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Signs of Gluten
Intolerance
Gluten intolerance is a fairly common problem.
1. Bloating
Bloating is when you feel as if your belly is swollen or full of gas after you’ve
eaten. This can make you feel miserable
Although bloating is very common and can have many explanations, it may
also be a sign of gluten intolerance.
In fact, feeling bloated is one of the most common complaints of people who
are sensitive or intolerant to gluten .
One study showed that 87% of people who had suspected non-celiac gluten
sensitivity experienced bloating
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This damages the gut lining and leads to poor nutrient absorption, resulting in
significant digestive discomfort and frequent diarrhea or constipation .
However, gluten may also cause digestive symptoms in some people who
don’t have celiac disease
More than 50% of gluten-sensitive individuals regularly experience diarrhea,
while about 25% experience constipation
Furthermore, individuals with celiac disease may experience pale and foul-
smelling feces due to poor nutrient absorption.
Frequent diarrhea can cause some major health concerns, such as loss of
electrolytes, dehydration and fatigue
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3. Abdominal Pain
Abdominal pain is very common and can have numerous explanations.
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If you have regular headaches or migraines without any apparent cause, you
could be sensitive to gluten.
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5. Feeling Tired
Feeling tired is very common and usually not linked to any disease.
However, if you constantly feel very tired, then you should explore the
possibility of an underlying cause.
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6. Skin Problems
Gluten intolerance can also affect your skin.
Everyone who has the disease is sensitive to gluten, but less than 10% of
patients experience digestive symptoms that indicate celiac disease
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People with digestive issues seem to be more prone to both anxiety and
depression, compared to healthy individuals
There are a few theories about how gluten intolerance can drive depression.
These include
That suggests that gluten exposure on its own may induce feelings of
depression, irrespective to digestive symptoms.
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Depression is more common among individuals with gluten intolerance.
In one study in celiac disease patients, two-thirds had lost weight in the six
months leading up to their diagnosis
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9. Iron-Deficiency Anemia
Iron-deficiency anemia is the most common nutrient deficiency in the world
and accounts for anemia in 5% and 2% of women and men, respectively
Recent studies suggest that iron deficiency may be significant in both children
and adults with celiac disease .
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Celiac disease may cause poor absorption of iron from your diet, causing iron-
deficiency anemia.
10. Anxiety
Anxiety may affect 3–30% of people worldwide
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Interestingly, having this autoimmune disease makes you more prone to other
autoimmune diseases, such as autoimmune thyroid disease
This also makes celiac disease more common in people that have other
autoimmune diseases, such as type 1 diabetes, autoimmune liver diseases
and inflammatory bowel disease
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Individuals with autoimmune diseases like celiac disease are more likely to
get other autoimmune diseases, such as thyroid disorders.
There is a theory that those with celiac disease have a genetically determined
over-sensitive or over-excitable nervous system.
Therefore, they may have a lower threshold to activate sensory neurons that
cause pain in muscles and joints
Moreover, gluten exposure may cause inflammation in gluten-sensitive
individuals. The inflammation may result in widespread pain, including in joints
and muscles).
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Gluten intolerance may cause numbness or tingling in the arms and legs.
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However, keep in mind that most of the symptoms on the list above may have
other explanations as well.