an ambiguous word that is sometimes replaced with a wheat allergy. Wheat allergy is different. There is no specified allergy due to gluten, but there is certainly a disorder termed as a Celiac disease.3

Also, there is a disorder named ‘Gluten intolerance,’ which is not an allergy either. These disorders are taken as gluten allergies. In a reasonable amount, gluten does not damage the body. But in excess, there is discomfort in the body such as flatulence or different belly diseases, heart disease, cancer, gas, diarrhea, asthma, vomiting, migraine problems4.

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Those who have celiac sickness or are allergic to wheat are advised not to devour wheat. Because the celiac affected person is completely intolerant to gluten. That is why it is right if the symptoms are sensed earlier, and selections are taken towards the improvement route.

Read this to know more about Wheat Allergy, Celiac Disease, or Gluten Intolerance. Who knows if you discover one of these in yourself?

Wheat Allergy

gluten

Stop consuming wheat! Can you imagine that? On hearing the name of wheat allergies, a feeling of shock commonly comes in everyone, since the consumption of wheat is frequently prohibited due to such allergies. Wheat or bread is a necessary part of our diet, and a healthy person cannot go even one day without eating it.

Meaning

Wheat allergic reaction refers to an autoimmune digestive disorder5, in which the affected person is unable to digest the protein called gluten, existing in wheat, rye, barley, malt, and semolina. Instead, it damages the small intestine rather than being absorbed into it. According to a study, one in every 100 people suffers from wheat allergy.

When a person’s meal is dangerous to the physique according to the immunity of the body, he/she is allergic to that food.

Symptoms

According to doctors, the fundamental signs of this disorder are-

  • Diarrhea
  • Flatulence
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Flatulence occurs due to wheat allergy!
  • Stunted growth of the child
  • Anemia
  • Rickets
  • Osteoporosis
  • Short height
  • Vulnerable body

If this disorder continues for a long time, there is a hazard of intestinal cancer and lymphoma (resistance system cancer). Apart from this, the disorder symptoms include frequent sneezing, skin rash, mouth and throat irritation, arthritis, chest pain, cough, vomiting, dizziness, fatigue, itching, breathing problems, and swollen eyes.

Causes

Wheat includes many types of ingredients. Some of these ingredients may also cause allergies. The reason for this is, mostly, the proteins found in wheat. Our immune system may mistake them to be harmful bacteria.

If a member of the family is allergic to wheat, it can occur to you, too. It is a genetic issue that goes from one generation to another. Some human beings are allergic to inhalation of wheat flour while some get allergic via ingesting the wheat flour. Allergy signs may show up without delay and even after a few hours.

gluten
Image Source: Wikipedia

Apart from wheat, bread, and oatmeal, many matters that are made from wheat can cause hypersensitive reactions such as biscuits, cakes, pasta, noodles, pizzas, burgers, ice cream cones, barley beer, etc. Many processed foods contain wheat that can cause allergic reaction. Therefore, they must also be taken care of.

Precautions

There is no remedy for this disease; however, it can be averted via warding off a food diet that consists of all the sources of gluten in food.

If you are allergic to wheat, get a remedy as quickly as possible. Do not ignore it else the problem would possibly increase. If you have been given an allergy medicine, then keep it with you always. It could be required anytime.

Cure

As no reliable treatment has been discovered, look at the following remedies to help you out-

  • Avoid eating wheat and wheat products in your diet. You can add rice, corn, soybeans, gram, chickpea, buckwheat, arrowroot, pearl millet, amaranth, flax seeds, chia seeds, oats, beans, millets to your diet. Along with it, multigrain roti has proved to be a delicious choice.
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Buckwheat!
  • To eat things like bread, noodles, pasta, macaroni, cakes, cookies, it should be checked on its packet label if the ingredients contain wheat, barley, or semolina. Check if it is labeled gluten-free. Eat pulses like gram, kidney beans, soybean, and cowpea. Eat gluten-free grains.
  • Eating green leafy and fibrous vegetables 6regularly is beneficial. Include about two bowls of vegetables and salad in your meal during the day. It is better to eat bitter gourd, fenugreek, amarnath, spinach, eggplant, beans, peas, and many more things.
  • Do consume two seasonal fruits during the day. Fiber-rich fruits help your digestive system to run smoothly.
  • Regularly take dry fruits like flaxseed, fig, walnuts, almonds, raisins.
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Almond and Raisins
  • Drink at least half a liter of milk a day. Eat more of curd and cheese. You can also take soybean, almond or coconut milk, probiotic yogurt.
  • If you are a non-vegetarian, then you can eat white meat like chicken or fish.
  • To take hold of signs and symptoms, you may have antihistamines and corticosteroids, only after seeking advice.
  • If the allergic reaction turns to be severe, the dose of epinephrine should be taken. If still, the problem persists, one should seek medical help.

Celiac Disease

Meaning

This sickness occurs in any one of 150 people. When the body is not capable of absorbing a protein known as gluten, the possibilities of getting this sickness turns into high. Celiac is a disease of the small intestine. It originates from whole grains.

Symptoms

People with celiac disease experience weight loss or gain, anemia, diarrhea, joint or bone pain, dizziness, skin stains, and blisters, irregular menstruation, vision problems, mouth ulcers, vomiting, or bloating, or even stomach pain.

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It is essential to maintain the idea that such symptoms can be caused due to different diseases as well, so it should be concluded solely after medical advice is taken.

Causes

gluten
Image Source: Mamaslegacycookbooks

Many times, the food derived from gluten adversely influences the digestive system, which will increase the possibilities of getting an ailment like celiac. This ailment can take place in humans of any age group. Sometimes this sickness can also be transferred to young people by household members.

Some humans are not normal about gluten since childhood. In those who have celiac disease, the gluten protein is not fully digested, and it damages the mucosa layer of the small intestine. This causes small holes in it. Because of this, food is not digested, and many other problems also arise.

It is usually innate. Some of the triggers of this disease come from Addison’s disease7, Down syndrome, Rheumatoid arthritis, viral infection, emotional trauma, pregnancy, or surgery.

Cure & Treatment

It is diagnosed by a blood test based on the patient’s symptoms. Such patients are advised to take a lifelong gluten-free diet when the disease is confirmed. Try consuming naturally gluten-free food. It is not possible to treat it by medicine or any other way.

gluten
Image Source: Pediaa.com

Symptoms of celiac are controlled by such a diet so that the disease does not take serious form. Doctors might prescribe gluten-free supplements if needed.

Gluten Intolerance

Meaning

Gluten Intolerance is a problem that has symptoms similar to celiac but is different from it. It is neither genetic nor is it a serious disease. The intolerance originates from food habits. It is also termed as Gluten Sensitivity.

Symptoms

Some significant symptoms are as follows-

  • Abdominal bloating
  • Diarrhea or constipation
  • Gastrointestinal problems
  • Abdominal pain
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Fatigue
  • Migraine
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  • Premenstrual syndrome, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and infertility in females
  • Keratosis Pilaris or Follicular Keratosis (a condition where light red spots appear on skin)
  • Dizziness
  • Autoimmune disorders
  • Stress

Causes

Gluten intolerance is an autoimmune enteropathy where the body sees gluten as a threat and produces antibodies to fight against it. This causes inflammation in the internal surface of the small intestine. Despite sensitivity to gluten, due to frequent gluten-eating, malabsorption takes place through the inflamed small intestine and leads to a lack of other micronutrients.

gluten
Image Source: Wikimedia

It occurs when the gluten protein found in wheat causes an opposite reaction in cells inside the stomach. According to Padma Shri Dr. KK Aggarwal, President of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and Dr. RN Tandon, Honorary General Secretary of IMA, gluten can destroy the villi cells of the small intestine, thereby inhibiting the absorption of nutrients from food. Nowadays, we eat new strains of wheat, and modern hexaploid wheat has more antigenic gluten, which becomes the rationale for gluten-related problems.

Treatment

Identification of the symptoms is necessary. Gluten intolerance is also required to be tested at the beginning, so that, it can be prevented, and cannot be turned into cancer or any other severe disease.

Two genes present in the body, DQ2 or DQ8 of HLA molecules, can help identify the risk of gluten intolerance. DNA test analysis can assist in understanding the symptoms, causes, and changes in food habits. Doctors can prescribe supplements or steroids as per the signs.

The only step is to enjoy a gluten-free food diet. One should avoid gluten at any cost. Many gluten-free foods are delicious as well as nutritious. Some of them are-

  • Beans, seeds, and kernels
  • Fresh eggs
  • Quinoa
  • Buckwheat
  • Brown rice flour
  • Oats or gluten-free bread
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  • Fresh Meat, Fish and Chicken
  • Fruits and vegetables
  • Milk products

It is no problematic theory to identify any problem related to gluten. Yes, the symptoms might match with other health concerns, but it is no man’s loss to get yourself examined from a doctor!

  1. Hoffman, Jay R., and Michael J. Falvo. “Protein–which is best?.” Journal of sports science & medicine 3.3 (2004): 118. ↩︎
  2. Cabanillas, Beatriz. “Gluten-related disorders: Celiac disease, wheat allergy, and nonceliac gluten sensitivity.” Critical reviews in food science and nutrition 60.15 (2020): 2606-2621. ↩︎
  3. Fasano, Alessio, and Carlo Catassi. “Celiac disease.” New England Journal of Medicine 367.25 (2012): 2419-2426. ↩︎
  4. Lipton, Richard B., Stephen D. Silberstein, and Walter F. Stewart. “An update on the epidemiology of migraine.” Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain 34.6 (1994): 319-328. ↩︎
  5. Cassinotti, Andrea, et al. “HLA and autoimmune digestive disease: a clinically oriented review for gastroenterologists.” Official journal of the American College of Gastroenterology| ACG 104.1 (2009): 195-217. ↩︎
  6. Zia-ur-Rehman, Z., Mehwish Islam, and W. H. Shah. “Effect of microwave and conventional cooking on insoluble dietary fibre components of vegetables.” Food Chemistry 80.2 (2003): 237-240. ↩︎
  7. Barthel, Andreas, et al. “An update on Addison’s disease.” Experimental and Clinical Endocrinology & Diabetes 127.02/03 (2019): 165-175. ↩︎

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