How to identify gluten intolerance or celiac disease?

Nowadays, the number of people with gluten intolerance or celiac disease is growing more and more, due to our consumption habits. In your daily basis, you can find gluten in most of the foods you usually eat since it is a protein found in wheat, barley and rye.

At first it is difficult to identify the symptoms of an intolerance since they can vary considerably from one person to another, however, there are certain signs that clearly indicate intolerance or celiac disease to the famous gluten.

What exactly is the celiac disease?
Celiac disease consists of a reaction of the immune system to the consumption of this protein called gluten, especially in the small intestine, damaging the villi that cover it. The damage to the small intestine make more difficult the absorption of nutrients, vitamins and minerals.

But, how can we know if we suffer from gluten malabsorption?

Symptoms of celiac disease, what are the symptoms of being celiac?
Although the signs of a food intolerance vary greatly from one individual to another, even from adults to children, there are certain symptoms that clearly indicate a problem with this proteín.

Most common symptoms of a food intolerance
-Diarrhea
-Constipation
-Swelling
-Gas
-Abdominal pain

Some less frequent symptoms may be,
-Headaches
-Fatigue or tiredness
-Dermatitis
-Mouth related problems such as thrush
-Anemia
-Weightloss

In the case of children, celiac disease is more frequent since they have more digestive problems, among its most frequent symptoms are: pale stools, vomiting, gas, constipation/diarrhea and, especially, a swollen abdomen.

Common situations in which intolerance can arise
On the other hand, celiac disease is usually more common in people with another type of disease or with celiac relatives, among whom they are more common;
– Diabetes
– Down’s Syndrome
– Thyroid

In addition, the disease can arise after surgery, childbirth or viral infection.

These are just some of the symptoms that may arise in the event of an intolerance, however, do not hesitate to consult your doctor in case of doubt, as a professional will guide you correctly in the procedure for celiac disease or food intolerance depending on your personal characteristics.

A gluten-free diet will help you control symptoms and promote intestinal transit. In the following post, we help you how to correctly follow a gluten-free diet.