Food allergies are common.  One such food allergy is a gluten allergy.  A gluten allergy
means that you are allergic to wheat.  Gluten is a protein in the composition of wheat.  A
gluten allergy can produce several effects including:  hay fever, asthma, skin conditions,
and headaches. 

The only way to completing avoid a gluten allergy is to not consume foods that contain
wheat or gluten in any manner.  This can prove difficult when wheat and gluten are
present in several foods.  Examples of foods that contain wheat and gluten include: 
breads, cookies, cakes, crackers cereals, and pasta.  As you notice many of these products
are processed foods.

Processed foods provide a real threat to a gluten allergy because the gluten can be hidden
in the ingredients.  The ingredients you should avoid include:  whole wheat flour, gluten
flour, bran, bulgur, durum, semolina, gluten, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, wheat germ,
vegetable gum, and starch.  This is only a sample of the ingredients that can cause a
gluten allergy.  There are many other gluten ingredients on the list.

It is also significant to determine the severity of your gluten allergy.  Many people have a
severe gluten allergy known as Celiac disease.  Celiac disease is very often difficult
diagnose because it has symptoms similar to that of many other conditions.  Celiac
disease involves the malfunctioning of your intestines.  They don?t absorb nutrients
properly.

Celiac disease symptoms include:  fatigue, depression, irritability, bone pain, dental
issues, bloating, and diarrhea.  See your physician to determine if you have Celica disease
or a less severe gluten allergy.  Celiac disease can be confirmed with a blood test and a
gluten-free diet trial.  If you do not have Celiac disease your doctor can determine if you
have a gluten allergy or another condition altogether.

If you have a hunch that you might have a gluten allergy then you need to stay away from
gluten foods.  This can be difficult as you have to say no to bagels, cookies, cake, and
cereals.  You need to read food labels carefully to detect if there is any wheat or gluten by
products in the food. 

Your doctor and a nutritional consultant can help you get started on a gluten free diet.  A
gluten free diet will kick your gluten allergy out the door in no time.

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