Can Gluten Intolerance Go Away?

Last Updated on June 4, 2024

Today, we’re going to be answering the question: can gluten intolerance go away? And taking a look at whether it’s possible to ever recover or be “cured” from gluten intolerance/gluten sensitivity. When you first receive your diagnosis, your first thought will likely be, “will this ever go away?” – I know mine was. But can it really happen? Or is this the way you’ll live the rest of your life now? Let’s take a look.

What Is Gluten?

You’ll likely have heard the name, “gluten”, but what actually is it? Gluten is the protein found in many types of cereal grains. You’ll likely know gluten better by the grains that contain gluten. These cereal grains are barley, rye, wheat, oats (unless gluten-free oats), and spelt to name a few.

Gluten helps to provide texture and aids foods in holding their shape. While it holds no nutrients that you need in your diet, gluten grains can be found in many everyday foods. You can find gluten in foods such as cereal, bread, pasta, pizza, and baked goods.

What Is Gluten Intolerance?

To put it simply, gluten intolerance is when your body can not tolerate the consumption of gluten. Your symptoms can range from mild to severe, depending on how sensitive your body is to the protein. It is a fairly common intolerance, but one that can be life-altering. Gluten intolerance can occur at any time in your life. I always assumed it was like an allergy and something you always had. However, I was in my mid-twenties when my symptoms started.

Signs Of Gluten Intolerance

There are many signs and symptoms to look out for if you suspect you have gluten intolerance. Some of the most common symptoms include:

• diarrhea
• constipation
• smelly feces
• fatigue
• skin reactions (celiac only)
• depression
• anxiety
• anemia (celiac only)
• unexplained weight loss
• bloating
• gas
• abdominal pain
• headaches
• brain fog

You can find out more information on the signs and symptoms here.

What Is The Difference Between Gluten Intolerance and Celiac?

It may not seem as though there’s a difference between gluten intolerance and celiac disease; however, they are far from the same condition. While they usually manifest with the same symptoms, gluten intolerance is often seen as just one of the symptoms of the celiac disease itself.

If left undiagnosed and untreated, celiac disease can cause major damage to your small intestine, which may be irreversible if left long enough. Non-celiac gluten intolerance, while debilitating, will not cause any lasting damage to your internal organs and is unlikely to cause deficiencies and skin conditions.

Learn more about Gluten Intolerances and Acne: Fact Or Fiction?

How Is Gluten Intolerance Diagnosed?

Gluten intolerance can be diagnosed in a range of ways, and it all depends on whether you’re celiac or have non-celiac gluten intolerance. For a celiac diagnosis, if you’re still consuming gluten, you can either have a simple blood test – which is usually enough. However, if not, you can also have a colonoscopy, which is a procedure whereby you have an intestinal biopsy.

If you suspect you have non-celiac gluten intolerance, simply removing gluten from your diet is usually a quick way to diagnose yourself. Symptoms will usually markedly improve within a week or so if you are gluten intolerant.

Conclusion

I hope this article has helped to answer the question: can gluten intolerance go away? The truth is, it varies entirely for everyone. If you have celiac disease, you absolutely must stick to a gluten-free diet so as not to cause further damage to your internal organs. But if you have non-celiac gluten intolerance, it’s sometimes possible to introduce gluten to your diet again gradually. Unfortunately, there is no magic cure to allow us to enjoy gluten again.

Dr. Osborne on whether gluten sensitivity can be healed:

Learn more about: Gluten and Dairy Intolerance Connection: Is There One?

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