Does eating a pizza leave you feeling bloated and uncomfortable? Do you often struggle with headaches, migraines and other symptoms like heartburn? The answer, it turns out, could be sitting on your plate.
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye and barley, and around 1 in 10 people have an intolerance to it. Could you be one of them? If you battle with any combination of these symptoms, then you could be gluten intolerant. To be sure though, speak to your doctor about getting tested.
The main symptoms are:
- Feeling bloated and uncomfortable, especially when you eat bread, pasta or pastries
- If you’ve already been diagnosed with IBS or acid reflux
- Chronic diarrhoea or constipation
- Migraine or headaches
- Joint pains, aches and inflammation or swelling in your fingers, knees or hips
- Feeling “foggy” or “fuzzy” after eating something that has gluten in it
- Suffering from anxiety or depression
- Suffering from chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia
- Suffering from eczema or acne
- Hormonal imbalances such as PMS, PCOS or fertility issues
Test Yourself for Gluten Intolerance
You can test yourself for gluten intolerance by going on an elimination diet. This means eliminating all gluten for at least 2 weeks, noting any changes, and then slowly re-introducing it to see if the symptoms return.
If you generally feel much better when you’re off gluten, or start feeling worse when you re-introduce it, then it could indicate a gluten intolerance. Don’t self-diagnose though, speak to your doctor so you can find out for sure.
Find out more: What is Gluten?