Table of contents:
- How to deal with gluten intolerance
- 1. Consult a doctor
- 2. Avoid gluten
- 3. Taking vitamins and supplements from a doctor
Gluten intolerance is a digestive disorder that occurs when the body is unable to digest gluten. The indigestible gluten then actually triggers the body to react negatively. Some of the common symptoms of gluten intolerance can include diarrhea or constipation, flatulence, nausea and vomiting, and even headaches. Then, how do you deal with gluten intolerance so that the symptoms don't recur?
How to deal with gluten intolerance
People with this condition do not necessarily have difficulty absorbing other nutrients from food. Gluten intolerance also does not risk causing serious complications, such as intestinal injury. Even so, the symptoms it causes can certainly interfere with daily activities if allowed to continue.
Well, the easiest way to deal with symptoms of gluten intolerance is to avoid intake of gluten from food. Gluten itself is a type of protein contained in wheat.
However, sometimes, it is difficult to completely avoid wheat because this food source is often processed into a variety of dishes. Some examples of processed wheat foods are noodles and pasta, cakes and pastries, whole grain cereals, to various types of bread and pastry .
Here are some ways to treat gluten intolerance that you might be able to practice from now on:
1. Consult a doctor
If you suspect gluten intolerance due to symptoms after eating wheat products, you should consult your doctor first.
After examining your physical condition and medical history, your doctor will generally recommend that you begin to temporarily limit or reduce your gluten intake. Usually about a month or more than 3 months. During this time, try to reduce gluten foods little by little and pay attention to your body condition.
If it has passed that time, the doctor will usually ask you to return to normal gluten to monitor the progress of the condition.
If symptoms seem to improve or even disappear during "abstinence fast" but reappear afterward, your doctor can formalize your diagnosis as gluten intolerance.
2. Avoid gluten
After the doctor confirms your condition, the doctor will recommend that you avoid eating certain foods as a way to treat symptoms of gluten intolerance.
As mentioned above, wheat and grain products are the main trigger foods. However, some other foods, especially those that are factory processed, may have added gluten during the manufacturing process.
As a way of dealing with gluten intolerance, here is a list of other foods to avoid:
- Cereals
- Soy sauce, or other sauces made from soybeans
- Beer
- Biscuits
- Barley
- Granola
So, first read carefully the composition label and nutritional value of the food printed on the product packaging.
Apart from that, you should also balance by eating healthy fresh foods, as most of the original food sources are gluten-free.
3. Taking vitamins and supplements from a doctor
Gluten intolerance requires that you avoid foods containing gluten. That's why you tend to be at risk of deficient intake of important nutrients from food.
According to several studies, people who should avoid gluten are prone to vitamin B6 and folate deficiencies. B vitamins are essential for helping the body fight infection, maintain proper nerve function, and carry oxygen throughout your body.
As a way of preventing and treating nutritional deficiencies due to gluten intolerance, ask your doctor to recommend specific dietary supplements. Especially vitamin B complex supplements that are equipped with folic acid and vitamin B6.
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