I have just been diagnosed with gluten intolerance. Can you please explain the difference between gluten intolerance and coeliac disease?
The terms “gluten intolerance”, “wheat intolerance” and “gluten sensitivity” can be quite confusing. This problem arises because there are no widely accepted criteria doctors can use to define these problems. The causes, treatment and medical consequences of these conditions are not well understood and the role of a gluten free diet is even less clear. In contrast coeliac disease has very clear diagnostic criteria and there is good evidence that a strict life long gluten free diet is the only treatment to maintain health and avoid long term complications. In general, gluten intolerance is associated with unpleasant symptoms after eating food containing gluten (whether that be from wheat, rye, barley or oats). Symptoms may include tummy upset (for instance diarrhoea, bloating or crampy pain) and others such as fatigue, headache or irritability. People who are wheat intolerant may feel their problems relate specifically to wheat products and not other gluten containing grains such as rye
