5 Signs of Gluten Intolerance

Are you tired or anxious more than usual? Do you have constant migraines? You could be gluten intolerant. Read more on the signs of gluten intolerance.

A few years ago, those who were gluten free were seen to be trendy, hip, simply following a new diet fad. But time has shown that nothing could be further from the truth. Gluten intolerance is on the rise and more and more children and adults are going gluten free.

For the purpose of simple explanation, gluten can be defined as a protein found mostly in wheat, barley and rye. Many find this protein difficult to digest, and thus experience symptoms or "side effects" after eating it.

The issue of gluten is being widely debated in our country right now and the symptoms can be different for each person. But the removal of gluten from your diet can be a fix to larger problems such as stomach pains, cramping, brain fog, attention deficient issues and much more.

With that in mind, here are five reasons eating gluten free might be right for you:

Persistent Stomach Issues

Bloating, stomach pains, diarrhea and cramping can all be signs of gluten intolerance. As always, you do want to have these symptoms checked by a doctor. Many times, people have tried everything they can think of before they try going gluten free. This change in diet may be the simplist choice of them all.

Fatigue

If you feel continually tired, worn out or exhausted from a "normal" day, you might be gluten intolerant. Fatigue can also be shown with dizziness, inability to concentrate and vertigo.

Anxiety and Depression

A constant feeling of anxiety or overall sadness can actually stem from gluten sensitivity or, more likely, Celiac Disease. It's important to get this checked out by a doctor as well.

Rashes and Roughness of Skin

Gluten intolerance can — and commonly does — impact the feel of your skin. Many report "snake-like" skin, constant rashes or psoriasis and eczema. These issues can be present regularly or flair up from time to time.

Migraines

Persistent headaches are often symptoms of larger problems. These headaches combined with one or more of the symptoms above could easily be linked to gluten intolerance or Celiac Disease. A consistent elimination diet removing gluten entirely could help you figure out if gluten is the culprit behind painful migraines.

At this time, there is no cure for Celiac Disease, but, it has become much easier to avoid gluten entirely and reverse many of these symptoms. Visit with your doctor if you're experiencing any of the above symptoms as it could also be a sign of other health issues as well.

Also, a test for Celiac Disease will not reveal gluten intolerance, if you are experiencing these symptoms an elimination diet will let you know if gluten is the issue. Keep in mind, this does require avoiding gluten entirely and doing so for up to 8 weeks before change becomes evident. Repairing the body can be a slow process, but well worth it.