Think You Have a Gluten Sensitivity? You’re Probably Wrong

Recent study highlights the importance of professional diagnosis for food allergies and immune conditions.

There has been a lot of gluten-bashing going on in the media in recent years. It seems everywhere you look you see an article from a celebrity nutrition “expert” warning against gluten or an ad for a new gluten-free food.

Many people are listening to all the hype and changing the way they eat. An estimated 30 percent of American shoppers now buy gluten-free products, but most of them have no medical need to do so.

Is Gluten-Free Really Healthy?

Most people can actually eat gluten with no health risks at all. In fact, in many cases traditional recipes are actually healthier than their gluten-free counterparts, which typically contain more sugars, sodium, and fat.

According to a study recently published in the journal Digestion, 86 percent of individuals who were avoiding gluten because they believed they had a sensitivity were actually wrong. And even the few patients who did have a problem with gluten were wrong about the nature of their ailment, having mistaken other conditions for gluten sensitivity.

True Gluten Problems Are Rare

There are 3 main problems that could justify a real medical need for gluten avoidance, and they are all quite rare:

• Celiac Disease: This hereditary autoimmune condition causes damage to the gut when gluten is consumed and affects about 3 million Americans, or 1 percent of the population.
• Wheat Allergy: A wheat allergy is also caused by an improper immune response, but the mechanism is different than celiac disease and can manifest as digestive discomfort, hives, rashes, itching swelling, or trouble breathing. This condition is also rare.
• Gluten Sensitivity: Gluten sensitivity is more similar to a food intolerance than a food allergy and does not involve an immune response. About 6 percent of the US population or 18 million Americans are gluten sensitive.

In the Italian study, the researchers discovered that of all their test subjects—all of whom believed they were gluten sensitive—only 6.63 percent tested positive for celiac disease, 0.51 percent tested positive for wheat allergy, and 6.88 percent tested positive for gluten sensitivity.

Before You Change Your Diet, Get a Professional Diagnosis

This study highlights the importance of getting a professional diagnosis for any suspected immune conditions, food allergies, or food intolerances you may believe you have, rather than self-diagnosing based off of information you find on the internet.

At Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology Medical Group, we have expert allergists on staff who can provide the diagnosis you require. We can perform allergy tests, provide guidance on elimination diets, and help you find the best way to manage your condition. To make your appointment, please contact us at 805-658-9500 today.