Some people are sensitive to wheat, meaning they experience unpleasant side effects when they consume foods containing wheat. These side effects can range from the minor to the severe, so what happens if you continue to eat wheat when you are sensitive to it depends on the severity of your reaction.
Wheat Allergy
A small percentage of people suffer from a wheat allergy, in which your immune system reacts abnormally to the protein found in wheat. If you consume wheat when you have a wheat allergy, you could experience reactions ranging from nausea, difficulty breathing, swelling and hives to anaphylaxis, which is life threatening. Less than 1 percent of people, mainly children, suffer from wheat allergies, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Wheat Intolerance
Unlike a wheat allergy, wheat intolerance doesn't involve a response by your immune system. If you suffer from wheat intolerance, you experience unpleasant symptoms when you consume wheat; these symptoms can include headaches, bloating and joint pain. These effects are merely uncomfortable and not life threatening.
Celiac Disease
Celiac disease is a sensitivity to the gluten that wheat, barley and rye contain. It is one of the more common types of wheat sensitivities, affecting approximately 1 percent of the U.S. population. If you have celiac disease, your immune system damages your intestines when you consume foods containing gluten. If you don't consume a gluten-free diet, you can seriously damage your health and eventually may lose the ability to absorb nutrients so you become malnourished regardless of the amount of nutritious food you consume.
Gluten Sensitivity
Approximately 6 percent of the U.S. population tests negative for celiac disease but still experiences symptoms when they consume foods containing gluten. If you have a gluten sensitivity, it can cause balance problems, stomach issues, headaches and other symptoms if you consume foods containing gluten. However, some people who are sensitive to gluten can consume it in small amounts without experiencing symptoms.
References
- "Daily Mail"; Wheat Intolerance: the Facts; Naomi Coleman
- MCG Health; Wheat-Sensitivity Diet; July 2008
- MayoClinic; Wheat Allergy; July 2009
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse; Celiac Disease; Ciaran Kelly, M.D., et al.; September 2008
- "Wall Street Journal"; Clues to Gluten Sensitivity; Melinda Beck; March 2011
