Articles
Wheat Allergy or Intolerance?
Wheat allergies, where the body has an immunological response to ingested wheat, are really quite uncommon. Wheat is a weak allergen, and if diagnosed with wheat allergy as a child, it is likely to be outgrown by school years. A true wheat allergy reaction will cause symptoms such as hives, swelling of the tongue, breathing difficulties, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain and even possible anaphylaxis. If a wheat allergy is diagnosed by your doctor, you will need to follow a strict wheat free diet. This is not as simple as avoiding bread, cereal and pasta, as wheat is an ingredient used in many pre-packaged foods including sauces, marinades, soups etc as a thickening agent. It can also be listed on ingredients list under a number of different names. A dietitian can help you learn to read ingredients lists and understand which products you will need to avoid. More importantly, they can also educate you on continuing to have a varied and healthy diet. It is unwise and unnecessary to completely remove the ‘breads and cereals’ food group from your diet. There are many wheat free options still available, which you can discuss with the dietitian.
A wheat intolerance is not an immunological response, but an abnormal physiological response to ingested wheat. There is no damage done to the body, but symptoms are uncomfortable and include flatulence, diarrhea and bloating. It is diagnosed quite commonly, and often mistakenly, leaving people excluding an entire food group for no reason. If you feel you may be reacting to wheat, it is important to visit your doctor who can assess your symptoms. They will likely refer you to a dietitian who will work through a food and symptom diary with you and determine exactly what may be causing your symptoms. It may be a case of a wheat load intolerance, and complete removal of wheat and any product containing wheat may not be necessary.
Added to site on : Thursday, 11 August 2011