Common Symptoms of Gluten Intolerance

Over the last several years, gluten has received a lot of attention. Numerous gluten-free products are available in the market today, and more and more people are embracing a gluten-free lifestyle. Whether you have gluten sensitivity or suffer from Celiac disease, gluten can cause several symptoms, including gluten belly. Here, we explore gluten and the most common symptoms of gluten intolerance.

What is Gluten?

Gluten is a protein in wheat, barley, malt, and rye. Products like pasta, bread, tortillas, crackers, cereal, croutons, baked goods, some sauces, meat substitutes, beer, and salad dressings may contain gluten. To avoid gluten altogether, you need to read all food labels. 

Why Has Gluten Sensitivity Increased?

Many people think that gluten sensitivities are just a marketing fad; however, gluten intolerance, gluten sensitivity, and celiac disease are real problems that affect real people. So why have gluten sensitivities increased? In the 1950s, researchers began experimenting with wheat DNA to create wheat that required less maintenance and could be grown in a smaller space.

The wheat created today is half as tall and more productive than what was grown 70 years ago. Unfortunately, the hybridization and modification done to wheat have caused other results. For example, wheat is lower in fiber and higher in substances like agglutinin, amylopectin, and gliadin, all found in gluten. These changes have had a drastic impact on the health of men and women around the world. Today, you will find gluten as an ingredient in several processed foods, lotions, makeup, medications, etc. 

Gluten Belly

What is gluten belly, and how does it impact your life? Gluten belly results in excessive, painful bloating that occurs when an individual who has a gluten sensitivity, gluten intolerance, or a gluten allergy eats foods that contain gluten.

What does gluten belly look like? Gluten causes inflammation throughout the entire gastrointestinal tract. This GI inflammation causes the belly to become distended from the upper abdominal region down to the bottom abdominal region. The distended belly feels hard to the touch. The abdominal region becomes rounded because bloating and excess gas can build up in the gastrointestinal tract.

The gluten belly is the visceral fat found around the abdominal region. This type of fat is dangerous as it can encase your vital organs and lead to several severe health conditions like heart disease and diabetes. Visceral fat from a gluten belly impacts your brain health, hormones, immune system, etc. It is essential to get rid of the excessive weight in your midsection.

Does Gluten Make You Bloated?

Many people wonder if gluten makes you bloated. Bloat from gluten does occur in individuals with gluten intolerance, gluten sensitivity, or a gluten allergy. Those who have celiac disease and non-celiac disease sensitivity should avoid gluten to help relieve bloating.

Bloating occurs when the gastrointestinal tract fills with gas or air. When you are bloated, you may feel like your stomach is overfull and tight. Bloating can be uncomfortable and cause your stomach to appear more prominent, and your clothing may fit tighter. You may burp frequently, your stomach may gurgle, and you may experience abdominal discomfort or pain.

Most Common Symptoms of Gluten Intolerance

For those with gluten intolerance, gluten intake can cause several adverse symptoms. The symptoms of gluten intolerance and celiac attack symptoms can be almost unbearable. The most common symptoms experienced with gluten intolerance include-

• Abdominal Pain—Abdominal pain is another common symptom caused by gluten intake. This pain results from the build-up of gas, inflammation in the intestines, or digestive upset.
• Anemia – Iron-deficient anemia is often one of the first symptoms of gluten intolerance or celiac disease. When the small intestines become impaired, the body can have difficulty absorbing iron from your foods. 
• Brain Fog – Brain fog is the inability to think clearly. People often describe brain fog as cloudy memory, forgetfulness, difficulty thinking, and mental fatigue. If you have gluten sensitivity, consuming gluten foods containing gluten can result in antibodies that may cause brain fog.
• Bloating – Bloating is one of the key symptoms of gluten belly. It occurs when gas builds up in the digestive tract, and one feels their belly is swollen and overfull.
• Digestive Disturbances – Consuming gluten may cause digestive disturbances, also known as gluten belly. Gluten can cause inflammation of the small intestines, which can cause alternating diarrhea and constipation. Because of the inflammation and damage to the digestive tract, many people experience extremely smelly feces after eating gluten. 
• Fatigue – Fatigue is another common symptom of gluten sensitivity. When the digestive tract becomes inflamed and damaged from gluten, it can cause poor nutrient absorption, leading to nutritional deficiencies. Unrelenting fatigue can occur when your body does not get the nutrients it needs. One of the best ways to counteract nutritional deficiency fatigue is to take a multivitamin supplement and eat a healthy diet. 
• Headaches – Headaches and migraines occur for individuals who are gluten intolerant. If you experience regular headaches with no apparent cause, you may have a gluten intolerance.
• Joint and Muscle Pain – When you have gluten sensitivity, it can cause systemic inflammation. This inflammation can spread to the surrounding muscle and joint tissues, causing pain. You may notice increased joint stiffness or pain after eating gluten-free foods.
• Mental Illness – Individuals with digestive problems like a gluten belly are prone to depression and anxiety. Gluten intolerance can cause serotonin levels to decrease, which raises the risk of depression. The microbiota in the digestive tract can become altered, which can change the neurotransmitters in the body.
• Neuropathy – Celiac attack symptoms include numbness or tingling in the arms or legs. Chronic inflammation throughout the body and the presence of specific antibodies can increase the risk of experiencing neuropathy symptoms.
• Skin Conditions – Gluten can affect your skin. One manifestation of celiac disease is dermatitis herpetiformis, a blistering skin condition. In addition, gluten consumption can lead to psoriasis characterized by red, scaly skin, alopecia areata characterized by hair loss, and chronic urticaria characterized by red or pink itchy lesions with pale centers.

Do You Have a Gluten Sensitivity or Celiac Disease

There are a few ways to determine if you have a gluten sensitivity. One such method is the elimination diet. With this method, you remove all traces of gluten from your diet and then slowly introduce them into the diet once again. If you experience symptoms during the reintroduction stage, you may have a gluten intolerance and need further testing.

The other method used to verify gluten sensitivity is a blood test. This blood test checks for antibodies in the blood. If you have gluten sensitivity, your doctor will make recommendations to help ensure that you are protecting your body from damage. A customized gluten-free diet and meal plan may help improve your health.

Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease that affects the immune system. When you ingest gluten-containing products, the immune system begins attacking the intestinal tract, leading to debilitating symptoms, including diarrhea, bloating, fatigue, anemia, edema, excessive bruising, and vitamin K deficiency. In such situations, gluten intake can cause long-term health consequences, including osteoporosis or damage to the intestinal walls.

Food Allergies

Food allergies occur when the body thinks food is a foreign invader, causing the immune system to flare up and fight off the “invader.” This flare-up can cause a variety of symptoms, such as swelling, itching, hives, and even life-threatening symptoms, including difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, low blood pressure, difficulty swallowing, and anaphylactic shock. The most common food allergens include peanuts, milk, wheat, eggs, fish, shellfish, and soy.

Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity

Non-celiac gluten sensitivity, often referred to as gluten sensitivity, is neither an autoimmune response nor an allergic reaction. This disorder usually mimics the symptoms of celiac disease; however, the gastrointestinal tract is not affected, and there are no immediate severe reactions to contend with. Most often, patients with this type of sensitivity will experience gastrointestinal disturbances, such as diarrhea, upset stomach, bloating, gas, and abdominal pain.

Ready To Seek Help

If you have the symptoms of a gluten belly, i.e., bloating, abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, constipation, excess gas, and systemic inflammation, help is here. Functional medicine clinicians understand that all systems must work together to maintain optimal health. Consuming gluten can cause adverse health effects throughout the body. Removing gluten from your diet and following an anti-inflammatory diet filled with whole foods can help heal your gut and relieve your symptoms.