We have already covered what gluten is and what it does. Today, we will talk about the symptoms that people who are gluten intolerant – a categorized reaction of gluten, which is found in wheat, triticale, barley, rye, etc. this has become one of the most common health issues of the century.

There are many possible reasons for gluten intolerance – that includes wheat allergy, celiac & non-celiac disease, gluten sensitivity, etc. Many of the gluten intolerance symptoms are not digestion related; there are various other indications that appear when a person is unable to handle gluten in their body.

Now, we will look closely at some of the common symptoms when it comes to being gluten intolerant.

Celiac disease

The most severe form is gluten intolerance. An autoimmune illness, in which almost 1% of the population gets affected and damages the digestive system at times. In this, a person can come across various symptoms like mood swings, gastrointestinal problems, skin issues, etc.

We have jotted down some specific symptoms of celiac disease -

A) Stinky feces, constipation, and diarrhea

Generally, those who have celiac disease would feel some irritation in their small intestine after they consume gluten. This harms the gut’s lining and causes low nutrient absorption which results in substantial digestive uneasiness with constipation or continuous loose motions.

While people face, prolonged loose motions it then leads to major health issues – tiredness, loss of body fluids, and electrolyte disorder. Patients may even go through feces that are stinky and pale; this is due to the low absorption of nutrients.

B) Weakness/tiredness/low energy

The most common factor amongst individuals who have autoimmune ailments is feeling weak or they are low on energy – this involves people who have celiac disease as well.

There are other factors also, which are assumed to add to the fatigue level in people suffering from the celiac disease:

• Severe pain
• sleep disorders
• psychological illnesses – depression/stress

It is also said that there is a higher risk of iron deficiency (anemia) – a disorder that affects the body's capacity to create red blood cells which are healthy. This leads to severe side effects and that’s how individuals suffer from low energy levels and weakness.

C) Skin allergies

People with gluten intolerance also suffer from skin problems. A condition where a person’s skills feel like it’s burning – dermatitis herpetiformis is a sign of celiac disease.

Usually, individuals are intolerant to gluten if they have celiac disease, but there are some who would not suffer from digestive issues irrespective them having celiac disease.

Moreover, there are many skin problems that have shown good improvement while being on a gluten-free diet:

•       Chronic hives – A skin condition in which an individual suffers from red itchy lesions which last for more than six weeks or more. Individuals with autoimmune diseases are more prone to hives
•       Psoriasis – Skin disease with itchy, scaly patches, and they are seen more on the elbow, knee, scalp, etc. It can be painful and there is as such no cure – making it a long-term problem
•       Spot baldness – A condition where hair is lost from a particular area or from all the areas of the body. On the head, there might be a few spots that can be the size of a coin or so – this would be the area with no hair. 

D) Uneasiness/anxiety and melancholy/depression

A condition where a person feels sad and hopeless – majorly impacts life in general. Every year around 6-7% of adults, suffer from depression.  An individual who does not suffer from digestive issues is less prone than the ones who face this bottleneck and they get more affected by depression & anxiety. People who have celiac disease easily prey to depression.

E) Sudden Weight loss

A sudden weight loss calls for concern. Even though there can be various reasons but sudden weight loss is the most usual side effect of undetected celiac disease. There are several studies which are been carried out on this matter and there have been almost 66.67% of patients who had lost their weight in the initial 6 months and that lead to the actual diagnosis. When a body’s capacity is hampered and it cannot absorb proper nutrients due to digestive issues, one can see a drastic change in an individual's weight.

F) Anemia – Iron deficiency

The most common deficiency is when a body is unable to absorb nutrients. Almost 50% of the people who suffer from anemia have this deficiency.

Symptoms of iron deficiency - 

• tiredness
• breathlessness
• Depletion in blood volume
• giddiness
• headaches
• dull skin
• paleness

The small intestine is damaged and it is unable to absorb the nutrients properly if a person has celiac disease. Thus, the amount of iron that needs to be absorbed from the food is very less. The doctor will notice a person has anemia in the first instance itself – which is one of the major signs of celiac disease. This disease impacts both children and adults at the same level and they have prominent iron deficiency.

G) Autoimmune illness

If an individual has celiac disease (which is an autoimmune illness) and they consume gluten, then it will form a base and your gastrointestinal tract will be majorly attacked by your immune system. People who already have a history of autoimmune disease are more likely to get other autoimmune diseases and one of them is the thyroid. An autoimmune thyroid condition gives rise to depression and anxiety levels in individuals.  People who already have an autoimmune disease can easily be impacted with celiac disease – liver illness, irritable bowel movements, type 1 diabetes, etc.

F) Join pain

People in general have various reasons for experiencing joint and muscle pain. Studies have shown that those with celiac conditions have a hyper and over-sensitive nervous system. That is the reason why the chances to activate sensory cells are very less, and this causes joint and muscle pain.

G) Numbness in arm/leg

There is another symptom of gluten intolerance – nerve pain, which causes a tingling sensation or numbness in the arms and legs. This illness can also be seen in people who suffer from deficiency of vitamin B12 & diabetes. Another reason can be too much usage of alcohol and harmful drugs.

Listed above are the symptoms of gluten intolerance – but if there is a problem, there is always a solution!

Now, you don’t have to consume gluten or run behind stores checking the label on food products being 100% gluten-free. Check out our website and order from a range of items that suit your taste and are on a budget – totally gluten-free!