15 Signs You May Have a Gluten Intolerance (and what to do about it)

If you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms, you may have an intolerance to gluten.

1. Abdominal Pain

Gluten is known to trigger several gastrointestinal symptoms. In fact, that’s one of the primary reasons why people—even those without a gluten allergy—steer clear of gluten [3], [4].

In a study conducted from 1990 to 1997, 215 individuals with celiac disease were analyzed before and after a gluten-free diet [5].

Out of the six gastrointestinal symptoms analyzed, abdominal pain was experienced by 80% of the individuals. And after partaking in a GF diet, that number went down drastically—to less than 1%.

2. Autoimmune Disorders

Celiac disease is a gluten allergy that’s also classified as an autoimmune disease [6].

This is because the immune system confuses gluten with a foreign invader, attacks healthy cells, and damages your small intestine.

Research shows that celiac disease increases your chances of developing other autoimmune diseases such as autoimmune thyroid disease and liver disease, type 1 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease [7].

3. Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD and ADHD)

In a study conducted from 2004 to 2008, 67 individuals with ADHD partook in a gluten-free diet for 6 months [8].

Results showed that 10 of the patients with ADHD also had celiac disease, and living a GF lifestyle significantly improved their ADHD symptoms. This suggests that ADHD is not only a separate disorder but a symptom of various other diseases.

4.Bone and Joint Pain

Are you prone to fracturing bones?

Are your bones weakening from osteoporosis?

Is your rheumatoid arthritis becoming more painful by the day?

These may be signs of a gluten intolerance like celiac disease, and the inflammation that accompanies it.

Studies show that your diet plays a crucial role in pain management [9], [10]. A GF diet in particular is anti-inflammatory, which helps relieve bone and joint pain [11].

5. Bloating

Bloating is a common symptom for an array of gastrointestinal diseases, but it one of the top three most-reported symptoms of celiac disease—with 73% of people reporting it [5].

If you’ve ever said, “I feel stuffed!”, you’ve probably experienced bloating. Bloating usually occurs after one eats, and can be described as a swelling of the stomach due to excess gas or food sensitivities that disrupt the digestive system.

6. Brain Fog

In a survey of 125 participants with non-coeliac gluten sensitivity (NCGS), 48% reported brain fog as one of their symptoms, with abdominal discomfort, fatigue, headaches, and irritability ranking among the most pronounced [12].

These symptoms arose just 90 minutes after ingesting gluten and subsided within 48 hours.

7. Canker Sores

There are many reasons canker sores can come about—genetic factors, nutritional deficiencies, viral and bacterial infections, and immune or endocrine disturbances [13].

And approximately 6% of those with a gluten sensitivity mark it as one of their symptoms.

This most likely results from the inflammation that occurs in the mucous membrane lining inside the mouth.

8. Constipation, Gas, and Diarrhea

The gut—often called the body’s second brain—has a whole array of health issues when it’s bloated, constipated, and downright irritated.

These symptoms are what make up irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)—a chronic functional disorder of the GI tract that consists of abdominal pain due to a change in bowel habits—and celiac disease [14], [5].

9.Depression

Who would’ve guessed that the cookies you turn to when you’re sad, happy, or stressed are linked to depression?

Those with celiac disease (CD) experience depression even more—usually due to the social and financial burden it causes. In fact, out of the 519 individuals surveyed, 46% of them reported feeling somewhat, quite a bit, or very much depressed because of their disorder [15].

Studies show that a GF diet is an effective treatment strategy for mood disorders in those with gluten-related sensitivities [16].

10. Fatigue

In those who have chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, fatigue is all too common in their day-to-day lives.

A gluten-free diet seems to be offering relief from fatigue in those with celiac disease, with multiple studies showing promising results [17], [18].

11. Headache

In a 2019 survey of 866 people with celiac disease, tension-type headaches ranked among the most prevalent headache types (52%), followed by migraine without (32.5%) and with aura (15.4%) [19].

12. Iron Deficiency

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA)—when your body doesn’t have enough iron—is the only side effect in 40% of celiac patients [20].

Even with a gluten-free diet, some individuals with celiac disease continue to have IDA.

13. Irritability

Conditions that affect the central nervous system—like celiac disease—can cause irritability [21]. Irritability can be described as situational stress, anxiety, annoyance, or frustration. 

What pronounces it even more is chronic pain, chronic fatigue, and acute or severe illnesses.

14. Rash and Skin Problems

There’s an ever-growing list of skin problems that arise in light of gluten [22], [23], [24]:

• Acne
• Eczema
• Psoriasis
• Hives
• Rashes

15.Unintentional Weight Loss

Those with celiac disease (CD) may also lose weight—unintentionally.

In one study, two-thirds of patients reported weight loss in the 6 months before being diagnosed with CD. That number flipped to 91% of patients gaining weight (an average of 16.5 pounds) between the time of diagnosis and 6 months after starting a GF diet [5].