There are many health problems that people face today, and it can be difficult to get to the root of the issue. In some cases, however, the issue is not necessarily a bacteria or virus, it is the food that we are eating. When we build up an intolerance for certain types of foods or if we have an intolerance because of our genetics, it can cause real problems.
One of the more common types of food intolerance that people are dealing with today is gluten. This issue has become a hot topic in recent years and it seems as if everybody is giving up bread because they are “gluten intolerant.” Whether you do or not is a personal decision, but there are times when it is a good idea to put aside gluten because it is causing real problems with your health.
Most people realize that gluten is found in wheat, oats, rye and barley but did you know that it is actually a type of protein? Dough has a rather unique ability to rise and when we eat bread, it has a chewy consistency. Those factors are directly due to gluten and without it, bread just wouldn’t be the same. The problem is, if you are intolerant to gluten or if you have celiac disease, it could affect your health in serious ways. In some cases, it may even keep your body from absorbing nutrients from the food that you’re eating.
There are certain signs that let you know if you have a gluten intolerance. The following 6 signs can help to point you in the direction and let you know if you have an issue to be concerned with.
1. Chronic fatigue – When you have a gluten intolerance, it could lead to inflammation throughout the body. This uses up your energy and leaves you feeling drained. It may be a temporary problem if you don’t eat it frequently but if you eat it often, it could lead to chronic fatigue. There is even some thought that gluten could be behind some cases of fibromyalgia.
2. Dizziness – This is another common symptom of gluten intolerance. You may be off balance, disoriented and lightheaded. This type of dizziness or a mental fog may occur after you eat foods with gluten. Keep a food diary that contains information about how you feel as well.
3. Headaches – it is not uncommon to have headaches but if they happen frequently, it may be an issue with gluten intolerance. It could also lead to migraines that include visual disturbances. When gluten is removed from the diet, these headaches will often go away.
4. Chicken skin – Many people with gluten intolerance have this problem. It results in tiny bumps that are red or white on the skin, often or the back of the arms. The medical condition is known as keratosis pilaris that it occurs when extra keratin clumps in the hair follicles. This may also be an issue with fatty acid or vitamin a deficiencies, which could be attributed to malabsorption from gluten intolerance.
5. Itchy skin – the bumps discussed above are not typically itchy but if you have a gluten intolerance, it could lead to issues such as eczema and psoriasis.
6. Stomach pain – Issues with bloating, constipation, diarrhea or gas are also not uncommon but if they become chronic, it could be a sign of gluten intolerance. Foods that contain gluten can cause inflammation in the small intestines and could lead to a number of digestive issues.
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