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Know The Difference

in The Too Busy to Diet Blog on June 4, 2016

Written by Monica Joyce RD, LD, MS, CDE: There isn’t a day that goes by without something published about gluten and gluten free diets. The May issue of Womens Health magazine describes the difference between a wheat allergy and gluten intolerance. Though the difference is significant for many this distinction is confusing. If you have a wheat allergy you will break out in hives or have trouble breathing within a few minutes of eating wheat. If you have gluten intolerance which is an autoimmune disease you will experience diarrhea, bloating and fatigue. Gluten is a wheat protein and the most common type of gluten intolerance is called celiac disease. An allergist can test for a wheat allergy and an internist can test with a blood test for a gluten intolerance.If you suspect either it’s best to report your symptoms to a physician. Self diagnosing means giving up a large variety of foods unnecessarily and missing out on important nutrients. The good news is for people who must avoid gluten there are so many more products available that make it easier to follow a gluten free diet.