| You've been battling the symptoms for a long | | | | doctor can help you with the details of |
| time; digestive upset, stomach cramps, irregular | | | | implementing such a diet, but basically, an |
| bowel habits, maybe migraines and joint pain. | | | | elimination diet is a diet which completely removes |
| Finally... a breakthrough! You've just found out | | | | the suspected food (wheat, or more broadly, |
| about wheat intolerance and celiac (also spelled | | | | anything containing gluten) for a set period of |
| coeliac) disease, and it makes a lot of sense that | | | | time, to see if symptoms subside. If symptoms |
| some sort of gluten allergy or sensitivity could be | | | | are not reduced or eliminated after a couple of |
| causing your problems. So, now what? | | | | months on an elimination diet, then it extremely |
| There are several different types of wheat | | | | unlikely that wheat or gluten is the cause of the |
| sensitivity, and unless you are willing to cut out all | | | | problems (it may, of course, be some other |
| gluten from your diet forever, you'll need to get | | | | food). |
| an exact diagnosis. This is worth doing in most | | | | If, however, symptoms subside or disappear |
| cases, because while celiac disease is a lifelong | | | | completely after the elimination diet, then wheat |
| condition requiring a diet strictly without any foods | | | | intolerance is likely. Challenge testing can confirm |
| containing gluten, other conditions like wheat | | | | the diagnosis. Under medical supervision ( in case |
| intolerance may eventually allow you to consume | | | | of severe reactions), wheat is reintroduced into |
| small amounts of wheat. Similarly, with wheat | | | | the diet suddenly. If a reaction occurs and other |
| allergy, you may be able to tolerate other | | | | conditions such as celiac disease have been |
| gluten-containing grains such as barley or rye. | | | | discounted, wheat intolerance is confirmed. |
| So, while you may be sorely tempted to cut all | | | | At this point, it's time to embark on a gluten-free |
| foods containing gluten out of your diet | | | | diet. In the case of wheat intolerance, many |
| immediately, doing so is probably a mistake unless | | | | people may be able to reintroduce wheat in tiny |
| your reactions are extremely severe | | | | amounts after a period of time on a strict diet. |
| (anaphylactic shock, for instance). This is because | | | | This varies widely-- some can tolerate a modest |
| the most common method of diagnosis-- a blood | | | | amount of wheat once in awhile, others more |
| test which looks for antibodies to wheat | | | | often, and yet others, not at all. The only way to |
| proteins-- will not work if you are on a gluten-free | | | | find out is with careful experimentation after a |
| diet. No gluten, no antibodies. No antibodies, no | | | | few symptom-free months. |
| diagnosis. | | | | When first going gluten-free, cravings are not at |
| Now, let's jump ahead a bit. You've been | | | | all unusual, but they subside in time. The renewed |
| thoroughly tested, and all the tests came back | | | | feeling of health and vitality as symptoms |
| negative. Does this mean that wheat is not the | | | | disappear make the sacrifice well worth the |
| problem? Not necessarily. Wheat intolerance may | | | | effort... and there are thousands of delicious |
| not show up in testing. The best method for | | | | gluten-free foods and recipes which will ensure |
| determining wheat intolerance is something called | | | | that eating remains a rich and joyful part of life. |
| an elimination diet with challenge testing. Your | | | | |