Subtle Signs Your Body Might Be Reacting Badly to Gluten

11. Brain Fog

Experiencing brain fog means that an individual experiences difficulty concentrating, or experiences short-term memory lapses. Patients may also experience losing their train of thought in conversations or when writing, and they may even become confused and disoriented. Many individuals further describe brain fog as feeling cloudy and having mental fatigue, with difficulty focusing on simple tasks. Brain fog is another common symptom of gluten intolerance, and patients with celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, and a brain disorder called gluten ataxia all report different degrees of brain fog. Approximately forty percent of gluten-intolerant patients experience brain fog, and this symptom is believed to be caused by a reaction to specific antibodies in gluten, but the exact antibody is unknown.

12. Iron-Deficiency Anemia

As the most common nutrient deficiency in the world, accounting for anemia in five percent of women and two percent of men in America, iron-deficiency anemia is another common symptom of gluten intolerance. Iron deficiency causes numerous symptoms such as low blood volume, dizziness, pale skin, shortness of breath, headaches, and weakness. As previously mentioned, nutrient absorption in the large intestine is impaired, causing a decrease in the amount of iron being absorbed from food as well. Iron deficiency anemia is also one of the first symptoms of celiac disease a doctor will notice with a simple blood test. Recent research suggests that iron deficiency may be prevalent in both adults and children with celiac disease too.