Wheat or gluten can trigger asthma and allergies

I cured my asthma.

My asthmatic symptoms and allergies disappear as soon as I stop eating wheat

A few months ago, I developed a runny nose that didn't go away. It soon migrated to my chest and I had trouble breathing later at night or early in the morning. This lasted for about 5 or 6 months.

I tried many things to address the cause and heal the issue. I tried clearing away as much dust from my room as possible. My bed was cleaned to remove dust mites (which can cause allergic reactions, wheezing and difficulty breathing).

Recently, I tried a 4 four day water fast to see if that would cure my asthmatic symptoms. Fasting is known to alleviate a variety of diseases, like allergies and asthma, and improve overall health. I had no allergic reactions or breathing problems during the fast, but they came back within 12 hours after I started eating again. Bread was one of the first things that I ate when I broke my fast.

I finally found my solution.

A friend of mine suggested that I could possibly have gluten sensitivity. Gluten is not necessarily bad for you unless you are sensitive or allergic to it. I kept this idea (along with many other suggestions) at the back of my mind as I figured out which theory I wanted to test out next.

I wanted to save this one for the last of my experiments because I would have to test out a whole range of foods that cause allergic reactions like wheat, eggs, dairy, nuts, soy and seafood.

One night I had diarrhea and bloody stool hours after eating a large meal that was predominantly wheat-based. I decided to cut out wheat and see what happened.

I had absolutely no breathing difficulty or allergic reactions within 24 hours of abstaining from foods that have wheat in them.

This was true for three whole days before I ate wheat again. True to form, I woke up in the middle of the night last night with breathing difficulties - hours after I had a meal with wheat.

It isn't nice to face the fact that I have to cut out wheat from my diet (which is in almost everything), but it is also really nice to know that I have finally found the solution.

Trial and error finally paid off.

Wheat sensitivity causes allergies and asthma

Wheat allergy can cause the following symptoms:

1. Swelling
2. Itching
3. Inflamed mouth and throat
4. Skin problems like hives, rashes and swelling
5. Nasal congestion
6. Runny nose
7. Headaches
8. Asthmatic symptoms
9. Cramps
10. Nausea
11. Vomiting
12. Diarrhea
13. Anaphylaxis

I have had eczema from childhood. You can get eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis and skin conditions from wheat sensitivity. It would be awesome if my eczema resolves itself when I cut out wheat!

The symptoms on this list that I personally experienced were skin problems (eczema), itching, nasal congestion, runny nose and nasal congestion, asthmatic symptoms and diarrhea when I ate a lot of wheat.

Since the diarrhea happened hours after the consumption of wheat, I would never assume that it was the wheat that caused it. This could mean that my poor body has had to deal with wheat consumption and the inflamed response on a regular basis for years and years.

The effects can start hours later.

How does wheat trigger allergies, asthma, skin conditions and other diseases?

Let me start off by saying that wheat is not the problem - it's your body's reaction to wheat. Some people can eat wheat without any issues. This is only applicable to people with sensitivity to wheat. You should avoid wheat for a few days and see if your condition improves. If it does, you have found the culprit.

Wheat can cause inflammation in people with a leaky gut

The connection between leaky gut and inflammation

Good bacteria maintain a healthy gut lining. Bad gut bacteria (and other pathogenic microbes) can damage the wall inside your colon. Lack of good bacteria can also cause a damaged intestinal wall.

A healthy gut lining should have lots of small holes that allow digested nutrients to pass into the blood stream. When this wall is damaged, the holes are bigger than they should be. This allows larger food particles to get through.

One of the larger food particles can be the gluten in wheat.

Cells can't absorb gluten before is it broken down into usable nutrients, so your immune system is activated to escort the unusable food out of the blood stream.

Wheat therefore causes an immune response. When this happens regularly, the immune system is permanently switched on. This leads to a hyperactive immune system that attacks everything in sight.

In my case, it lead to breathing problems as inflammation affected my lungs and skin problem as inflammation prevented my skin from working properly.

Many diseases start in the gut.

Signs of inflammation:

Signs of inflammation are:

1. Autoimmune diseases
2. Diabetes
3. Metabolic syndrome
4. Heart disease
5. Obesity
6. Pain
7. Redness
8. Loss of function in a particular body part
9. Swelling
10. Heat
11. Fatigue and low energy
12. Feeling unwell
13. Fever
14. Cardiovascular disease
15. Arthritis and other joint diseases like rheumatoid arthritis
16. Allergies
17. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (difficulty breathing) and asthma
18. Psoriasis
19. Cancer
20. Depression
21. Insomnia
22. Heightened stress response
23. Ulcer
24. Hay fever
25. Atherosclerosis
26. Gum disease
27. Dermatitis and eczema
28. Blood vessel inflammation
29. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
30. Lupus
31. Hepatitis

Diseases caused by inflammation

As you can see, inflammation affects every part of the body. Inflammation from the immune response to wheat personally gave me the following symptoms:

1. Allergies
2. Runny nose
3. Difficulty breathing
4. Eczema

I haven't had any allergic reactions, sinus or difficulty breathing since I cut out wheat. I still have relatively dry skin - this might take longer to clear up.

If you suspect that inflammation is causing disease in your own body, work with a medical practitioner to find the cause. Stay Strong!

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Is Gluten Free REALLY Better?

We look at what gluten is and if it is unhealthy, since more 'gluten free' products are becoming available on the market currently.

What is gluten?

Gluten is the protein found in grains (especially wheat). It is what causes the elasticity of dough and gives things like bread its chewy texture. The name 'gluten' comes from the Latin word for 'glue', because it helps to hold dough together as it is turned into bread. It is obtained by washing the starch out of flour and is also used to make synthetic meat products for vegetarians and add protein to their diets, since gluten is a protein.

Where does gluten come from?

Gluten is most commonly found in wheat. It also comes from other grains like rye and barley. Gluten is often found in bread, chips (crisps AND fries), beer, pasta, and many sauces, dressings and soups.

Is gluten bad for you?

Gluten is not bad for you, unless you have Celiac disease, gluten intolerance or are allergic to wheat.

Who shouldn't eat gluten?

People who have Celiac disease should not eat gluten. This disease makes the small intestine very sensitive to gluten, which leads to difficulty digesting food and inflammation (causing damage) of the small intestine when gluten is consumed. Gluten intolerance is a condition where the body has an abnormal immune response when gluten is broken down in the body. There are also people who are allergic to wheat, who should avoid all wheat and gluten products.

How do you know if you have Celiac disease?

 The number one reason that leads people to seek diagnosis is gastrointestinal stress after eating bread and other wheat products. It is recommended that you don't cut out gluten completely before seeking medical advice and diagnosis, because there have been reports of people who experienced gastrointestinal distress after eating gluten products, cut out all forms of gluten and then taken blood tests through a doctor to determine if they are gluten intolerant or have this disease. Because gluten has not been in their system, there are no gluten antibodies in their bloodstream, which blood tests should have detected in order to diagnose the disease. Seek professional medical advice before cutting out gluten completely in order to aid a more accurate diagnosis.

These are the signs that you might be gluten intolerant:

• You experience gastrointestinal distress after consuming gluten products (like bread).
• You have serious gastrointestinal problems often (like diarrhea, bloating, abdominal pain, or weight loss)
• You experience symptoms of iron, vitamin B, and folate deficiency, because the small intestine is responsible for absorbing these nutrients and this disease affects this part of the intestine.
• You have a family history of this condition, as it can be hereditary. 

Gluten free diets are used to treat people with this condition.

Are there people who shouldn't worry about gluten?

Yes. A gluten free diet is specifically designed for people who are gluten intolerant. If you are not gluten intolerant, then gluten is not bad for you, as long as you are not eating too much of it (like any food). Any food product can be considered unhealthy if it is consumed in too large an amount.

Are there benefits to going gluten free even if you are not sensitive to gluten?

Some scientists are concerned that those without gluten intolerance who follow a gluten free diet are missing out on nutrient rich foods and therefore might suffer from lack of important nutrients. 

There are many gluten free products now offered in supermarket stores, including products that would generally have gluten such as bread and pasta. Note that 'wheat free' does not mean 'gluten free'! If you are considering a gluten-free diet, consult with a dietitian to make sure that you still eat a diet that has all the necessary nutrients needed for optimal health, and that the foods you eat will be gluten free, since many products contain gluten, such as some vitamin products that use gluten as a binding agent.

Many people consider gluten free diets as a healthy choice, even if they are not gluten free. Here are a few reasons why:

• Gluten free diets eliminate foods that are unhealthy. For example, processed foods often contain gluten. Choosing more natural foods that won't include gluten will include healthier options like fruits, vegetables and meats without sauces and marinades. Additionally, fried foods are also eliminated as the breading, coating and crumbing of these foods contain gluten.
• By avoiding heavily processed foods, you are also avoiding the added chemicals like artificial flavoring, coloring, preservatives, stabilizers and enhancers.
• As mentioned above, this forces people to eat more natural foods like fruit and vegetables that are unprocessed.
• Other unhealthy foods are avoided like oils, pastries and sugars (sweets, candy bars, etc.)
• By eating fresh, unprocessed foods, you are indirectly adding natural nutrients like antioxidants, fiber, minerals and vitamins to your diet that were previously lacking
• Gluten free products on the market are usually a lot healthier than their gluten containing counterparts

It is possible to gain all these health benefits while still consuming gluten, by eating a large portion of fresh foods like fruit and vegetables and minimizing the amount of processed foods consumed. Eating fresh and as natural (least processed) as possible will yield the same health benefits.

A gluten free diet is not a must for people who are not gluten intolerant, and its potential health benefits can be obtained in a gluten-present diet by eating as natural as possible and eating a well-balanced diet. Stay Strong!

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