7 Signs of a Gluten Intolerance
Last Updated: 10th November 2022 · Written by Donna Mastriani
Around 13% of people are unable to tolerate gluten in their diets. At its most extreme, this is known as coeliac disease – an autoimmune condition where the body attacks itself when it detects gluten. But for the majority of sufferers, the symptoms of gluten intolerance can be harder to pin down.
You may have started experiencing digestive problems after eating products such as bread, pasta, or thickened sauces. However, there are various other signs of gluten intolerance which many sufferers never think to associate with their diets.
In this blog post, we’ve made a list of 7 symptoms which could indicate a gluten intolerance.
1. Digestive issues
Digestive issues are some of the most common signs of a gluten intolerance. These can include abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhoea, and constipation. This is because gluten can cause your small intestine to become inflamed, making it harder for you to absorb the nutrients you need.
2. Headaches
Growing research is suggesting that people who are gluten intolerance could be more prone to headaches and migraines. The American Headache Society found that 72% of coeliac sufferers reported ‘severe’ headaches, compared to 50% of control subjects.
3. Fatigue
Because gluten intolerance can prevent you from absorbing nutrients, many sufferers feel tired. This could be due to a lack of iron, otherwise known as anaemia.
4. Skin problems
It’s not just your intestine which can become inflamed due to gluten intolerance. The condition can also cause inflammatory skin problems such as psoriasis and dermatitis herpetiformis.
5. Depression
Doctors now believe that our gut microbiomes are closely linked to our brains. Digestive problems caused by gluten intolerance can increase your risk of depression, perhaps because the body produces chemicals known as ‘gluten exorphins’ when gluten proteins are digested.
6. Muscle pain
People with a gluten intolerance can be more susceptible to inflammation, which can cause pain in their muscles and joints. Some research has even suggested there could be a link between gluten intolerance and arthritis.
7. Brain fog
If you’ve become increasingly forgetful, mentally drained, or confused, there’s a chance that gluten intolerance could be to blame. We don’t know why this happens yet, but some scientists believe gluten could contain antibodies which have an adverse effect on our neurology.
Order your intolerance test today
Gluten can affect our bodies in many different ways. If you’ve noticed any of the symptoms above, it’s important to take an intolerance test so you can rule out other conditions such as wheat intolerance or IBS. Order your intolerance kit from Lifelab Testing today.
