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Did you know that eight percent of children and two percent of all Americans have at least one food allergy?Food Allergy Aid is dedicated to providing a meaningful resource to these people and their loved ones to keep these potentially life-threating allergies managable.


Friday, October 05, 2007

What is Gluten?

I get asked a lot about gluten and what exactly it is! Many people also ask about the difference between Celiac Disease and wheat allergy.

Gluten is two proteins that make up wheat (a grain). Proteins in wheat is what causes allergies or intolerances to the grain. Not all grains contain gluten, though. For example, corn, buckwheat, and rice do not contain gluten.

Celiac Disease is an autoimmune condition (the body "attacks itself"). People who suffer with this disease cannot tolerate/digest gluten. If gluten is consumed, it can cause the intestines to become damaged. Once this damage occurs, the body may become unable to properly asborb essential vitamins and minerals that are necessary for life. Some of the symptoms of celiac disease include weight loss, diarrhea, bloating, gas, and poor nutrition.

To find more information on Celiac Disease, please see the links below:

http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/celiac/

http://www.celiac.org/

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/celiacdisease.html

A true wheat allergy is when the body experiences an allergic reaction to wheat protein. The body releases histamine which causes symptoms such as itching, wheezing, swelling of the mouth or throat, hives, a drop in blood pressure, and even death. The reactions can be mild, moderate, or severe. Severe, life-threatening reactions are known as anaphylaxis.

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