Gluten Intolerance: 8 Warning Signs You Really Need To Look Out For
People with a gluten intolerance are growing at an incredible rate, however there are so many of us living with the discomforts on a daily occurrence and are not even aware.
In order to understand what you should avoid you need to understand what gluten truly is. It is the proteins found in cereal grain’s endosperm, a type of tissue produced in seeds that are then ground to make flour. Also you don't need to panic if you are potentially gluten intolerant, as the market is now absolutely packed with some tasty alternatives.
You could even say that gluten sensibility is becoming a new epidemic as we become more and more aware and health concerned. Even though we are growing incredible more informed as a society, studies show that still only 6 in 10 people with a gluten intolerance are actually aware and have been diagnosed.
Therefore there are still so many of us suffering and going to all sorts of lengths to treat the mental and physical symptoms of gluten intolerance without ever knowing.
Gluten intolerance is widely associated with celiac disease but also a side affect of other diseases such as a thyroid problem. Anyway whatever your reasons and symptoms it couldn't be more important to know what they are and truly understand them so you can do something about it. Therefore let's take a look at 8 commonly-ignored signs and symptoms of gluten intolerance.
1. Keratosis Pilaris
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Keratosis pilaris, otherwise known as chicken skin, is a skin condition that appears as raised, hard bumps on the skin and most commonly found on the back of your upper arm. Technically it doesn't cause any discomfort, but can be visually displeasing and is a sign of gluten intolerance and therefore shouldn't be ignored. This outward manifestation is a sign of the inflammation happening inside.
2. Digestive Problems
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Digestive problems could be everything from bloating, gaz, abdominal pain or cramping, or even diarrhea. Also obviously be extremely alert if you have foul-smelling stools and nausea after eating foods with gluten as this would outline a clear correlation.
3. Loss of energy and concentration
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If you often wake up after even a good nights sleep, but still feel tired and sluggish it could be due to a gluten intolerance as it interferes with your natural sleep pattern. You may even become tired and drowsy after a meal with gluten in it, because your body is using all your energy and strength to remove the harmful substances. This can be so bad for some people that it can even lead to chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia.
4. Headaches and migraines
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You may experience headaches, migraines, brain fog or even all 3. Which can make even the easiest and simplest of tasks a nightmare which can then even lead to irritability and depression.
5. Joint Pains
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Joint pain, inflammation and swelling are common signs of gluten intolerance, even to the point where people with arthritis who don’t realize also have a gluten intolerance and therefore face harsher arthritis symptoms as a result of continuing on a gluten-laden diet.
6. Mood issues and depression
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Eating gluten can lead to mood swings and even lead to serious issues like depression, anxiety and even anger management issues. A large cause may be the lack of sleep but it's definitely not the only reason. People describe it as being fine one day and being extremely depressed the next. Gluten can even cause a leaky gut and disrupt your ability to absorb certain vital nutrients like B vitamins, iron, vitamin D, omega 3 fatty acids and zinc, which are essential for mood and brain health.
7. Hormone issues
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When eating gluten when you have an intolerance you put your body in an inflamed state. Which can make it more difficult for them to contribute to reproduction, whether male or female. Thankfully though as soon as you stop eating gluten your reproduction system will be back to normal. Research has also shown a relationship between this intolerance and polycystic ovarian syndrome and premenstrual syndrome. It is thought that these issues could get worse when gluten is consumed.
8. Neurological symptoms
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This can really inhibit your ability to function and make you feel off balance, and have a reduction in coordination and episodes of dizziness. These generally happen within about an hour after eating a gluten meal.
If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms why not try cutting gluten from your diet or reach out for medical advice and assistance, you never know it could change your life.