Many people live with allergies every day, and although if you don’t suffer from any yourself it can be hard to understand. People learn to live with allergies on a day to day basis, and with more and more people suffering from them learning to understand them is the key. Wheat allergies are increasing, and more people now suffer from this type of allergy. With over 40% of the population living with wheat allergies everyday it is more common than you may think. Knowing the symptoms, and reactions to allergies, will help you determine if you are allergic to wheat.
If you suspect you may be one of these people, then finding out exactly what wheat allergies are is very important. Understanding the symptoms and researching the treatments if any are available, is essential. A wheat allergy is basically a food allergy; it is your body’s reaction to the seed storage proteins of wheat. These proteins contain gluten, gliadin and globulin, and are what causes the wheat allergy in your body. Some people are only allergic to the wheat protein and others are allergic to other seeds and plant tissues as well. In extreme cases, simply inhaling flour can start an allergic reaction in your body. More and more workers in bakeries are now allergic to wheat, and over 42% have what is known as Bakers asthma.
Establishing exactly what type of allergic reaction you have to the different seeds and protein is the first step. They will cause different reactions in different people, and even if two people both suffer from wheat allergies, they can react differently. Wheat allergies will cause the same sort of reaction in your body as other food allergies. There are several different reactions, you may experience them all or just some of them. These allergic reactions can be scary and overwhelming, and they can happen a few moments or even a few hours after you have eaten the wheat product. You could experience, chest pains, dizziness, irritated eyes, nausea, a skin rash or vomiting. In a very severe case you may go into Anaphylaxis shock, this is a life threatening reaction which will need immediate medical attention. If you do happen to have any of these reactions after eating then you will need to determine which food caused the allergic reaction.
Visiting a doctor for allergy tests is essential, they will carry out a series of tests to determine which foods or proteins you are allergic too. They will cut out one food at a time from your diet, and will wait to see if a reaction occurs. The food is then added back into your diet, until one of the foods triggers an allergic reaction. This process can take some time, and you will have to be patient whilst you try to eliminate foods. Keeping a food journal is advised, so you can refer back to it at anytime and pinpoint the reactions to a food type. Once you have established which food you are allergic to, then this food can then be avoided, and although this seems drastic cutting one type of food from your diet isn’t as daunting as it sounds.
You may have to change your diet and your lifestyle, to ensure you do not get an allergic reaction every time you eat. There are several different wheat free alternatives to your average food, you can buy and eat these if it is proven that you are allergic to wheat. You have to ensure that when you go shopping you read the labels of all products, you will be surprised what has wheat in its ingredients. Wheat can be found in bread, flour, soy sauce, starch and modified starch, to name a few products. If you don’t want to change your lifestyle and diet completely then you can take some over the counter medications. You must however consult your doctor regarding these medications. If you are considering changing your diet, to not include wheat, you may want to consult a dietitian, to ensure you are receiving all the diet requirements you need. If you have a child with a wheat allergy they will often grow out of it, but if they don’t then you want to ensure you have guided them to lead a wheat free diet. Whichever method you decide is right for you, you can live with a wheat allergy, with just some small changes.
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