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Celiac, Gluten Intolerant, or Wheat Allergic?

Gluten intolerance does not necessarily mean you have celiac disease, but celiac symptoms and gluten intolerance symptoms can be similar.

A wheat allergy occurs when you have a histamine response to wheat itself.

It is very important that the correct diagnosis is made or the consequences could be deadly! Read on to discover the fundamental differences between the three conditions.

What is Celiac Disease?

According to recent medical research from the Mayo Clinic, 1 in every 133 Americans suffers from celiac disease.

Celiac disease (also known as coeliac sprue disease) is an autoimmune disorder that attacks the lining of the intestinal wall, in particular destroying the villi or tiny hair like fingers that reach out from the small intestine wall lining to grab and absorb nutrients from passing food. The cause of this autoimmune response by the body is when a celiac sufferer consumes gluten, and the body registers the gluten as a toxin. Gluten is the protein composite found in wheat and many other grains.

Over time celiac sufferers will have their immune system slowly kill off their intestinal villi. This is called villous atrophy. The worse this gets, the worse your digestive problems become, and the less able your body is to absorb nutrients from the food you are eating. A worst case scenario could lead to toxins from your food passing through your small intestine wall and into your blood stream.

Because celiac disease is a genetically inherited disorder, it is advisable to be aware of one’s family medical history. Celiac disease in children is especially harmful as it can stunt their growth and impair other physical development.

Celiac disease is a disease that may lie dormant until a pregnancy, stress, surgery or childbirth triggers the onset.

Unfortunately, celiac disease is a lifelong affliction with no known cure, but a gluten free diet will eradicate celiac symptoms.

Celiac Symptoms

Those who suffer from the disease without showing any of the usual celiac symptoms drastically increase their risk of mortality due to the irreversible damage to the small intestines over time. Celiac symptoms can be numerous and not just limited to the usual digestive problems such as –

• Diarrhea

• Constipation

• Bloating and flatulence.

Once toxins pass into your bloodstream, additional symptoms can include –

• Fatigue

• Joint pain

• Breathing difficulty

• Headaches and migraines

• Gluten ataxia (cerebellum dysfunction caused by gluten)

• Autism

• Dermatitis herpetiformis (a persistent itch which blisters into a rash)

• Iron deficiency

• Even cancer!

And this is only a small selection of the 250 possible celiac symptoms!

What is Gluten Intolerance (Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity)?

Gluten intolerance is a food allergy to the gluten found in wheat and other grains.

A person with gluten intolerance may be able to consume very small amounts of gluten and follow a low gluten diet. The tolerance level varies with each individual.

The symptoms of gluten intolerance are very close to celiac symptoms and irritable bowel syndrome, such as diarrhea, constipation, bloating and flatulence, hence the problem for correct diagnosis.

Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity (NCGS) may ultimately prove to be celiac disease once better forms of diagnosis are discovered, but at the moment it exists as its own diagnosis and medical condition.

Gluten intolerance is not considered life threatening.

What is Wheat Allergy?

This is a histamine response to wheat, much like a peanut allergy or hay fever. Wheat allergies manifest themselves in a wide variety of symptoms which differ between individuals. Some people experience hives while others might experience stomach pain, increased mucus production and even asthma. These reactions are not to be taken lightly as some cases may result in anaphylactic shock.

Misdiagnosis of Celiac Symptoms

If you think you are exhibiting any of the celiac symptoms listed, seek medical confirmation of your condition. Your doctor will request blood tests looking for abnormal antibody numbers and as confirmation, possibly a biopsy of your small intestine. Celiac disease is infamously under diagnosed as merely irritable bowel syndrome or lactose intolerance. Celiac disease can be insidious, lurking under the radar for years while your body develops more and more severe long term consequences.

Celiac disease or coeliac sprue disease is not just a digestive disorder. Its consequences if left undiagnosed can prove fatal. In my own case, the symptoms were slight, but the damage done was severe.