Gluten Wheat Allergy

Gluten is a very common protein found in many grains and carbohydrate products. Unfortunately, about one in 130 people in the United States are allergic to it. Learn what to look for and what to avoid.

Gluten: A Common Protein

Simply put, gluten is a basic protein found in flour that helps it to rise and binds substances together. It is found mostly in wheat, but is also in rye and barley. Some less obvious foods that contain gluten are fermented beverages, bran, couscous, malt and oats.

The Wheat-Gluten Allergy

An allergy is an abnormal immune response to an otherwise harmless substance, causing the body to produce immunoglobulin antibodies. Those with a wheat-gluten allergy are hypersensitive to the proteins in wheat, so the immune system will attack it as a foreign invader.

Symptoms of Wheat-Gluten Allergies

There are many common reactions, different from person to person, to a wheat-gluten allergy. Common reactions include abdominal pain and cramping, bloating, headaches, vomiting, diarrhea, allergic rhinitis, anemia, muscle cramps, eczema, swelling around the mouth, tingling in the feet or legs, irritability, depression, hives and even osteoporosis.

Foods to Avoid

The best way to treat a wheat allergy is to implement a wheat-free diet, eliminating gluten, according to the website foodintol.com This can be a challenge, since gluten is present in so many different foods, but it is possible to do.

According to AllergyEscape.com, avoid alcoholic beverages, batter-fried foods, biscuits and breads, cakes and candy, cereal, chocolate, crackers, donuts, flours, hot dogs, ice cream, pasta, pretzels, pumpernickel and rye breads, tortillas, soy sauce, waffles and wheat germ, which may all contain gluten. Many grocery stores also carry "gluten-free" versions of these items, so substitution is possible.

Other Gluten Allergy Treatments

Other medical treatments can limit the immune response if avoidance is not possible, according to AllergyEscape.com. Certain medications may help control symptoms after the attack has occured. Epinephrine will treat severe reactions, while Benadryl can be used as an over-the-counter treatment for lesser responses. Corticosteroids will also control swelling and skin reactions, providing relief from some unpleasant symptoms.