Happy National Celiac Awareness Day!
What is the hardest thing about Celiac Disease and gluten intolerance, besides navigating the world of food? Figuring out whether you have an intolerance to gluten or not.
The symptoms of gluten intolerance are so varied and sometimes completely opposite of each other that it becomes extremely difficult to diagnose. Even among my own family members who have been diagnosed with Celiac Disease or Gluten Intolerance (it is genetic), we all have varying symptoms. How your body reacts to gluten is unique to you.
So what are the symptoms of a gluten intolerance? The Gluten Intolerance Group of North America (http://www.gluten.net) has a great diagram that provides many of the major symptoms.
So, you have some symptoms. What now? Since there is currently no cure and one must follow a gluten free diet, a confirmed diagnosis is recommended before starting a gluten free diet, lest your results might be skewed. Diagnosis can be determined by a blood test or a biopsy.
Note: I am not a doctor. Please see your doctor if you have symptoms to discuss further treatment.
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