6 Signs That You Should Cut Gluten Out of Your Diet

Gluten free diets have held a stigma in today’s society as being a sort of ‘fad diet’, and while some have adopted this sort of diet just because they have become popular in the media, gluten sensitivity is a serious medical issue that causes a variety of symptoms.

Gluten sensitivity is most commonly associated with the autoimmune disorder celiac disease. As a brief overview of this very complex disease, patients with celiac disease suffer from an immune response in the small intestine after ingesting gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. With over 300 possible symptoms, celiac disease is difficult to diagnose and many people suffering from this disease are undiagnosed, leaving them at significant risk for future health complications. Celiac disease has been known to cause infertility, neurological conditions, and even intestinal cancers when left untreated.

Roughly 3 million Americans have been diagnosed with celiac disease, but far more have experienced problems with gluten digestion. Though not much research has been done on the condition, many individuals who have symptoms similar to celiac disease, who have had negative test results for both celiac and wheat allergies, will be diagnosed with non-celiac gluten sensitivity. This form of gluten sensitivity is still largely unexplained, but it is still recommended to follow a gluten free diet in order to ease symptoms.

As previously mentioned, with over 300 possible symptoms of gluten sensitivity, it can be difficult to tell if gluten is really at the root of the problem. Here are 6 of the most common indicators of gluten sensitivity:

#1: Itchy Skin Rashes

Itchy, irritated rashes on the skin, often appearing as bumps or blisters, have long been associated with celiac disease. This rash is known as Dermatitis Herpetiformis (DH for short), though it is commonly referred to as gluten rash, or celiac rash. Common places for blisters to appear include the elbows and knees, and they typically appear in roughly symmetric patterns on both sides of the body. About 15-25% of patients diagnosed with celiac disease reported DH symptoms.

#2: Bloating and Gas

We all experience symptoms of gas from time to time, but those experiencing symptoms of gluten sensitivity have more frequent and severe symptoms. Most individuals with celiac disease experience an unpleasant feeling of fullness after eating, despite not eating large amounts of food. This can also appear as strong, painful cramps. Constipation is also frequently reported in individuals with both celiac disease and non-celiac gluten intolerance.

#3: Joint Pains

For those with chronic, yet unexplained, pain in their joints, it may be time to cut gluten out of your diet. Gluten intolerance in general is caused by increased inflammation due to eating gluten (though the root cause of gluten causing inflammation is unclear), and though inflammation is most commonly and severely located within the digestive system, inflammation due to gluten often affects the entire body. Many patients have reported a decrease in joint pain after they began following a gluten free diet, and even arthritis patients with no other symptoms of celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity noticed a significant decrease in inflammation when they cut out gluten.

#4: Tingling or Numbness

We all know the feeling of a limb, commonly feet/legs, feeling ‘asleep’. This feeling often occurs in individuals with celiac disease, and presents itself in a variety of ways; burning sensations, tingling sensations, numbness, and reduced feelings (or loss of feeling) in the face or body, particularly the extremities. Referred to as peripheral neuropathy, some physicians believe that this is the most common non-digestive symptom of gluten sensitivity.

#5: Irritability and Headaches

As previously mentioned, inflammation stemming from gluten sensitivity often affects the entire body. The head is no different, and often inflammation causes headaches in individuals suffering from celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Among the most common pain complaints of celiac patients, headaches and migraines cause severe pain in the head and neck and often interfere with an individual's everyday life. Irritability is also common, and individuals can become more irritable as their pain levels increase.

#6: Fatigue

Tiredness is both a physical and mental symptom, and though it has many causes, gluten sensitivity could play a large role in wearing somebody out. Autoimmune disease such as celiac disease often cause fatigue because of the amount of physical stress that they put on the body. In specific, celiac disease causes feelings of tiredness not only because it wears the body out but also because it prevents the absorption of nutrients vital to physical health, decreasing overall health and energy levels.

If you currently eat a gluten-filled diet and experience one or more of these symptoms, you may be suffering from gluten sensitivity. However, do not immediately begin following a gluten free diet in order to relieve your pain. It is imperative to always consult a doctor in order to receive individualized advice on diet.