By Heide Kennedy, Arizona Farm Bureau Communications Intern
Food sensitivities are never fun. As a person who has many sensitivities to certain foods, I know just how hard it can be to have to completely alter your diet to accommodate those sensitivities. If you’re experiencing digestive distress, there is a chance that gluten could be the culprit, as it is an incredibly common food that some people, including myself, are sensitive to, or even allergic. Gluten is especially hard to avoid because it seems like it is sneaked into so many different foods. But, before you go making any drastic dietary changes, doctors and dietitians point out a few other health issues that might be causing that distress rather than gluten sensitivity.
You may have a food sensitivity you have not even thought about.
According to 4 doctors and registered dieticians, while common, gluten isn’t always the cause of your problems. They offer the following alternative causes for those digestive distress symptoms that aren’t caused by gluten.
- A different food intolerance such as lactose or fructose
- Added ingredients such as added fiber, artificial sugar, or alcohol
- Bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine
- Gastroparesis
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- High-fat foods
With that, it is important to thoroughly evaluate your symptoms and potentially see your doctor to properly diagnose the cause of your digestive distress, as there is a chance that it is not gluten sensitivity.
For more health-related articles, check out the Fill Your Plate blog!