Five signs to help you detect gluten intolerance

Here are the signs that may help you detect gluten intolerance.

What is celiac disease?

Gluten intolerance, also known as celiac disease, is an autoimmune disease from which 1% of the population suffers. This is a chronic disease of the small intestine that causes folds in the intestinal mucous membrane, and thus increases the surface area for the absorption of nutrients.

According to a scientific society which studies diseases and cancers of the digestive system:

Celiac disease is a pathology of immunological origin: in some people, the ingestion of a protein present in flours (wheat, barley, rye) - gluten - triggers an exaggerated reaction of the immune system, resulting in inflammation and destruction of the villi of the intestinal mucosa.

Some people are sensitive to gluten and will generally experience stomach pain, while others have a true intolerance that requires them to completely eliminate gluten from their diet. Here are the signs that can give you a clue as to what your case is.

Signs to watch out for

When you suffer fromgluten intolerance, there are certain signs that can alert you. Of course, this condition must be diagnosed by a health professional. However, here are a few symptoms that you should be aware of. Remember that some people have no apparent symptoms and suffer from silent celiac disease.

• You often have headaches.
• You suffer from bloating and abdominal pain.
• You have mouth ulcers.
• You often have diarrhoea.
• You are tired.

If you have these symptoms on a fairly regular basis, you may be suffering from celiac disease. These signs should encourage you to consult a doctor and investigate this further.

In the meantime, you can limit your gluten consumption by replacing it as often as you can. There are many alternatives for pasta and flour, as well as desserts that are naturally gluten-free.