Gluten is a protein component found in many grains. It is a fusion of the proteins gliadin and glutenin found in the commonly consumed grains wheat, rye, barley, oats, spelt and kamut. Gluten gives elasticity to dough and gives an elastic chewy quality to products made from gluten.

Gluten and your Immune System

Approximately one half to one percent of people suffer from coeliac disease which is an autoimmune reaction to the gliadin fraction of gluten. Many more people than this are gluten sensitive, which means uncomfortable symptoms arise after consumption of gluten – although these people are negative for standard medical testing for coeliac disease.

Gluten Intolerance

Sensitivity and intolerance to gluten is now quite common. Some signs and symptoms of gluten intolerance include the following:

• Abdominal bloating
• Abdominal gas
• Gut aches
• Nausea
• Weight loss
• Nutritional deficiencies due to malabsorption such as low iron or zinc levels
• Fatigue
• Aching joints
• Skin itching
• Triggering of inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema
• Itchy skin
• A specific form if dermatitis
• Headaches
• Irritability and behavioural changes
• Depression
• Irregular menstrual cycle
• Delayed growth in children
• Blood test abnormalities