Many people experience abdominal pain, gas, bloating, and diarrhea after consuming grain-based products such as pasta, bread, and crackers. Many people aren't sure what particular product is causing their pain, but chances are gluten is irritating your gut.

Gluten allergies are hard to diagnose for many people. Many people with gluten allergies may be able to tolerate a small amount of the food that is causing the gluten allergy. They may see that they do not have a reaction this time and think they can safely consume gluten. Unfortunately, ingestion can still result in damage to the small intestine.

The protein found in rye, wheat, and barely is gluten. Gluten can be found in cereal, breads, pasta, and many other grain-based foods. Most people will not harm their bodies by eating gluten, but if you have a gluten allergy, it can lead to celiac disease.

What is Celiac Disease?

Celiac disease or celiac sprue is an auto-immune disease of the intestines, caused by gluten. When a person with celiac disease eats foods with gluten, their immune system responds by damaging the villi. The villi are small, fingerlike projections in your small intestine whose primary job is to absorb nutrients from food. Damaged villi can lead to anemia, hypocalcaemia, osteoporosis, behavioral problems, depression, stunted growth and other vitamin deficiencies. Celiac disease can run in families. Celiac disease can also lead to type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis.

Currently 3 million Americans have celiac disease. This is about 1 in 133 people. There can be more people with celiac disease that are unaware they have the condition. It can be hard to test for since it leads to so many other diseases.

Symptoms of Gluten Allergies

Common symptoms of gluten allergies include digestive issues such as:

• heartburn,
• indigestion
• irritable bowel syndrome.
• unexplained weight loss
• constipation
• flatulence
• rectal bleeding
• diarrhea
• acid reflux
• excessive fatigue
• itchy dermatitis

If your child has gluten allergies you may notice weight loss and an extended abdomen. This causes your child to have stunted growth and can continue into adolescence. Your child may also be irritable and vomit easily.

Here is a checklist of common gluten allergies:

• Fatigue
• Upper respiratory tract problems
• Mouth ulcers
• Anemia
• Iron-deficiency anemia
• Osteoporosis
• Weight loss
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Stunted growth in children
• Abdominal bloating
• Depression
• Behavioral problems
• Irritability
• Skin problems
• Rectal bleeding
• Flatulence
• Acid reflux
• Heartburn
• Irritable bowel syndrome

Testing for Gluten Allergies

Gluten allergies are hard to diagnose because of the presence of so many other symptoms like diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, and indigestion. Many doctors test you using a procedure called an endoscope. Endoscopies visualize the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract through a plastic tube that has a fiber-optic cable. The cable circuit's images back to the operator and makes it possible for the doctor to see if there is damage in the intestines. The test may be done twice, once with a normal diet and the second with a gluten-free diet.

Gluten allergy tests are also performed by drawing some of the patient's blood when they are on a normal diet and on a gluten-free diet. Blood tests can be unreliable and many doctors prefer to use endoscope instead.

Questions to ask your Doctor

If you suspect you have a gluten allergy, here are some questions you should ask your doctor:

1. What tests will you use to determine if I have gluten allergy?
2. What risks do I face as a result of having gluten allergy?
3. What treatment options are available to me?
4. Do I need to follow a gluten-free diet for the rest of my life?
5. What types of food should I avoid?
6. What will happen to me if I do not adhere to a gluten-free diet?
7. If I accidentally eat something that has gluten, will I need to go to the hospital?
8. What terms should I look for on food labels?
9. Do I need to take a multivitamin or other supplement?
10. Does the fact that I suffer from gluten allergy increase the odds that my children will have it?

Your doctor will provide answers to any other questions you may have about your gluten allergy. It is best to see a doctor who specializes in gastrointestinal disorders as they will have extensive knowledge about gluten allergies and can test you for other problems caused by your gluten allergy. Discuss with your doctor what types of foods are best not only to prevent your gluten allergy, but to help prevent intestinal cancer. Since you are at greater risk for intestinal cancer, it is important to have cancer screenings often.

Treating Gluten Allergies

Unfortunately, gluten allergies cannot be cured. Once you are diagnosed with gluten allergies, you will have them for the rest of your life. The only treatment method available is to remove gluten from your diet.

If you have been diagnosed with celiac disease, you must avoid gluten at all costs. Avoiding gluten is the only way you can heal existing villi damage and prevent further destruction to your small intestine.

Gluten is found in many foods including:

• salad dressing
• yogurt drinks
• frozen yogurt
• cold cuts
• egg substitutes
• beer

Here is a list of what foods you cannot eat:

• Wheat in any form
• Rye
• Barley
• Oat bran
• Bran
• Wheat germ
• Farina
• Graham, or durum flour

Now that you know what foods to avoid, you will find it easier to create a gluten-free diet. Begin by purchasing some cookbooks that contain gluten free recipes. Many people seek the advice of a registered dietician who can design a personalized diet that fits your needs and lifestyle. If you seek the advice of a dietician you should hire one that is an expert in gastrointestinal disorders.

If you have a child with a gluten allergy, be sure to talk to them about what foods they can and cannot eat. By incorporating a gluten-free diet into your entire household, your child can avoid a potential slip-up.

Foods like soybean flour, rice, corn, tapioca flour, potatoes, and buckwheat can be used in place of common grain-based products. There are special cereals, breads, and crackers made with corn, rice, potato, soy, flax, and tapioca that can substitute in the place of other cereals. Oats may be tolerated in small amounts, but they are not recommended for anyone with gluten allergies.

If you have developed celiac disease, dairy foods may not be tolerated. Lactose intolerance develops along with the celiac disease because the lactose sugar can cause a milk allergy.

Here are some recommendations for a gluten-free diet:

• Fresh vegetables
• Plain salads, no dressing
• Broiled or roasted meats
• Corn
• Rice
• Potatoes
• Fruit
• Beans

It can be challenging to eat a gluten-free diet, so do your best to read the men carefully before selecting your meal. Avoid eating meatloaf, gravies, creamed foods, and breaded foods at restaurants as they most likely will contain gluten.

Bone loss is a common problem for many people with celiac disease. Be sure to see your doctor for frequent bone density scans and be sure to take calcium and vitamin D supplements.

Key Points to Remember

If you have celiac disease or a gluten allergy, it is important to remember a few things:

• Celiac disease may not show obvious symptoms, but can cause serious vitamin and nutritional deficiencies.
• Your villi may be damaged, causing your body to miss out on the absorption of key nutrients.
• Celiac disease can lead to many other problems including gastrointestinal cancer.
• Because you are at risk for other diseases, it is important to be tested often.
• Mothers who have untreated celiac disease are at increased risk for having a low birth weight baby.
• There is no cure for gluten allergies, just changes to your diet.

If you have any of the above symptoms of gluten allergies, you should ask your doctor for more information because you may mistake a gluten allergy for another problem. Damage to your small intestine cannot be repaired if you continue to consume gluten and if the gluten allergy is caught early, you have a better chance of minimizing the damage to the villi and allowing them to heal.

Following a gluten-free diet may not be an easy adjustment, but it necessary for your health. This will need to be a life-long adjustment so training your mind and body to know this may take time, but it will be worthwhile. Keep a record of foods that contain gluten with you when you go grocery shopping or out to restaurants. This will help you avoid making a mistake that can cost you your health. Make a mental note to yourself to avoid anything that is grain-based. No matter how good those breadsticks may look next to that pasta dish, you better not eat them!