Gluten Allergy: Reactions in the Body and Recommendations

Gluten has become a concept we frequently hear about in our lives in recent years. Gluten is a group of proteins found in many grain products. Some bodies cannot digest this type of protein, and certain reactions may occur. It can be defined as a type of food allergy. This condition can be permanent or temporary. And its severity, meaning the reactions a person exhibits, can vary from person to person. In severe cases, the person should avoid consuming foods containing this protein. They can keep their body in balance by following an elimination diet. It is very important to seek support from a specialist during these processes.

What Are the Symptoms of Gluten Allergy?

The symptoms and severity of gluten allergy can vary from person to person. Common complaints include indigestion, bloating, intestinal problems, fatigue, low energy, constant sleepiness, body aches, headaches, nausea, or vomiting. Gluten protein allergy can also be observed as the underlying cause of some type 2 diabetes and thyroid imbalances.

What Are the Symptoms of Gluten Allergy in Adults?

The symptoms of gluten allergy can vary with age. When this allergy appears in adulthood, common symptoms include weight loss, fatigue, loss of appetite and gas complaints, abdominal pain and cramps, increased frequency of bowel movements, foul-smelling and light-colored stools, bone or joint pain, iron deficiency, headaches, unexplained liver diseases, sudden mood swings, and depression.

What Are the Symptoms of Gluten Allergy in Babies?

Babies are breastfed until a certain age. And everything the mother eats and drinks directly affects them. If a baby has a gluten allergy, the mother may need to follow a gluten-free diet as long as she is breastfeeding. After a certain month, solid foods are introduced. During this process, it may be understood that the baby has a gluten allergy. The symptoms of this allergy can be different in adults and babies. If children under the age of two experience vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal bloating, growth retardation, and loss of appetite, they should be checked for gluten allergy.

How Is Gluten Allergy Diagnosed?

Various tests are applied for gluten allergy. These include diagnostic methods consisting of blood tests and intestinal tests. A diet is applied to the person suspected of having an allergy, and observations are made. If improvement is observed in the person, a diagnosis of allergy can be made. The results of blood and intestinal tests are also included in this observation.

How Is Gluten Allergy Treated?

The most effective treatment for gluten allergy is diet. The person avoids foods and recipes containing this protein group. In this way, the body, which has shown an imbalance against this protein not ingested, is purified and returns to its former state. In some rare cases, gluten-containing recipes can be consumed. In some people, this is applied very strictly.

What Should People with Gluten Allergy Eat?

Today, many alternative foods are available that can replace many common foods, and they are quite easy to access. Many gluten-free products and meals can be prepared at home or found in supermarkets. Some food brands offer high-nutritional-value alternative products ready for consumption to people following a gluten-free diet. The Naturiga brand offers consumers special products that correspond to many foods in easy-to-use forms, and all its products are suitable for a gluten-free diet.

Psyllium Husk Powder

Psyllium husk powder is a special source of fiber that supports the digestive system and dissolves in our body. This product, which grows in various parts of the world, is mostly prominent in India. You can use this powder to add texture and elasticity to many gluten-free dough recipes.

Hulled Hemp Seeds

Hulled hemp seeds, one of the most nutritious products in the world, can be consumed in your milky cereals in the morning. You can also use this product as an ingredient in various recipes.

Wheatgrass Powder

Wheatgrass powder, a source of healing that has reached us from thousands of years ago, is an important food you can consume gluten-free. It can be mixed with various liquids and consumed in the mornings.

Chlorella Powder

Chlorella powder, which can also be consumed by combining it with different food powders, is a food rich in B12 and D vitamins. It can take the place of gluten protein in your kitchens. You can consume the product in the mornings by mixing it with liquids such as milk, vegetable, and fruit juices.

Gluten-Free Granola

In recent years, a large amount of oats are used in granola products, which are consumed increasingly during breakfast. Although oats are naturally gluten-free, they are subject to cross-contamination because wheat and grain products are widely produced, harvested, processed, and stored in the same facilities. For this reason, it is important for people on a gluten-free diet to consume products prepared with "gluten-free oats" that have not been cross-contaminated. Naturiga granola products use gluten-free oats.

What Is the Difference Between Gluten Allergy and Celiac Disease?

Gluten allergy refers to conditions affected by gluten other than celiac disease. Although they all seem similar, their diagnosis and treatment differ.

Celiac disease indicates an inherited autoimmune disorder. It affects the small intestine's digestion process. When a person consumes a gluten-containing food, the immune system attacks. This attack occurs on healthy cells in the small intestine. Thus, the intestine's ability to absorb nutrients is prevented. As a result, many symptoms appear in the person, such as chronic fatigue, brain fog, bone and joint pain. The treatment is to adopt a lifelong gluten-free diet. Gluten sensitivity, on the other hand, can be diagnosed if a person's discomfort decreases after a gluten-free diet, even when celiac diagnosis is ruled out. In this case, a diet as strict as for celiac patients is usually not mentioned.

You may also be interested in this article: What is Gluten Allergy?