Why gluten free diet

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If people with DH continue to eat gluten, they also may run an increased risk of developing intestinal cancer. Once diagnosed, however, people with DH are usually highly motivated to stick with a gluten-free diet to steer clear of these painful rashes.

To reduce symptoms of gluten sensitivity. Unlike celiac disease and DH, gluten sensitivity is not an autoimmune disease. People with gluten sensitivity experience gastrointestinal distress — ranging from diarrhea, gas and bloating to constipation and irritable bowel symptoms — when they eat gluten.

People with celiac disease, on the other hand, may experience these symptoms, or may have no symptoms at all. Future studies may reveal more about this relatively new diagnosis and its potential risks. Three reasons not to go gluten free To eat healthier. Cutting out wheat, rye, barley and the other grains that provide gluten eliminates some of the key sources of complex carbohydrates needed in a balanced diet.

Also lost are the fiber, B vitamins and folate found in carbohydrates, as well as the iron, calcium and vitamin D provided by fortified breads and cereals. Mistakes can happen, especially if you have only recently been diagnosed. If you have coeliac disease and eat gluten by mistake, you would usually start to have symptoms a few hours after eating it and the symptoms can last from a few hours to several days.

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Some people find that taking medication to treat constipation, diarrhoea or headaches can ease symptoms, but check with your pharmacist or GP. The most important thing is to get back onto your gluten free diet to try to prevent further symptoms. If your symptoms are very severe or do not improve, speak to your GP. Coeliac UK support gluten free food safety for people with coeliac disease and gluten related conditions.

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However, if you prefer, you can change your cookie settings at any time. Search the Coeliac UK site Enter what you are looking for. Shoppping Basket. My Account Log in. You should be tested for celiac disease, which is a serious condition. If you have symptoms of gluten sensitivity or intolerance, do not stop eating gluten without first getting tested for celiac disease.

You may have a different health condition that a gluten-free diet cannot treat. Also, following a gluten-free diet for several months or years may make it more difficult to accurately diagnose celiac disease.

If you stop eating gluten before being tested, it will affect the results. Lebwohl B, Green PH. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap ACG clinical guidelines: diagnosis and management of celiac disease. Am J Gastroenterol. PMID: pubmed. Semrad CE. Approach to the patient with diarrhea and malabsorption. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. Fructan, rather than gluten, induces symptoms in patients with self-reported non-celiac gluten sensitivity.

Updated by: Linda J. Editorial team. Learn about gluten-free diets. Reasons to Avoid Gluten. People follow a gluten-free diet for a number of reasons: Celiac disease. Many foods are naturally gluten-free, including: Fruits and vegetables Meat, fish, poultry, and eggs Beans Nuts and seeds Dairy products Other grains and starches are fine to eat, as long as they do not come boxed with seasonings: Quinoa Amaranth Buckwheat Cornmeal Millet Rice You can also buy gluten-free versions of foods such as bread, flour, crackers, and cereals.