Do I Have Wheat sensitivity?

Dear Ask The Doctor: When I eat large amounts of wheat I get stomach pains, an upset stomach and painful swelling in my legs. Do I have a wheat sensitivity?

Dear Emma: Wheat/Gluten sensitivity is seen in 1 in every 7 people. Gluten is composed of the proteins glutenin and gliadin. In recent years some substantial and controversial studies suggest our bodies may not tolerate and digest gluten as well as everyone had always assumed.

Gluten intolerance consists of celiac disease, non celiac gluten sensitivity and wheat allergy. The presence of gluten causes the immune system to release antibodies that destroy the villi in the intestines, resulting in decreased absorption of nutrients from the intestines. The symptoms of wheat sensitivity include abdominal distention, abdominal pain and cramping, bloating, constipation, skin rash (dermatitis herpetiformis), anemia, fatigue, headaches, bone density loss and arthritis.

There is only one failsafe and accurate way to identify food intolerance and that's by eliminating wheat/gluten from diet.