Sample Six
WHEAT AND GLUTEN ALLERGIES AND WHY DIET IS SO IMPORTANT
Food intolerance is the name given to the medical condition that occurs when we feel poorly after eating or, coming into contact, with a particular food or ingredient. This is a condition suffered by an estimated 3% of the population. Symptoms of food intolerance may involve skin reactions, swelling and breathing difficulties, diarrhoea and vomiting.
The reassuring fact is that, although these allergies can be somewhat inconvenient, in most cases, the symptoms will disappear when we avoid the problem food or ingredient. This article will give an overview of intolerances to wheat and gluten.
Wheat Allergy. Wheat allergy refers specifically to adverse reactions involving immunoglobulin antibodies to one or more protein contained within standard wheat. An allergy to wheat may occur in any individual, unlike Coeliac Disease, which is hereditary and the reactions may be precipitated through the ingestion of wheat-containing foods or by inhalation of wheat-based flour (Baker's asthma).
Symptoms of Wheat Allergy. An allergic reaction to wheat usually begins within minutes or a few hours following the ingestion or inhalation of a wheat product. Common symptoms tend to involve skin complaints such as hives or eczema; general swelling; abdominal cramps; nausea and vomiting; and respiratory difficulties. In severe cases, the reaction can bring on a life-threatening anaphylaxis.
Gluten Intolerance. Gluten Intolerance is now more correctly known as Coeliac Disease (CD), also called Gluten Enteropathy. CD is a hereditary disorder of the immune system in which eating gluten precipitates damage to the lining of the small intestine resulting in the sufferer having pronounced difficulty processing nutrients and vitamins.
Symptoms of Coleiac Disease. The symptoms of CD usually become apparent 6-24 months with symptoms of intestinal malabsorption, such as impaired growth, abnormal stools, and bloating, following the introduction of cereals into the diet. In adults, the symptoms of CD may be quite varied, from severe weight loss and diarrhoea and bulky, offensive stools to subtle complaints of cramps, abdominal bloating, flatulence and even constipation. These individuals are often mistakenly diagnosed as having Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
Importance of Diet. The best remedy for both wheat and gluten allergy and intolerance is complete avoidance of the offending food or ingredient, hence the importance of a carefully monitored diet. To avoid the allergen, it is important to understand where it occurs and what to look out for on labels, particularly when abroad.
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