Do you really know?

How do I know if I'm allergic to gluten?

Apr 8, 2025

Gluten-free diets are on the rise, but not everyone understands the implications. Dive into the realities of celiac disease, a serious condition affecting about 1% of the population. Explore why gluten can trigger health problems and discover the difference between actual allergies and sensitivities. Learn how to identify symptoms and the significance of accurate diagnosis. Plus, uncover whether the popular claims about gluten-free benefits really hold any water!

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Quick takeaways

Celiac disease, affecting about 1% of the population, results in severe health issues from gluten consumption, necessitating a strict gluten-free diet.

Despite claims of benefits from gluten-free diets among 10% of consumers, scientific evidence supporting weight loss and increased energy remains scarce.

Deep dives

Understanding Gluten and Its Effects

Gluten is a group of proteins found in wheat, rye, barley, and triticale, which can cause health issues for individuals with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition that triggers an immune response to gluten, resulting in damage to the small intestine and complications such as poor nutrient absorption, abdominal pain, and an increased risk of severe health issues like osteoporosis and cancer. Even though only about 1% of the population is diagnosed with celiac disease, an estimated 10% of consumers adhere to gluten-free diets, some claiming benefits like weight loss and increased energy. However, scientific evidence backing these claims remains limited, highlighting the need for further research on gluten's potential health impacts for those without celiac disease.

Understanding Gluten Allergies and Sensitivities

5min

In recent years, gluten-free diets have become more and more popular. No doubt you’ve seen “Free From” aisles in your local supermarket, and you can also get gluten-free items in health food shops or online.

Some people have no choice but to adopt such a diet, because they have coeliac disease, a lifelong autoimmune condition which causes their body to attack its own tissue when gluten is consumed. According to Coeliac UK, the condition affects just 1% of the population. However, there have been claims that going gluten-free has benefits like weight loss, increased energy and improved overall health, but there’s little in the way of research to back all that up.

So, what is it about gluten that causes health problems ? Which foods contain gluten ? How can you tell if you really have Coeliac disease ?

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A Bababam Originals podcast. A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

First broadcast: 29/4/2023

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