Constantly not feeling your best? You may have gluten intolerance. Gluten is found in every day foods like cereals, bread, pasta and baked goods, acting as the ‘glue’ that holds it all together. Many people report experiencing a range of unexplained, persistent symptoms that may be linked to gluten.

These symptoms include:

GASTROINTESTINAL SYMPTOMS

A range of gastrointestinal symptoms – i.e. the stomach and intestines – may be experienced by those with gluten intolerance. These include varying degrees of:

• Nausea
• Flatulence
• Bloating
• Cramps
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhoea

Persistent Fatigue

Another key sign is if you get plenty of sleep, but still wake feeling tired with depleted levels of energy. This fatigue can be both physical and mental, including:

• Muscle weakness
• Joint pain
• Mental lethargy
• Never feeling fully rested
• Reduced energy to exercise
• Bone pain

Skin problems

Being our largest organ, skin health is often a sign of what’s happening inside our body. Common skin symptoms that may indicate gluten intolerance include:

• Inflammation
• Easy bruising
• Skin rash
• Dermatitis

Plus, many people report experiencing recurrent mouth ulcers.

Next steps

Finding the cause of symptoms is essential. Speak with your healthcare professional, who may recommend a blood test and small intestinal biopsy to screen for coeliac disease – a serious autoimmune disease that can have long-lasting damage if left untreated.

Gluten ‘sensitivity’ is different. It describes symptoms many people report experiencing after eating gluten, such as nausea, bloating and abdominal discomfort; however, tests do not indicate coeliac disease – so the causes and treatment aren’t well understood.

Please note – this article is for educational purposes only. Always seek health advice from your healthcare professional or speak with one of our team – with qualified naturopaths on hand 7 days, they can speak to you about symptoms & products to help.