How do you find out of you have wheat/gluten sensitivity?

Question

I know I don't have an allergy to them, but I do feel bad a lot, I"m trying to go through the foods I eat daily. (on doctor's advice) and I've heard of sensitivities. What are the signs of wheat/gluten sensitivity?

Answer 1

First, get all of that out of your system. Don't eat any wheat/gluten items for at least a week or maybe two. Then eat something wth wheat or gluten in it. Write down how you feel. Start keeping the record on day 1, when you first make the decision to do this. Write down what you eat at each meal, and write down how you feel several times a day. Keep track faithfully.

After you add either a wheat or gluten food, then don't eat either again for another week or more. Then add the other one to your diet. Again, record everything you eat and how you feel.

After a while, you should see if what you ate affects how you feel.

This is the way one doctor (Dr. Feingold) used to find out what food allergies children had. He treated children who were though to have behavior problems, and most often it turned out to be reactions to food additives!

I knew several families who had children who behaved terribly both at home and in school, and once they got on the Feingold Program, you'd have thought Supernanny had taken over! The children became very well-behaved and all the families were happy!

Anyway, I figure using his method will help you discover what your allergies are, if any.


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Answer 2

Do you suspect a wheat/gluten intolerance or do you suspect Celiac Disease? For more information on Celiac Disease visit www.celiac.com. What exactly are your symptoms? Some of the symptoms related to Celiac and gluten intolerance are: nausea, constipation or diarrhea, headaches, malnutrition, malabsorption, chronic fatigue, stomach cramps or pains, excessive gas and/or burping, depression and other mental disorders, brain fog, anemia, etc... The list goes on and on. If you suspect Celiac Disease it is diagnosed through a simple series of blood tests and often an endoscopic biopsy. Diagnosis really isn't a big deal. If you test negative for Celiac, you may want to consider being tested for gluten intolerance by Enterolab (www.enterolab.com). They're a private lab headed by a very well respected doctor in the Celiac community. They can diagnose Celiac/gluten intolerance through a stool sample. It's about $375 for the full panel, this includes testing for several other food sensitivities. Generally insurance will not cover this testing, but it's worth it. It's considered to be far more accurate and sensitive than traditional Celiac testing.

Your other option is to do an elimination diet. Eliminate everything from your diet that could be a possible sensitivity including especially the top 8 allergens. Stay on this diet for three weeks. Then, begin to add one food back in each week. OR you could do the opposite and just remove wheat/gluten from your diet and see if your health improves. Don't forget about simple things like cosmetics, soap, old toaster contaminated with crumbs, shampoo, lip gloss, old wooden utensils, etc. Gluten hides EVERYWHERE.

Rest assured that if gluten really is your problem, there is lots of support out there and you can still lead a relatively normal life with no gluten. I don't even notice my Celiac Disease anymore after 3 years. I do all of my own baking and have come up with some fabulous recipes. Definitely visit www.celiac.com and www.glutenfreeforum.com for more information. They're extremely helpful on the forum and can answer any additional questions you might have.

Answer 3

I first discovered i had a sensitivity when talking to a dietician. I was just a coincidence i found out. I'm not allergic but intolerant. The difference is that gluten doesn't make me sick but it really makes me sleepy as hell! Also i can feel my stomach burning inside if i eat too much of it! There are many degrees of allergies and luckaly mine is only just an intolerance so i try avoiding as much as possible foods with it. But there is in so many foods you wouldn't suspect. For example, there is wheat flower in Smarties so my allergic friend can't eat any! So make sure you read ingredients from now on, you'll be suprised to see how many foods have wheat in them.. sadly depressing too!
Good luck!

Answer 4

Hi Lena, Have you been tested for diabetes? You have the shoulder/chest pain and mention the gallbladder. Have they checked yours? I had an attack, they did ultrasound and there were no stones...but I knew it was not working. They had to do a HIDA scan, which tests the output of the gallbladder after they inject the hormone that is supposed to make it expel the bile. Mine only put out 10% of what it should have; after they took it out, the surgeon said the lab said chronic infection and inflammation. Celiac disease actually seems to have an association with the hormone that causes gallbladders to contract, maybe yours isn't doing it either. The gallbladder not working causes lots of gas, burping and sharp pains. Lack of bile affects digestion too. Spelt and rye DO contain gluten, spelt is a form of wheat, rye contains secalin, which is also a gluten protein. Have all your GF breads contained tapioca? I don't tolerate it. I have to make my own blend. I would get checked for diabetes and the gall bladder.

Answer 5

Consider an allergies clinic, or put your self on a diet of fruit & vegetables, beans, peas, rice and fish: no dairy products, but a calcium tablet & a multivitamin/mineral a day, for several weeks, drinking only water or sometimes pure fruit juice, and see how you feel. Then you could try introducing wheat/gluten and see if there is any change. Then dairy. Then peanuts.

Answer 6

Bloating, your stomach being upset after eating certain breads, diarrhea or constipation. Some people with Celiac Disease actually have acute allergic reactions that can be life threatening. Some people actually break out in hives and have their throats close.

Answer 7

the best way(that i know of) is to eliminate all forms of wheat from your diet for two weeks and see if symptoms disappear.if they do,try adding wheat back into you diet and see if symptoms come back after a couple days.if they don't it could be something else.some sensitivities can be hives,low energy,a.d.d.,sinus problems.

Answer 8

If you're worried see your doctor. There is a simple blood test that's very effective at diagnosing it.

Edit:
I'm referring to coeliac disease.