Gluten Intolerance: The Sneaky Signs Your Body Is Saying No

Have you been feeling run down lately, but can’t quite put your finger on why? You’re eating well and exercising, sleeping enough and managing your stress, but still feel bloated, achy, and just off. The culprit could be hiding in plain sight in your diet – in the form of gluten. Gluten intolerance is on the rise, and the effects can range from uncomfortable to downright debilitating. The tricky thing is that the signs aren’t always obvious and can take time to appear after eating gluten-containing foods like bread, pasta, and cereal. If any of the following sneaky symptoms sound familiar, your body may be trying to tell you that it’s time to cut back on gluten.

The Most Common Signs and Symptoms of Gluten Intolerance

The most common signs your body is sensitive to gluten include:

• Digestive issues: Gluten intolerance often causes diarrhea, gas, bloating, and stomach pain. Because gluten damages the lining of the small intestine, it prevents proper absorption of nutrients.
• Fatigue and tiredness: Do you constantly feel drained of energy and sluggish? Gluten sensitivity can lead to anemia or other deficiencies that sap your vitality.
• Migraine headaches: Gluten triggers inflammation in the body that can manifest as severe headaches. Many people find that eliminating gluten helps reduce migraine frequency and intensity.
• Skin rashes: Unexplained skin rashes, especially those on the elbows, knees, buttocks or face, may indicate a gluten allergy. Celiac disease, an autoimmune reaction to gluten, is also associated with a blistering skin rash called dermatitis herpetiformis.
• Joint pain: Gluten sensitivity often causes inflammation of joints and muscles, leading to unexplained pain, aching, and stiffness. If you frequently experience pain in your bones, joints, or muscles with no obvious cause, it could be due to a gluten intolerance.

The best way to determine if you have a gluten sensitivity is to eliminate all gluten-containing foods from your diet for at least 2 to 4 weeks. See if your symptoms improve. Then, reintroduce gluten and monitor your reaction. If symptoms return, you’ll have your answer and know that following a gluten-free diet is right for you.

The Less Obvious Signals Your Body May Be Reacting to Gluten

Have you been feeling off lately but can’t quite pinpoint why? It could be a gluten sensitivity. The symptoms aren’t always obvious, but your body may be trying to tell you something.

Fatigue and Brain Fog

Do you feel tired all the time or have trouble concentrating? Gluten sensitivity can zap your energy and mental focus. Gluten triggers an autoimmune response in sensitive people that can lead to fatigue, “brain fog,” and difficulty thinking clearly.

Migraine Headaches

If you frequently get bad headaches, especially migraines, gluten could be a trigger. Gluten sensitivity has been linked to an increased risk of migraines and other painful headaches.

Joint Pain

Gluten sensitivity may manifest as muscle aches, joint pain, or arthritis-like symptoms. Gluten can cause inflammation in the body that leads to pain and stiffness in the joints, muscles, and tendons.

Anxiety or Depression

Gluten sensitivity is associated with a higher risk of anxiety, irritability, and depression. Gluten triggers the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines that can disrupt neurotransmitter activity in the brain, influencing your mood and mental state.

The signs are there; you just have to listen. If any of these symptoms sound familiar, try eliminating gluten from your diet for a few weeks to see if you feel better. Your body and mind will thank you.

How to Get Tested for Gluten Intolerance and Celiac Disease

Getting tested for gluten intolerance or celiac disease is important for your health and well-being. Here are the main ways doctors can determine if you have a problem with gluten.

Blood test

A blood test can check for elevated levels of certain antibodies like tTG-IgA that indicate an autoimmune reaction to gluten. If the test comes back positive, your doctor may order an intestinal biopsy to confirm the diagnosis of celiac disease. Blood tests are very accurate but not always definitive, so further testing may be needed.

Intestinal biopsy

A small tissue sample is taken from your small intestine to check for damage to the villi, the tiny protrusions that help absorb nutrients. If the villi are flattened or inflamed, it confirms celiac disease. An endoscopy, using a tiny camera on a flexible tube to view the intestine, is often done at the same time as the biopsy.

HLA-DQ2 or HLA-DQ8 genetic testing

About 95% of celiac patients have one of these genes. If you test positive for them, it means you have a higher chance of developing gluten intolerance or celiac disease. However, some people with these genes never experience symptoms or issues with gluten. The genes indicate susceptibility, not diagnosis.

Gluten challenge

If you’ve been on a gluten-free diet for a long time before testing, your doctor may ask you to add gluten back to your diet for a few weeks to see if symptoms flare up again. This helps ensure test results are accurate and not due to lack of gluten exposure. The gluten challenge can be difficult, but it’s the only way to definitively diagnose celiac disease in some cases.

Getting an accurate diagnosis is crucial to managing gluten intolerance or celiac disease properly through a gluten-free diet and any needed medication or follow-up care. Talk to your doctor about which combination of tests is right for your situation.

Conclusion

So there you have it. Gluten intolerance is no joke, and the signs your body shows can be subtle but powerful. Don’t ignore what your body is trying to tell you. The best way forward is to eliminate gluten from your diet for a few weeks and see how you feel. You may be surprised at the changes you notice once you’ve cut out this troublesome protein. Your energy levels may increase, your digestion may improve, and nagging symptoms like brain fog, irritability, and joint pain may start to fade. Give your body a chance to heal and embrace a gluten-free lifestyle. You deserve to feel your best every day, so take action now based on the signs your body has been displaying all along. The power to improve your health is in your hands. You’ve got this! Go forth and be gluten free.