4 facts about wheat intolerance – An intolerance or sensitivity to wheat occurs when your body struggles to digest wheat and produces an inflammatory response to wheat proteins in your diet. It is commonly confused with gluten intolerance or a wheat allergy as they all share the same symptoms. They may be closely related but they are not the same. This particular intolerance is still largely misunderstood amongst sufferers and medical professionals. Read on to find out a number of interesting facts about wheat intolerance.
It does not involve an immune response
Gluten proteins are found in wheat. Those with gluten intolerance also suffer from wheat intolerance but those with wheat intolerance are not necessarily intolerant to gluten. This can be confusing for sufferers. Unlike a wheat allergy, a wheat intolerance does not trigger an immune response. The underlying cause of wheat intolerance is still unknown but many health professionals believe it occurs due to a lack of enzymes required to break down wheat as it enters the body.
It is difficult to diagnose
Because it shares so many of its symptoms with other similar conditions, it can be extremely difficult to detect and diagnose. This can lead to sufferers going months or even years without a proper diagnosis or treatment plan. Bread and pasta are naturally difficult to digest. They absorb water in the body and swell in size. This can cause pain and discomfort. It can be easy to mistake these side effects as symptoms of wheat intolerance. The only official diagnosis for wheat intolerance is a food challenge. This involves monitoring your food intake over a number of days under strict supervision in an attempt to uncover the culprit.
It can trigger a wide range of symptoms
The symptoms of wheat intolerance are similar to that of a wheat allergy, but they don’t tend to be as severe. This is one of the many reasons why it is so difficult to diagnose and treat. Side effects may include bloating, gas, headaches, abdominal pain, and joint pain. You may experience these symptoms immediately or up to a few hours after consuming wheat or wheat-based products.
It is extremely common
While wheat allergies only affect less than 1% of the population, wheat intolerances are much more common. With so many people reporting suffering pain and discomfort after eating wheat, symptoms tend to differ from person to person and can come and go after time. You may be mistaking another common food intolerance for wheat intolerance. It is important to find a good doctor that can conduct a series of health and diet-related tests to find out whether or not you suffer from wheat intolerance.
Wheat intolerances and wheat allergies are commonly mixed up by sufferers and medical professionals alike. By knowing how to differentiate the two, you can take the appropriate action and improve your relationship with food. There are a number of tests you can perform to find out which one is wreaking havoc on your digestive system.
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