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With an estimated 15% of British people suffering from wheat intolerances, this condition is a part of daily life for many people. Wheat intolerances are caused by sensitivity to gluten, a complex protein found in wheat and some other grains (e.g. rye barley, oats).
Those who suffer from wheat intolerances have difficulty digesting wheat. This can cause a variety of symptoms, such as:
- Aching joints
- Gastro-intestinal problems
- Eczema
- Low blood iron levels
- Depression
In addition, there are potential long term problems from this condition such as an increased risk of illnesses like diabetes, bowel cancer, anaemia and osteoporosis.
If you think this might be a problem for you, it is easy to diagnose. You can buy a detection kit, or get yourself tested by your doctor or at a natural health clinic. If the test is positive, treatment is simple - follow a Gluten-free diet. Typically, within a few weeks, even people who have had problems for years will find that their symptoms improve dramatically.
A far more serious problem is having an actual allergy to these substances. This involves a violent auto-immune response by the body, which will usually include immediate coughing, asthma, breathing difficulties, and/or projectile vomiting.
This life-threatening problem is, fortunately, rare, affecting less than ? % of population.
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