What is the difference between gluten intolerance and celiac disease?
In both Gluten Intolerance (GI) and Celiac Disease (CD), the body reacts to gluten, a protein found in grains like wheat and barley. Both these conditions differ from each other in terms of the way the body reacts to gluten.
CD, a severe form of gluten sensitivity, is an autoimmune disorder. When a person with CD consumes gluten, the immune system launches an attack against gluten, damaging the healthy cells lining the intestines in the process. This results in a wide variety of symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, abdominal pain, bloating, and in some cases, even depression and anxiety.
GI, also known as non-celiac gluten sensitivity, differs from CD in terms of symptom longevity and severity. In GI, the intestines are not attacked or damaged. The most commonly seen symptoms in GI are short-term stomach aches, bloating, and flatulence. In some people, however, other symptoms like joint pain and headaches are also observed. GI can neither be classified as an autoimmune condition (because the body's own cells are not attacked) nor as an allergic reaction (antibodies are not produced).
Learn more about Gluten Intolerance here.
