There is some confusion these days as to exactly what is gluten intolerance. But, fear not, our Gluten Guide is here to shed some enlightenment onto the proceedings. Gluten intolerance, quite simply, describes a condition where an individual has difficulty digesting gluten. In some cases, such as Celiac Disease, it is medically unwise for the person suffering from the condition to ever consume gluten under any circumstances. Only a tiny fraction, less than 1%, of people in the developed world suffer from Celiac Disease. However, there are a great deal many more who are gluten intolerant and therefore have difficulty digesting gluten.

What is Gluten?

Good question, for it is the central question that this site seeks to provide answers to. Gluten is a special kind of protein found in many members of the grain family. It can commonly be found in bread and cereal products. Gluten does a host of things that make it important. Including providing, for instance, pizza dough with its doughy and elastic characteristics. But some individuals simply can not digest this protein properly and therefore it is recommended that they avoid gluten altogether - more on that in a moment.

How do I know if I am gluten intolerant?

That’s a good question. Because unlike Celiac Disease, which is an immune reaction to gluten which can cause severe, sometimes life-threatening complications when gluten is eaten, gluten intolerance often develops slowly. Worse yet the most common gluten intolerance symptoms can be confused for countless other intestinal tract conditions. I have even heard of gluten intolerance being misdiagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome and, occasionally, as post-pardum depression. Even today doctors are not at their best when it comes to identifying a gluten intolerance because, as I said, the symptoms can be misidentified as a number of conditions.

But, and I know you were waiting for this, here are some of the most common gluten intolerance symptoms:

* Changes in weight
* Iron deficiency.
* Constipation, Diarrhea, Bloating
* Stool containing fatty parts
* Depression and fatigue
* Skin disorders such as eczema
* Irritability and difficulty focusing
* Problems in childbearing - such as miscarriage and irregular menstrual cycle.

Obviously, this doesn’t sound like anyone’s Christmas list. These are serious symptoms. But the good news is that treatment is available that can, essentially, eliminate each and every one of the above symptoms. The main component of any gluten intolerance treatment plan is to avoid gluten and live a gluten free lifestyle.

This may mean drastic changes in your diet, but I have found that with a little getting used to, these changes don’t really impact my life in any powerful way. I am just more careful in what I eat, and, as a result, I get to avoid all the horrible abdominal problems that I was having over the these last few years.

So, I hope that starts to clear up the confusion on just what is gluten intolerance. If you think that you may be suffering from a gluten intolerance, I recommend that you see your doctor as soon as possible for an antibody test.