What is gluten sensitivity?

A gluten sensitivity is actually an autoimmune disease that creates inflammation throughout the body, with wide-ranging effects across all organ systems including your brain, heart, joints, digestive tract, and more. It can be the single cause behind many different “diseases.” To correct these diseases, you need to treat the cause -- which is often gluten sensitivity -- not just the symptoms.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that ALL cases of depression or autoimmune disease or any of these other problems are caused by gluten in everyone -- but it is important to look for it if you have any chronic illnesses.

Some people seem sensitive to gluten. But "gluten sensitivity" is a medical gray area. There are no tests for it, and although problems -- migraines, skin breakouts, irritability, even autism -- have been blamed on it, doctors haven't found a clear link. If you suspect you're sensitive, before you put your toaster and pasta machine on eBay, try this: Go gluten-free for a few weeks to see if symptoms improve; then, add a bit of gluten back into your diet. If problems return, you may be on to something.

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Some individuals have gluten sensitivity, which means that while they don’t have the full-fledged, autoimmune response seen in celiac disease, they may still suffer from some of the gastrointestinal discomfort as well as other symptoms.

Individuals with gluten sensitivity may be able to safely tolerate small amounts of gluten. Consequently, reading ingredients labels when shopping is mandatory to know which food products may contain gluten.

All individuals, whether with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, should work with a registered dietitian to develop a healthy, well-balanced diet that meets their unique medical and nutritional needs. When a variety of grains are eliminated from the diet, an individual could fall short of their daily vitamin B and fiber needs. 

 

You can find a local registered dietitian at: www.eatright.org