Gluten Intolerance?
The 6 Most Common Symptoms
Abdominal cramps, headaches, fatigue, depression… Gluten intolerance, or celiac disease, can have many faces. Because the symptoms are usually very non-specific and individual, it has been called the “chameleon of diseases”. People often suffer for years before they finally get a diagnosis. Sound familiar? We explain what happens in the body during gluten intolerance and what the most common symptoms are.
Gluten Intolerance – What Is It?
Gluten, a protein mixture also known as gluten, is found in all common grains such as wheat, spelt, barley, rye, oats, and green spelt, as well as in ancient grains such as einkorn, kamut, and emmer. Because of its special food-technological properties, gluten is also often used as an emulsifier, as a carrier for flavors or for gelling and stabilizing, for example in sausages, confectionery, sauces and spice mixtures.
The terms gluten intolerance and coeliac disease cover all conditions that are triggered by the consumption of certain types of gluten. However, there are differences: In people with celiac disease (also known as sprue), even the smallest amount of gluten triggers an autoimmune reaction. This means that the body responds to the grain protein by attacking its own structures. The result is chronic inflammation of the small intestine, which in the long run destroys the intestinal lining and the villi, thus impairing nutrient absorption in the intestine. The body is no longer adequately supplied with essential vitamins and minerals, which can lead to malnutrition and, in children, growth and developmental disorders.
Gluten sensitivity, or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, refers to hypersensitivity to gluten or other grain components. It causes similar symptoms but does not cause an autoimmune response and no detectable changes in the intestinal mucosa.
»The Way to Health Leads trough the Kitchen,
not the Pharmacy.«
Sebastian Kneipp (German Catholic Priest, Naturopath and Hydrotherapist)
Complaints Related to Gluten Intolerance
The symptoms of gluten intolerance vary from person to person and are sometimes very non-specific. In addition, symptoms often do not appear immediately after eating gluten, but days later. They can last from a few hours to several weeks and can become chronic. Many people experience a variety of symptoms but are unaware of their intolerance.
We have compiled the six most common signs of gluten intolerance. If you are experiencing one or more of the following symptoms frequently or persistently, you may want to see your health care professional to evaluate you for gluten intolerance and celiac disease.
1) Digestive Problems
Digestive problems such as gas, bloating, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and constipation are the most common symptoms of gluten intolerance. People with celiac disease may experience fatty stools (steatorrhea) due to impaired fat digestion. The stool is slimy, greasy, pale in color, and has an unpleasant odor.
2) Neurological Disorders
Our intestines have an autonomic nervous system that is directly connected to the central nervous system and has the same nerve cells as our brain. This is why the gut is also called the belly brain or second brain.
Therefore, it is not surprising that gluten ingestion can cause neurological disorders in people with gluten intolerance. (1) These can manifest in a variety of ways:
- Headaches or migraines
- Low blood pressure and dizziness
- Impaired balance
- Autonomic nervous system dysregulation
- Numbness and tingling in the arms and legs (neuropathy)
- Muscle and joint pain (fibromyalgia)
- Depression and anxiety
3) Autoimmune Diseases
Celiac disease and gluten sensitivity can cause other autoimmune diseases or aggravate existing conditions. These include rheumatoid arthritis and the chronic thyroid disease Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
4) Skin Changes
Dermatitis herpetiformis Duhring (DHD) is caused by the ingestion of gluten, which is why it is also known as “celiac disease of the skin”. This chronic, blistering skin condition is accompanied by severe itching. Other skin conditions may also improve with a gluten-free diet.
5) Fatigue & Exhaustion
Do you suddenly feel very tired after eating, especially after eating gluten-containing foods, and do you also repeatedly feel listless and exhausted? If your daily life is severely limited by constant fatigue, you may have chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). This may be a sign of gluten intolerance.
6) Unexplained Nutrient Deficiencies
Nutrient deficiencies, especially iron, vitamin A, B12 and B6, in spite of a well-balanced diet may indicate gluten intolerance. Iron deficiency in particular is a common symptom of celiac disease in both adults and children.
»Good Sense Starts in the Kitchen«
Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (German Philosopher and Classical Philologist)
Healthy and Gluten-Free: The Ketogenic Diet
Since gluten intolerance is not considered curable, lifelong avoidance of gluten-containing foods is usually the only therapy, especially for celiac disease. The ketogenic diet, which is virtually gluten-free by eliminating carbohydrates, is a wonderful alternative.
The protein-rich diet, plenty of low-carbohydrate vegetables, sufficient “good” fats and plenty of water allow your intestines and body to regenerate optimally.
You can read more about this in the book “Healthy, Slim and Fit” by Dr. Heinz Reinwald
Vital Products for Your Intestinal Health by dr.reinwald vital
You don’t want to give up gluten-containing foods permanently, but still want to enjoy good bread or a delicious pasta dish from time to time?
Then we recommend ProZYM plus with the natural, protein-degrading (proteolytic) enzyme prolyl oligopeptidase. This enzyme specializes in breaking down proteins, especially the highly resistant proline compounds found in the intestines, tissues and blood. Proline is found as “gluten” in cereal gluten. The additional milk thistle is said to stimulate the liver and thus promote the body’s own breakdown and excretion processes. ProZYM plus is therefore our vital product of choice for the prevention of celiac disease and other gluten-sensitive conditions.
