Do You Fit This Wheat Allergy Profile?

If you think you have a wheat allergy, you'll want to compare your allergy symptoms to the symptoms listed in this wheat allergy profile. Wheat allergies are quite common, especially among children. Most wheat allergies are caused by a sticky protein in wheat called gluten. While allergy tests are the only truly accurate ways to know if you have a wheat allergy, you can get a good idea if you have a food sensitivity or allergy by checking these common responses to your own.

Skin Reactions
People with wheat allergies often show skin reactions such as hives, rashes, and unexplained itching after consuming wheat.

Congestion
If you experience a runny nose or congestion in your nasal or sinus passages, including the back of the throat post-nasal drip, after eating wheat products, you may have a wheat allergy.

Digestive Reactions
Digestive problems can include diarrhea and nausea, but these symptoms are easily confused with an inability to digest gluten. An allergic reaction to gluten, known as Celiac's Disease, is more serious than an allergic reaction to wheat; even though wheat contains gluten, there are also other sources of gluten aside from wheat.

Difficulty Breathing
If you have labored breathing or feel as if your airway has narrowed down like a straw, you may be having an allergic reaction to wheat.

Anaphylaxis
Anaphylactic shock is an extreme allergic reaction to wheat.

Some people claim bloating of the stomach, depression and stiff muscles are also related to wheat allergies, but these symptoms are not as widely accepted as the others listed above.

Many people who have wheat allergies are also allergic to other foods. Some common food allergies are tree nuts, peanuts, eggs, fish, shellfish and milk.

If you want to experiment with a wheat-free diet, look up information on gluten-free cooking and Celiac's Disease.  Many people find they benefit from a gluten-free diet and more and more grocery stores, restaurants and coops are catering to the gluten-free community.