How to Know if You Have a Wheat Allergy? (Must Read)

Having a wheat allergy can be frustrating to live with. Being allergic to something can cause many detrimental problems and even death. Roughly 1 in 100 people suffer from a wheat allergy, making the intolerance extremely common. Signs and symptoms often lead those with allergies down the path of discovering what they’re intolerant to - but how else are you meant to know you have a wheat allergy?

There are many symptoms that suggest you could have a wheat allergy. Signs usually develop within a few minutes to a few hours after eating something that contains wheat. We’ve broken down the main symptoms of a wheat allergy, along with the foods you should avoid. To find out more information about wheat allergies, continue reading.

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What is a Wheat Allergy?

What is a wheat allergy? A wheat allergy is an allergic reaction to foods containing wheat. To prevent symptoms from showing, the best course of action to take is to avoid wheat-based substances altogether. It can be difficult living with a wheat allergy, especially because so many foods contain it. 

Seeing a doctor is the best option if you think you’re allergic to wheat. Doctors are able to carry out tests and ask questions about how your body reacts to digesting foods containing wheat. When someone with an allergy is exposed to wheat, certain proteins in wheat bind to specific antibodies that are produced by the person's immune system. 

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Symptoms of an Allergic Reaction to Wheat

If you have a wheat allergy, there’s no doubt that you’ll experience symptoms - whether they’re mild or severe. Symptoms can differ depending on how severe your allergy is, but it can still be dangerous regardless. The main symptoms that occur are stomach pains, swelling and tingles or itching around parts of your body. Other signs of a reaction include the following:

• Hives
• Blocked nose
• Headaches
• Difficulty breathing
• Diarrhoea
• Rashes
• Irritation in the mouth or throat
• Watery eyes

In more severe cases, some individuals could develop a life-threatening reaction to wheat allergies called anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis should be taken seriously -  if left untreated, anaphylaxis can lead to death within half an hour. Anaphylactic shock causes tightness of the throat, chest pain, severe breathing problems, trouble swallowing, dizziness and can also cause your skin to turn a pale blue colour. Being able to notice these signs could potentially save someone's life. In a scenario where someone experiencing anaphylactic shock, it’s best to call the emergency services. 

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Common Foods to Avoid if You Have a Wheat Allergy

It’s understandable why so many people with wheat allergies get frustrated when it comes to food. Having to thoroughly read over ingredient lists and double-check at restaurants can get tiresome, but it’s vital that you take these necessary steps to avoid wheat products. 

Under the current UK law, it’s expected that wheat be labelled clearly on all packaged foods and drinks. The word wheat will often be emphasised in bold, making it easier for consumers with allergies to be able to see. For avid restaurant visitors, finding out whether your meal contains wheat could be a little more challenging. Allergen information should be provided upon request in writing or verbally.

Wheat is known to be one of the eight major allergens, so finding wheat as an ingredient should be relatively easy as it should be labelled in bold. Unfortunately, wheat can also be found in an array of convenience foods such as soups, spices, sauces, processed meats, breaded fish and microwave meals. Let’s take a look at some foods to avoid:

• Bread crumbs
• Cereal extract 
• Couscous
• Flour (all-purpose, wheat flour, bread, cake, self-rising)
• Semolina 
• Seitan
• Scones
• Pastries
• Crackers
• Pasta 
• Wafers
• Durum
• Farima
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Wheat-Free Alternatives

There are plenty of wheat-free options across supermarkets here in the UK. Luckily, we’re able to spot harmful ingredients that are prone to cause a reaction for those with an allergy to wheat. These alternatives act as a substitute for wheat, proving to act in the same way when it comes to baking for example. 

Wheat-free bread, breadcrumbs, cakes, cereals, crispbreads, crackers, oatcakes, pizza bases, pasta and rye crackers can be found in most stores. Grains such as buckwheat, barley, amaranth, oats, millet, quinoa and rice are perfectly safe to have if you have a wheat allergy.

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Top Tips 

Having to avoid wheat in your diet doesn’t have to be as difficult as it seems. There are many useful tips that can be used to make up for the products you’re unable to use. We’ve put together a list of some of the most helpful tips that will be able to help if you’re struggling to cook at home with a wheat allergy.

• Buy your sausages from butchers or farmer's markets - many supermarket-bought sausages contain rusk, which contains wheat. 

• If you want to thicken your gravy, corn flour is a great alternative and works just the same as regular flour. 

• Wheat-free pasta is available in most stores - not only does it cook quicker, but it’s made from healthy ingredients such as quinoa, legumes and corn which contains fewer calories in comparison to regular flour.

• Cooking without wheat-based ingredients can prove to be difficult in some circumstances. Xanthan gum is useful when it comes to baking and can help improve the texture and bind the mixture together. 

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How DAM Health Can Help

DAM Health are your friendly GPs on demand. We offer a plethora of services to those in need. Standing in noisy waiting rooms and being around other ill individuals isn’t the preferred option for most people, which is why our services are available online. Online consultations allow you to skip the queues and talk openly about your health issues in a location of your choice - whether it be from work or home. 

Allergies should be taken seriously. We believe that people suffering from allergies should seek medical help straight away before anything develops further. Our NHS-trained GPs will be able to get to the bottom of the issues you’ve been experiencing.

We will ask thorough questions and decipher whether or not you have an allergy, whether it be to wheat or something else. Both men's and women's health can be dealt with here at DAM Health. To speak directly to a member of our team, feel free to contact us today.