Can I Really Be Sensitive to Wheat?

You may have started cutting on your wheat intake, but do you have a wheat allergy? Or perhaps you have celiac disease. If you took your wheat intolerance test and did not have both of these ailments, you probably deal with wheat sensitivity. 

A Wheat allergy is an aggressive response of the immune system for defending your body against wheat. However, wheat intolerance is quite dissimilar. 

Wheat sensitivity develops when your gut faces trouble digesting wheat. The wheat intolerance symptoms are less noticeable and can take up to many days before you notice. However, it can cause nutritional and digestive problems.Moreover, wheat sensitive people can often tolerate gluten foods like rye and barley. 

What is wheat allergy? - Schär

What Causes Wheat Intolerance?

Wheat sensitivity can be related to a history of family disorders. There is no proven cause for developing wheat intolerance. However, if a person with wheat intolerance consumes wheat, their immune system will react in damaging their digestive system. 

Wheat Intolerance - In Depth - The Horse Herbalist

This leads people to confuse their symptoms with celiac disease. But this is not the case, as wheat-sensitive people can often well tolerate other gluten foods. 

Therefore, some specialists suggest that specific wheat compounds such as amylase trypsin inhibitors are to blame for the symptoms. Others believe that the abundance of wheat in our everyday meals is the issue.

So, Can You Get Sensitive to Wheat?

The answer is yes. Although wheat sensitivity is rare, it exists. It affects a minority of our population and thus needs more research for effective treatments. 

However, sufficient data has been collected to indicate wheat sensitivity as a separate disorder from a wheat allergic reactions, or celiac disease. 

In addition, several people may not react to the wheat grain as a whole. In fact, they may be sensitive to specific components of wheat. This requires extensive research on multiple subgroups of wheat sensitive people. 

Wheat Sensitivity Symptoms?

Wheat sensitivity may trigger symptoms from a few minutes to several hours. In addition, you can look out for these symptoms to determine if you have a wheat intolerance:

  • Heartburn
  • Abdominal pain
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
  • Irritated Bowel
  • Headaches
  • Joint Pain
  • Nasal congestion
  • Eczema
  • Muscle pain and aches
  • Coughing
  • Depression
  • Anxiety

Does a Wheat-Free Diet Help Combat Wheat Sensitivity?

It is believed that wheat-free diets are effective in treating wheat sensitivity. A person not diagnosed with a wheat allergy or the celiac disease can ease their symptoms by eliminating foods containing wheat. 

You may experience improved results within a few days and can help you control your condition. 

How to Know if You have Wheat Sensitivity?

If you suffer from the above explained symptoms, you should get a wheat intolerance test done in the first place. This will help rule out if you have developed celiac disease, gluten or a wheat allergy. In addition, you should not start your wheat or gluten-free diet before getting tested, as it may produce an error in your results. 

If you are negative to both disorders, you can start on a wheat-free diet.