7 Signs You Should Avoid Gluten

Rose S. | February 27, 2017 | Alternative Health, Clean & Healthy Eating

Should you avoid gluten? It depends on whether you are gluten-sensitive. Here’s how to tell.

You’ve probably heard lots of people talk about going “gluten-free,” so it definitely sounds trendy, but many people don’t even know what gluten is. If you’re not quite sure, you can find a lot of great info in this video, so we won’t go into it in depth today, but basically gluten is a protein found in wheat and other similar grains, and it is what gives bread much of its elasticity and texture.

The problem is that many people are sensitive to gluten (at least in its raw, non-fermented form), and it can cause a number of health problems.

So how do you know if you’re sensitive to gluten? Well, while some people have no problem digesting this protein, studies suggest that 1% of Americans have celiac disease (the more extreme autoimmune form of gluten intolerance), and that about 6% have a milder sensitivity to gluten often called NCGS (non-celiac gluten sensitivity).

Here are 7 common warning signs of a gluten sensitivity:

Brain fog

Chronic, deep fatigue

Gas, bloating

Abdominal pain

Headache

Joint pain

Numbness

If you frequently experience any of these symptoms hours, or even days, after eating gluten you may have a gluten sensitivity.

Since the symptoms of celiac disease and NCGS can be very similar, if you do suspect you have either be sure to talk to your doctor. It’s important to determine if you have celiac so you begin treatment to prevent any further damage to your small intestine.