First symptoms of gluten intolerance
Your body can have many reactions to gluten that it can’t tolerate. The symptoms are unpleasant, ranging from abdominal pain to brain fog to irritable bowel syndrome.
The Cleveland Clinic lists other negative effects, too:
- Anxiety.
- Bloating or gas.
- Trouble concentrating.
- Depression.
- Diarrhea or constipation.
- Fatigue.
- Headache.
- Joint pain.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Skin rash.
It takes planning and work to eliminate gluten from your diet. Gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, rye and other grains, is a component of pasta, beer, cereal and many other foods and drinks.
Medical advice
See a physician if you think gluten is causing problems, especially if you experience vomiting or diarrhea. Stay hydrated; water will flush the gluten from your system and keep your electrolytes balanced.
The Cleveland Clinic says an estimated 6 percent of the population are gluten intolerant; women are more likely than men to encounter problems with gluten. Some people are born gluten-intolerant. For others this condition comes later in life.
Your medical team may recommend a variety of diets to help identify the specific causes of your gluten-intolerance. Another possibility: Probiotic medicine.
One challenge, as the Cleveland Clinic notes: “The exact causes of gluten intolerance aren’t well understood.”
Still, most people adapt by searching until they find a gluten-free diet that works for them. They do best when they follow a low-fat, high-fiber diet, avoid spicy foods and get regular lab checks to monitor for high cholesterol, anemia or other symptoms.
LVRX Pharmacy is at 83-87 Woodhaven Blvd., Woodhaven. Call us at 718-480-6484