Gluten intolerance is increasing worldwide. What was a rare occurrence just a few decades ago is now fast becoming the norm. Those gluten-free diets and options aren’t a fad – they’re a reaction to the growth of gluten sensitivity and coeliac disease.
What is behind this issue remains something of a mystery. Scientists have suggested that antibiotic usage and pesticides are potential causes. What is clear is that identifying the problem with a gluten intolerance test is one of the best ways to diagnose the condition, minimising symptoms and improving your quality of life.
What is Gluten?
Gluten is a specific type of protein found in foods containing wheat, barley, and rye. It’s the magic ingredients that give bread its doughiness. You’ll find it in foods like:
- bread
- pastry
- cakes
- pasta
- pizza bases
- biscuits
But gluten is also hiding in lots of other food products. Everything from soy sauce to sausages, soups, sauces, and even beer contains gluten. For people with gluten intolerance, shopping and eating out can become a minefield. Oats may also be contaminated with gluten.
Gluten Intolerance vs. Coeliac Disease
| Gluten Intolerance | Coeliac Disease | |
| Definition | Sensitivity to gluten without autoimmune or allergic basis. | Autoimmune disorder where gluten damages the small intestine. |
| Symptoms | Bloating, diarrhoea, headaches, fatigue, joint pain. | Abdominal pain, diarrhoea, malnutrition, fatigue, weight loss. |
| Diagnosis | Symptom-based; diagnosed by exclusion of coeliac disease and wheat allergy. | Blood tests (tTG-IgA, EMA), confirmed with intestinal biopsy. |
| Treatment | Gluten-free diet for symptom relief. | Strict, lifelong gluten-free diet to prevent complications. |
| Complications | Rare, mostly resolves with dietary changes. | Can cause long-term issues like osteoporosis and increased cancer risk if untreated. |
| Prevalence | More common but less understood. | Affects about 1% of the global population. |
What is a Gluten Intolerance Test?
A gluten intolerance test is a simple blood test that looks for the presence of IgG antibodies specific to gluten. Usually, these intolerance tests aren’t specific to gluten. They test for lots of different intolerances, helping to narrow down the culprit.
For example, Test Your Intolerance’s Intolerance Test screens for 63 common food intolerances, including gluten, wheat, and oats. As a home-to-lab test, you send a small pinprick blood sample to the lab and receive your results within 3-5 days.
Gluten intolerance tests shouldn’t be confused with a coeliac test. Coeliac tests are designed to detect the autoimmune reaction caused by gluten. The main blood tests check for specific antibodies, like tTG-IgA and EMA, which are elevated in coeliac disease. If these antibodies are found, an endoscopy with a small intestine biopsy is often done to confirm damage to the villi, which helps absorb nutrients.
Why You Should Get a Gluten Intolerance Test
Surely, if you notice some of the symptoms, you should remove gluten from your diet. Well, unfortunately, it’s not so simple.
The symptoms of gluten intolerance are extremely similar to other food intolerances and medical conditions. With so many foods containing gluten as a secondary ingredient, narrowing down the potential culprits becomes a headache.
As mentioned, intolerance tests screen for lots of different culprits. The alternative to such testing is an elimination diet, where each ingredient is eliminated and reintroduced one by one. This is extremely time-consuming. Taking an intolerance test can help guide this process, focusing on the most likely potential triggers.
Benefits of Gluten Intolerance Test
Consider these benefits:
- Identifies potential intolerances: Helps pinpoint gluten sensitivity and other food intolerances that could be causing symptoms.
- Non-invasive: Typically involves a simple pinprick blood test, making it easy to perform, even at home.
- Quick results: Most tests provide results within a few days, allowing for faster dietary adjustments.
- Guides dietary changes: Offers a clearer understanding of food sensitivities, helping you make more informed dietary choices.
- Improves well-being: Identifying and removing problematic foods can lead to better digestion, reduced discomfort, and overall health improvements.
Long-Term Problems of Gluten Intolerance
If left untreated, gluten intolerance can lead to severe long-term consequences. Eating gluten (in affected individuals) puts the body and gut into a pro-inflammatory state. People experience bloating, diarrhoea and constipation, stomach pain, and much more. These symptoms can disrupt normal bowel functioning, leading to unknown consequences long-term. Gluten intolerance remains a relatively new condition, and the permanent damage caused by prolonged gluten exposure is yet to be studied.
In addition, people with gluten intolerance live with low-level cognitive symptoms such as brain fog, headache and migraines, and depression and anxiety. These symptoms harm everyday function, reducing your quality of life and diminishing your prospects. Just think about the harm to your relationships and work from constant fatigue or depression.
Ready to find out what’s been bothering you? The Intolerance Test from Test Your Intolerance is a simple, at-home blood test that checks for 63 common food intolerances, including gluten, wheat, and oats. Get quick, accurate results within 3-5 days and start making the right changes for your health. Order your test today and take the first step towards feeling your best!
