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Gluten Intolerance?

The 6 Most Common Symptoms

Abdominal cramps, headaches, fatigue, depression… Gluten intolerance or celiac disease can have many faces. Since the symptoms are usually very nonspecific and vary from person to person, it is also referred to as the “chameleon among diseases.” Those affected often go through years of suffering before they finally receive a diagnosis. Does this sound familiar? We explain what happens in the body with gluten intolerance and what the most common symptoms are.

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Gluten intolerance – what exactly is it?

Gluten, a protein mixture also known as gluten protein, is found in all common grains such as wheat, spelt, barley, rye, oats, and green spelt, as well as in ancient grains such as einkorn, kamut, and emmer. Because of its special food-technological properties, gluten is also often used as an emulsifier, as a carrier for flavorings, or for gelling and stabilizing, for example in sausage, sweets, sauces, and spice blends.

The terms gluten intolerance or gluten sensitivity encompass all symptoms triggered by consuming certain types of gluten. However, there are differences: In people with celiac disease (also called sprue), even the smallest amounts of gluten trigger an autoimmune reaction. This means the body reacts to the grain protein with a defensive response and also attacks the body’s own structures. As a result, chronic inflammation of the small intestine occurs, which over time destroys the intestinal mucosa and the intestinal villi, thereby impairing nutrient absorption in the intestine. The body is no longer adequately supplied with vital vitamins and minerals, which can lead to malnutrition and, in children, to growth and developmental disorders.

Gluten sensitivity or non-celiac gluten sensitivity refers to hypersensitivity to gluten or other grain components. It causes similar symptoms but does not trigger an autoimmune reaction and does not cause any recognizable changes to the intestinal mucosa.

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»The path to health leads through the kitchen,

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not through the pharmacy.«

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Sebastian Kneipp (German Catholic priest, naturopath, and hydrotherapist)

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Symptoms associated with gluten intolerance

The symptom patterns of gluten intolerance vary from person to person and are sometimes very nonspecific. In addition, symptoms often do not appear immediately after consuming gluten, but only days later. They can last from a few hours to several weeks and become chronic. Many people suffer from a wide range of symptoms without knowing anything about their intolerance.

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We have compiled the six most common signs of gluten intolerance for you. If you frequently or even permanently experience one or more of the following symptoms, you should have your naturopath test you for gluten intolerance and celiac disease.

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1) Digestive problems

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Digestive complaints such as trapped gas, a feeling of fullness, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and constipation are the most common symptoms of gluten intolerance. In people with celiac disease, impaired fat digestion can lead to fatty stools (steatorrhea). The stool is then mucous-like, greasy, pale in color, and has an unpleasant odor.

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2) Neurological disorders

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Our gut has an autonomous nervous system that is directly connected to the central nervous system and has the same nerve cells as our brain. This is why the gut is also referred to as the abdominal brain or second brain.

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Accordingly, it is not surprising that consuming gluten in the case of gluten intolerance can also cause neurological disorders. (1) These can manifest in many different ways:  

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3) Autoimmune diseases

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Celiac disease and gluten sensitivity can trigger other autoimmune diseases or worsen them if they are already present. These include rheumatoid arthritis and the chronic thyroid disease Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, among others.

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