Also known as non-coeliac gluten sensitivity, gluten intolerance is the unpleasant symptoms that occur after eating a substance that your body cannot handle. This is because the body cannot produce sufficient quantities of a particular enzyme or chemical which is needed to break down the food and aid digestion.
Food intolerance symptoms take longer to surface than food allergy symptoms, which are almost immediate. They don’t involve the immune system and they are not life-threatening. Symptoms may include bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, weight loss or weight gain.
The symptoms of intolerances in general focus more on the stomach and bowels, whereas symptoms of allergies can be more general, such as having difficultly breathing and skin rashes.
People with non-coeliac gluten sensitivities are advised to reduce the amount of gluten in their diet. The less gluten you have, the less symptoms you’ll show, so going gluten free might be a good option for you.
It can be tough! Our founder Emma Killilea isn’t just gluten intolerant – she’s a diagnosed coeliac and allergic to wheat too! Read her story.
