Food sensitivities can be very disruptive to your daily life. This is particularly true when a sensitivity encompasses a large portion of a food group such as bread. Some people have a sensitivity to gluten, a protein found in many grains. Whether you become irritable through the consumption of gluten depends on whether your body is capable of processing the nutrient.
Gluten Presence
Gluten is found in many types of grains, including wheat, rye, oats and barley. Because of this, gluten can be found in any products containing these ingredients, including bread, pasta, cereal and even beer. Most people do not experience any adverse effects or irritability when consuming gluten, but a small number of people can be greatly affected by the protein.
Effects on Healthy Individuals
Unless you have a gluten intolerance or gluten allergy, consuming gluten won't make you irritable or induce any symptoms or side effects that can increase irritability. You likely won't even be aware when you are consuming foods that contain gluten -- most individuals have the appropriate enzymes needed to break down and digest gluten.
Celiac Disease
Individuals suffering from celiac disease experience discomfort and complications resulting from gluten consumption. Celiac disease is the body's inability to process the gluten protein. This results in gluten causing significant damage to the small intestine as it passes through. The discomfort can be agitating to the individual suffering through the pain, and irritability is a common symptom, according to FamilyDoctor.org.
Considerations
The best way to treat irritability relating to gluten consumption is to eliminate gluten from your diet. Even small amounts of gluten can make you feel sick and damage your internal organs, and if ignored for too long the damage can become permanent. Talk to your doctor or a nutritionist about how to build a gluten-free diet, including what foods you should avoid and alternatives to grain-based foods.
