Which Patients Should Eat Gluten Free?

The gluten-free diet we have heard about recently; Although it is one of the steps taken for a healthy life, it is actually a lifelong type of nutrition for some patients. So, which patients should be on a gluten-free diet? Who should avoid gluten?

People with celiac disease, gluten sensitivity or allergy, gluten intolerance should follow a gluten-free diet. In these patients, digestive or allergy problems are encountered due to gluten. For these people, even small amounts of gluten can cause serious problems.

People with celiac disease who should absolutely avoid gluten in their digestive system, actually damage the structures and tissues in the gut due to the chronic inflammation caused by gluten. They often experience symptoms such as bloating, cramping or certain skin rashes due to their consumption of even small amounts of gluten.

It is also seen that people with celiac disease due to gluten may become lactose intolerant and have iron deficiency anemia in the later stage. Celiac disease is diagnosed by taking blood tests or a biopsy of the small intestine.

People with gluten intolerance or sensitivity and non-celiac gluten sensitivity have no damage to their intestinal lining. However, they still experience headaches, bloating, fatigue, or diarrhea after eating gluten-containing foods. As a result, gluten-free diet will help to minimize symptoms by improving their quality of life.

Diagnosing gluten sensitivity can be difficult. Gluten sensitivity can be determined by observing the physiological symptoms experienced after gluten consumption. People are tested for celiac disease and if the test is negative, they follow a gluten-free diet. Only then will they be diagnosed with gluten sensitivity if symptoms due to gluten consumption improve on this diet. In addition, in contrast to people with celiac disease, those with gluten sensitivity do not experience problems with their small intestines or resulting nutritional deficiencies after consuming gluten.

People with gluten allergy also have symptoms of gluten sensitivity; allergic reaction occurs.

In addition to everyone who wants to eat healthy, patients who have to eat gluten-free should plan their diet very well. What is important for these patients is the improvement of the body and the body's responses to gluten with a gluten-free diet.