Can You Recognize the Symptoms of Gluten Intolerance

Gluten intolerance, otherwise known as Celiac Disease, is an auto-immune disease.  This is where you body treats what should be a harmless substance, as a dangerous threat. In this case, that substance would be gluten. This reaction causes damage to the small intestine. This in turn, causes your body to lose the ability to absorb nutrients.

What exactly are the symptoms of gluten intolerance?

The most obvious and tell-tale signs are:

Bloating
Diarrhea that comes and goes
Abdominal pain

Most often the signs are less obvious like:
 
Anemia
Weight loss
Muscle cramps
Depression
Fractures
Foul smelling stool
Tingling and numbness
Skin rash
Fatigue
Joint Pain
Poor growth (in children)

Symptoms of gluten intolerance can range from mild to severe to non-existent. In fact, when it comes to recognizing Celiac Disease, there are no typical signs. Much of the above can easily be attributed to other conditions. Gluten intolerance itself has also been known to cause or contribute to several conditions such as:

Osteoporosis
Kidney Stones
Lactose intolerance
Lymphoma
Miscarriage or birth defects
Seizures
Malnutrition
Infections

Gluten Intolerance seems to occur more frequently in people with other auto immune issues like:

Type 1 diabetes
Thyroid disease
Liver disease
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Lupus

The only way to know for sure if what your experiencing is gluten related, is to get tested. Currently, there are two tests available. First, is the antibody test. This is a blood test in which the doctor looks for both the presence and level of certain antibodies. High levels indicate that the body perceives itself to be under attack. What this test won’t tell you is what your body is trying to fight off. Then, there’s a biopsy.  In this procedure, samples of the small intestine can be examined for signs of gluten intolerance. This would be the most accurate option. Biopsies are critical in cases where you have symptoms that can be attributed to other conditions. They are even  more important if you are someone who suspects an intolerance yet hasn’t any serious issues like those stated above. Again, The only way to know for sure is to get tested.