You may or may not know that I have a gluten sensitivity. It’s something that I discovered almost two years ago when trying to pinpoint the cause of some cognitive issues that I was having. When it was suggested that I may have a gluten intolerance I thought the doctor was off her rocker crazy. I rarely have tummy issues so I didn’t think it was possible that it was the culprit but I also didn’t understand that gluten does more than just hurt your guts! Gluten affects people in different ways. Celiac Disease is the most severe, when someone with Celiac consumes gluten their body attacks the gluten and their digestive system. Someone can also be “Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitive” which is when the symptoms are there but the test for Celiac Disease comes back negative. Though there is some controversy whether “Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity” actually exists or if another ingredient in grains is causing the symptoms, either way there are still people that feel relief by removing gluten (or grains) from their diet.
Gluten is a protein that is found in wheat, barley, rye, malt, and oats. I wasn’t educated on gluten (or food allergies in general) two years ago but have been researching ever since! There are some unusual symptoms of gluten sensitivity that I had and many people do not know about. I want to share these in hopes of educating so other people do not have to suffer like I did for so long.
- Problems with your Thyroid – Gluten passes through your gut lining and into your blood stream. Your body recognizes the gluten as a foreign body and starts attacking but the thyroid can be mistaken for gluten, meaning your immune system attacks your thyroid. When addressing my cognitive issues, I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism.
- You get chronic canker sores – Gluten is inflammatory and affects your immune system. I grew up getting canker sores frequently. Especially if I was stressed, my mouth would be full of them! Since removing gluten from my diet I can always tell if I have experienced cross contamination or ate something I shouldn’t have because 3-4 days later I feel like I have strep throat but it is actually just a canker sore.
- Infertility and Miscarriage – Gluten is a hormone disruptor and can cause malabsorption of necessary vitamins and nutrients. This one could be coincidence but we had two miscarriages before a successful pregnancy with my daughter. I had a healthy pregnancy while eating gluten (this was before my recommendation) but think it is worth mentioning.
- Problems with your teeth – Gluten causes immune reaction that causes an immune reaction that can affect production of enamel. I’ve always had problems with my teeth. I can brush three times a day and floss and had at least one cavity every six months when I went in for a cleaning. I’ve not had any since going G Free!
There are many others including:
- Brain Fog
- Lack of concentration
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Bad breath
- Unexplained weight gain or loss
- Fatigue
- Problems falling asleep
- Plus gastrointestinal issues like bloating, diarrhea, constipation
If you’ve been struggling with any of these issues it may be worth having a blood test but as I mentioned earlier unless you are Celiac the test results may be negative. You can eliminate gluten from your diet for a month or two to see if you have relief from your symptoms. (A trace of gluten can stay in your system for several weeks to months) it is important to note that you shouldn’t go on a Gluten Free diet without reason. Going “Gfree” you’ll be eliminating whole grains that are full of nutrients and fiber, plus gluten free versions of foods are expensive! Of course processed foods are never the best choice but I will never give up pizza!
I’ll be writing additional posts on gluten free living in the future.
Have you ever tried going gluten free? Share your experience!
