White Jade » Nutrition http://www.whitejade.net.au A Holistic approach to Health Sat, 20 Mar 2010 04:56:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Are you gluten intolerant? http://www.whitejade.net.au/2009/04/are-you-gluten-intolerant/ http://www.whitejade.net.au/2009/04/are-you-gluten-intolerant/#comments Tue, 28 Apr 2009 03:31:23 +0000 Jessica McIntyre http://www.whitejade.net.au/?p=254 What is Gluten Intolerance Anyway?

A gluten intolerance is a recognised food intolerance, also known as coeliac / celiac disease, or tropical sprue / nontropical sprue. It is often inherited, or you can be unlucky and be born with it. If it is not diagnosed as an infant, it will only worsen as you get older. It is basically a disease in which you cannot absorb a protein found in food known as gluten. Gluten is found in food types such as:

  • Wheat
  • Rye
  • Barley
  • OatsGluten is actually a protein derivative of wheat and of those grains that appear tough and elastic in quality. So basically your body is allergic to this protein called gluten contained in the above named foods.

    What does this allergy do to your body?

    If you are allergic to gluten, this protein will react with the lining in your intestines (called the ‘villi’) damaging them by causing the lining to ‘atrophy’ (get smaller). This damage then restricts the absorption of other foods eaten, and can cause a variety of symptoms, which include:

  • Diarrhea (probably the most major symptom).
  • Anaemia (from poor iron absorption), along with low Vitamin B12 absorption.
  • Weight loss (that may sound good for some, but in this disease it’s not).
  • Bloating
  • Abdominal pain
  • Vomiting
  • Fatigue
  • Breathlessness
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