Celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey tout going gluten-free temporarily as a way to lose weight and feel more energetic, and some athletes, including tennis star Novak Djokovic, report that their gluten-free diets make them more competitive. But the gluten-free diet does more than make you thinner and faster on the court. For people with a severe gluten sensitivity, going gluten-free can clear up debilitating symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. However, you should check with your doctor before trying a gluten-free diet on your own, since following a gluten-free diet may lead to false results on important medical tests.
Basics
Gluten, which is a protein, forms in the seeds of wheat, barley and rye plants. A gluten-free diet omits all foods that contain those three grains. That includes obvious sources of gluten from wheat, such as whole wheat bread, cookies and wheat-based cereals. However, it also includes many multi-ingredient and processed foods; wheat works well as a filler in foods, and so you'll find it in sauces, spice mixes and even in some dairy products.
Effects
Celiac disease, the most serious form of gluten sensitivity, definitely can cause nausea and vomiting among its many symptoms. In people with celiac disease, the body's immune cells actually attack the lining of the small intestine in response to gluten ingestion. This leads to a plethora of gastrointestinal symptoms, including nausea and vomiting. Diarrhea and abdominal pain occur most commonly, but it's also possible to suffer from constipation or alternating diarrhea and constipation if you have celiac disease. If you have celiac disease, you must make sure to follow a gluten-free diet.
More Effects
Non-celiac gluten sensitivity also can cause nausea and vomiting, along with other gastrointestinal symptoms. In non-celiac gluten sensitivity, there's no actual intestinal damage. However, the condition can cause inflammation in the intestines and elsewhere, fatigue, headaches and even nerve problems. As with celiac disease, there's no drug treatment for non-celiac gluten sensitivity; if you have it, your only option to alleviate your symptoms is to follow a gluten-free diet.
Considerations
You shouldn't begin a gluten-free diet before you've talked with your physician about getting tested for celiac disease. That's because you need to be consuming gluten in order for celiac disease tests to accurately determine your body's reaction to the protein; otherwise, you risk getting false negative results. There's no accepted medical test for non-celiac gluten sensitivity; in order to determine if that condition is causing your nausea and vomiting, you should talk to your doctor about trying an elimination diet. Regardless, chronic nausea and vomiting can stem from medical conditions other than gluten sensitivity, so you should see your doctor for a full workup before trying dietary changes on your own.
References
- Columbia University Celiac Disease Center: What Are CD and DH?
- University of Maryland; University of Maryland School Researchers Identify Key Pathogenic Differences Between Celiac Disease and Gluten Sensitivity; March 10, 2011
- Colorado State University Extension Service; Gluten-Free Diets; Stephanie Wallner, M.S., et al.; Fall 2006
