An allergic reaction to food or other substances is mediated by your immune system; your body reacts to a protein in the food as if it is harmful. When you have a wheat allergy, your body tries to attack the wheat protein by secreting histamine, which causes swelling, itching, watery eyes and hives. Unbleached white flour is more refined than whole wheat flour but both contain the proteins that can cause an allergic reaction. Food allergies can be life-threatening if severe.
Wheat Flours
Freshly milled flour is commonly pale yellow due to the carotenoid pigments in the wheat, according to CooksIllustrated.com. Unbleached white flour is refined flour that is allowed to bleach naturally instead of being treated with benzoyl peroxide or chlorine gas. As the flour ages – usually in about 12 weeks – the pigments fade and the flour becomes whiter. Whole wheat flour, as the name implies, includes the entire grain of the wheat and contains nutrients that are typically lost when the flour is refined. Both flours have the same potential to cause an allergic reaction because both contain wheat proteins.
Food Allergies
Food allergies in American children under the age of 18 increased 18 percent from 1997 to 2007, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, although the prevalence can vary by country and by food. Children are more likely to have allergies if one or more parents also have allergies. Milk, peanuts, soy, seafood and wheat are among the most common allergens in children, although there is no recent data regarding the prevalence of wheat allergy in the United States, according to AllergicChild.com.
Food Sensitivity
Humans can have food sensitivities to wheat flours, but food sensitivity – which may also be known as food intolerance – is not a true allergy. Celiac disease is an example of wheat intolerance. Wheat contains four types of proteins, albumin, globulin, gliadin and gluten. Any of the four can cause allergy, but gluten is the culprit in celiac disease. Gluten intolerance results in symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea; it can cause vitamin deficiencies due to poor absorption. Celiac disease does not cause histamine release or symptoms of allergy such as shortness of breath, itching or hives.
Severe Wheat Allergy
Allergy to wheat can vary from mild to severe. In severe cases, you may develop anaphylaxis, which can cause massive swelling of the throat, obstruct breathing and make your blood pressure drop so that you faint. If you have a severe allergy, you may need to carry a kit that contains injectable epinephrine to treat anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis can be life-threatening if untreated.
Considerations and Warnings
If you have a true wheat allergy, you will need to avoid all potential sources of wheat. In addition to unbleached white and whole wheat flour, wheat proteins are found in a wide array of foods such as baked goods, pasta, beer, soy sauce and ketchup. Wheat may even be used in some cosmetics. Consult a physician if you think you or your child has a wheat allergy.
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