Gluten intolerance is on the rise, and doctors still aren’t completely sure why. One theory concludes that the overconsumption of processed foods can damage the stomach’s ability to properly break gluten down. Whatever the reason, it’s always important to listen to the signs your body gives you. Keep in mind that if you experience these symptoms, an article is never a replacement for a doctor’s diagnosis! Here are six possible warning signs of gluten intolerance.
Bloating/stomach aches
If you have a gluten sensitivity or intolerance, you will experience inflammation in the gut after eating products containing it. If you need to unbutton your pants after eating a bagel or pastry, you should test to see if cutting out gluten will make a difference.
Habitual diarrhea or constipation
Occasional diarrhea or constipation is normal, but if the majority of your bowel movements are either of these extremes, it’s time to get checked out. When someone has a gluten intolerance, the consumption of gluten can literally damage the gut lining, and therefore lead to poor absorption of nutrients.
Fatigue
Frequent tiredness is often a sign of an allergy or intolerance.
Unexplained weight loss
If you’re like me, your first instinct may be to get excited and not question your good fortune. But it may not be good fortune at all. Weight loss can be linked to multiple digestive issues, including gluten intolerance.
Itchy skin
When your intestines have trouble processing gluten, this may reveal itself through your skin through skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis or keratosis pilari – a result of a fatty acid deficiency and vitamin A deficiency caused by gluten damaging the gut.
Depression
Everything in our body is connected. When gut bacteria is damaged by eating gluten, the central nervous system can be negatively affected too – your gut isn’t happy, so your brain wouldn’t be either. The New England Journal of Medicine listed 55 diseases caused or exacerbated by eating gluten, which included depression and anxiety.
Sources:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/signs-you-are-gluten-intolerant#section7
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/312898.php
https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-7482/10-signs-youre-gluten-intolerant.html
https://www.littlethings.com/signs-of-gluten-intolerance-v6/
