What Happens if I Eat Gluten Products?

Gluten allergies affect a large number of people in the UK however the sufferers do not all experience the same symptoms and they certainly don’t experience the same severity of symptoms.

A gluten allergy is a malabsorbtion disease whereby the body doesn’t absorb substances the way it should. This can lead to various unpleasant symptoms for the sufferer; symptoms which could lead to more serious illnesses.

How Will I Know Whether I Have a Gluten Allergy or Not?

If you think you may have a gluten allergy the first thing you must do is speak to your doctor. He or she will organise for you to have a test to determine whether or not you are suffering from an allergy. This will usually involve a blood test to examine the antibodies in your body. If this test shows you have signs of a gluten allergy you may be given a biopsy. This will involve a small operation to test a sample of the bowel in order to determine what damage has been done.

This operation may have to be repeated as only certain parts of the bowel may be damaged and just because the first sample may come back negative the second may not.

If the test results show you have a gluten allergy then you will have to adjust your lifestyle. Gluten allergies do not just go away on their own. The only way a sufferer can avoid the symptoms and effects of a gluten allergy is to cut gluten products out of their diet.

What Products do I Cut Out?

Once diagnosed with a gluten allergy you should avoid consuming any products that contain gluten. Gluten is found in several grain and therefore bread products and pasta should be cut from your diet along with some cereals, certain condiments and sauces, beer and whiskey.

While cutting the products out of your diet may take some getting used to at first within time you will have adjusted to you new lifestyle. Make sure you check the labels of all the products you buy though as there may be gluten traces in some products you would not expect to find it in.

What if I Eat Gluten Products?

If you eat gluten products you will experience the symptoms you felt before cutting gluten out of your diet. These can include extreme fatigue, constipation, diarrhoea, stomach cramps, bloating and nausea.

If you have been diagnosed with a gluten allergy then you should immediately cut gluten from your diet. By continuing to consume gluten you will continue to suffer from the symptoms associated with the allergy. The only way to avoid the symptoms is to avoid gluten!

If you think you have a gluten allergy but you have not been tested then you should not cut out gluten. Gluten is an important part of the diet and non-sufferers should continue to eat it. Until you have a diagnosis you should not cut gluten products from your diet. But make sure your doctor agrees to give you a test for the allergy.