Wheat is a substance you often find in breads, cookies, cakes and other carbohydrate-containing foods. Wheat and gluten also can be part of malt flavoring, modified starch and vegetable gum, according to Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology, a Pennsylvania-based physician group specializing in the digestive system. Wheat contains a protein known as gluten---which also is found in rye and barley. Some people may not be able to digest this protein in the small intestine. When this occurs, adverse symptoms can take place. Eliminating gluten and wheat in the diet can reduce harmful symptoms.
Reduces Celiac Disease Inflammation
Celiac disease is a condition where the body cannot tolerate gluten in the body, according to Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology. The small intestine cannot digest the gluten, and becomes irritated as a result. An estimated 1 in 133 Americans have celiac disease, according to Celiac.com. Symptoms include diarrhea, gas, cramping and unexplained weight loss. Reducing gluten from the diet can help you to experience a reduction in harmful symptoms related to celiac disease. If left untreated, celiac disease can lead to health complications including anemia, reduction in bone density and vitamin deficiencies of folate and B12. Gastrointestinal cancer risk also increases in those with untreated celiac disease, according to Celiac.com. You may wish to consult a dietitian, however, on how to compensate for lost nutrients as a result of eating a gluten-free diet.
Reduction in Bloating
When carbohydrates are broken down in the stomach, they can release gases that cause bloating. If you frequently experience this or other gastrointestinal symptoms, such as diarrhea and constipation, eliminating wheat products from your diet may help you find relief from symptoms, according to Wild Health Food. You may wish to first eliminate wheat products to see if your symptoms improve. If you do experience improved symptoms, try eliminating gluten altogether to see if your gastrointestinal symptoms improve.
Reduction in ADHD Symptoms
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a condition most commonly diagnosed in childhood that affects a child's ability to concentrate and pay attention. The percentage of the population with a gluten sensitivity and ADHD is higher than the average population, according to Health Castle. If your child has been diagnosed with ADHD, testing his gluten sensitivity may help to determine treatments. In these children, adopting a gluten-free diet may help to reduce hyperactivity and inattention.
Member Comments