Allergic to wheat??

[movingoutofCA]

I have read that if MSG was made in America, it is ok for people with gluten sensitivities. Same thing for 'natural flavorings'

You can be gluten sensitive or allergic and not have Celiacs disease. So even if the blood test is negative you should still try omitting it from your diet. But you have to watch for it in a lot of things.

[gemkeeper]

Originally Posted by redwhiteblue

How do you know if you are allergic to wheat, is there a test?

There is a test to see if you are allergic to wheat. Most people are actually not allergic to it, but as been stated, have a sensitivity to the gluten in wheat. It will cause bloating, upset stomach, diarrhea, and all over lousy feeling. A sensitivity is usually caused when the body does not produce enough of the digestive enzyme particular to the offending food. Your body cannot digest and process it properly.

That is quite different to a true allergy to wheat. This can be tested by an allergist with either a RAST test, which is a blood test that checks for histamine production when introduced to wheat protein. There is also the skin test where the skin, usually the inside of your forearm or the upper back, is pricked with a needle that introduces a small amount of the suspect protein (wheat in this case) just under the skin. If this triggers histamine production in your body a welt will form. The doctor will assign a number to the welt based on size and inflammation to determine just how allergic you are to the protein.

This is important because the higher the number (from 1-5) the more allergic you are. If your reaction was a 4 or 5 your doctor will probably recommend that you avoid all wheat and wheat by-products for life.

I have numerous food allergies - not sensitivities - and have learned over the years that you cannot always trust packaged food to list properly all of the ingredients or if the machinery to prepare a processed food product has come in contact with something you may be allergic to, such as peanuts or soy or wheat.

I buy and eat only foods that are fresh, never boxed or canned (processed) and carry an Epi-pen in case of an severe reaction (anaphyllasis).

Fortunately, for most people food allergies or sensitivities are mild and are more of a nuisance. But, for many, they can cause severe illnesses or death. If in doubt, do not eat. Even the steam from an offending food cooking can cause a severe reaction for those who are highly allergic like I am.