
What is Gluten Sensitivity?
If you have found that you feel ill when you eat foods with gluten, but have not tested positive for celiac disease, you might be struggling with gluten sensitivity. Gluten sensitivity is not a wheat allergy. Instead it is often referred to as non-celiac gluten sensitivity, and it is much more common than you might think. Gluten Intolerance vs. Celiac Disease You have likely seen or heard many people saying they are reducing their gluten or giving it up altogether. In some cases, people actually have wheat allergies or an autoimmune condition called celiac disease where gluten makes them ill. “When people with celiac disease eat gluten (a protein found in wheat, rye and barley), their body mounts an immune response that attacks the small intestine. These attacks lead to damage on the villi, small fingerlike projections that line the small intestine, that promote nutrient absorption. When the villi get damaged, nutrients cannot be absorbed properly into the body.” – Celiac Disease Foundation Others test negative for celiac disease, but notice an improvement in symptoms when gluten is eliminated. This is non-celiac gluten sensitivity, or NCGS. It is more common, but less easily diagnosed. What is gluten? Gluten is a