Everyone knows that eating whole grains is good for your health, but for some people, whole grains can cause mild to severe stomach pain. If you experience stomach pain every time you eat whole grain foods, you may have a condition called Celiac disease, also called sprue. Another common condition that causes stomach pain is a wheat allergy, which may be a sign of an allergy to other grains. The two conditions can be easily confused. You should talk with your doctor for further evaluation.
Celiac Disease
Stomach pain is one of the primarily symptoms of Celiac disease, although different people develop various symptoms. Celiac disease is a chronic adverse reaction to gluten, a protein found in wheat and many whole grain products. If you have Celiac disease, your immune system reacts to the gluten in such a way that it damages the lining of your intestines. This condition can cause permanent damage to your digestive system, leaving you malnourished. If you are diagnosed with this condition, you need to completely eliminate all whole grain products from your diet, according to MedlinePlus.
Grain Allergy
If you're allergic to wheat, you have a higher risk of begin allergic to other grains, according to the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network. The difference between Celiac disease and a grain allergy is the cause of the reactions. If you're allergic to wheat or other grains, your immune system overreacts to the proteins in the grains and creates a specific antibody to fight against the proteins. Immunoglobulin E, or IgE antibodies are only created during an allergic reaction.
Considerations
One of the most obvious ways to tell the difference between gluten intolerance and a grain allergy is to observe the symptoms. Celiac disease symptoms primarily affect the digestive system and will not cause reactions in other parts of the body; a grain allergy will. An allergic reaction to grains can trigger symptoms in your sinuses, your lungs, your skin and your digestion. In rare cases a wheat allergy can cause an extreme allergic reaction that could lead to death. For this reason, all your symptoms need to be assessed by your doctor.
Elimination
Both conditions require the avoidance and elimination of gluten and other grains commonly consumed in the American diet. For example, if you're diagnosed with Celiac disease or a grain allergy, you will need to avoid eating bran, farina, graham flour, wheat flour, bulgur, durum, starch, kamut, semolina, malt and spelt.
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