Our Believe-It-or-Not Fact: Spring allergies to birch, grass and ragweed are associated with food allergies. For example, a birch allergy may indicate an allergy to apples, peaches, carrots and celery; grass allergies can trigger a reaction to melons, tomatoes and oranges; and ragweed is linked to bananas, cucumber and cantaloupe allergies. The smart move: See an allergist to ID your specific eye allergies, and pay attention to your symptoms to see if you notice any correlation with what you eat.
“Gluten Sensitivity” is just a term to describe an allergy to gluten. The key word here is “allergy”.
Many people with gluten sensitivity haven’t had proper tests – people who believe they are sensitive to gluten have often not been adequately tested to rule out celiac disease, reports a new study.
People with trouble digesting gluten who are not tested for celiac disease may not get proper treatment, which could lead to health problems down the line.
Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition in which eating gluten – a protein found in grains such as wheat, barley and rye – damages the lining of the intestines, resulting in digestive symptoms and potential complications.
Some people who don’t have celiac disease or haven’t been tested have similar symptoms they believe are triggered by gluten.
This non-celiac gluten sensitivity entity has become a quandary, as patients are powerfully influenced by alternative practitioners, Internet websites and mass media who all proclaim the benefits of avoiding gluten- and wheat-containing foods.
People should see a gastroenterologist for definitive tests before going gluten-free.
“Testing for celiac disease becomes less accurate and can take longer if gluten is already removed from the diet,” state researchers.
Dr. Alessio Fasano echoed the point that celiac disease and other possible causes of symptoms must be ruled out before a person is diagnosed with non-celiac gluten sensitivity.
He directs the Center for Celiac Research at Massachusetts General Hospital for Children in Boston and was not involved in the study.
“The question is what really triggers this – and because we don’t have a clear definition with diagnosis of the disease, there’s been tremendous confusion,” Fasano told Reuters Health.
He said the symptoms of non-celiac gluten sensitivity aren’t limited to digestive issues.
“We’re talking about skin rash, headaches, foggy minds, joint (pain), anemia and diarrhea – not just irritable bowel syndrome,” he said.
People who diagnose themselves with gluten sensitively often suffer from chronic conditions and have been trying unsuccessfully to find the reasons for their health problems, Fasano said.
“They start to Google their condition and they come across this idea that they may have this gluten sensitivity,” he said.
Researchers are still learning about non-celiac gluten sensitivity, and therefore there are a lot of uncertainties about the condition, Fasano noted.
“Nonetheless because after months, if not years, of no answer for the issues of why they are having these symptoms (patients) decide to go on a gluten-free diet because they have nothing to lose,” he said.
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