Subtle Signs Your Body Might Be Reacting Badly to Gluten

13. Muscle And Joint Pain

Muscle and joint pain are also signs of gluten intolerance patients should not ignore. Many individuals are surprised to experience these symptoms because muscles and joints do not seem to have anything to do with their gastrointestinal system. However, the gluten an individual ingests sets up inflammation throughout their body when their immune system attacks it as a pathogen or toxin. This inflammation extends to their muscles and joints, which is why they feel aches and pains in these areas. In some patients, the muscle and joint pain they feel resembles the nearly unbearable pain associated with fibromyalgia. In this condition, there are paired trigger points along the body that hurt when they are even lightly touched.

14. Excessive Gas

The inability to digest gluten properly often leads to a build-up of gas. However, some researchers are beginning to believe gluten is not actually the cause of excessive gas. Gluten is a protein and gas is most often caused when bacteria attack carbohydrates that enter the large intestine. In the case of an individual with gluten intolerance, these carbohydrates may be substances called Fermentable Oligo-, Di-, Mono-saccharides, and Polyols, or FODMAPs. These types of carbohydrates are often found in wheat, rye and barley products. The body does not digest FODMAPs well, even if the individual isn't intolerant to gluten. As a result, bacteria cause them to ferment in the colon and produce gas. Some researchers believe FODMAPs not only play a role in developing excessive gas but in the joint and muscle pain associated with gluten intolerance.