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Spelt Intolerance: What You Should Know About It

Have you ever heard of a wheat intolerance? Many people feel they suffer from an intolerance to gluten. But what about spelt? Is spelt just as intolerable as wheat?

Wheat is considered fattening and therefore has a rather bad reputation. Gluten also has a negative image. It is said to be responsible for various diseases and generally very poorly tolerated.

What is behind the symptoms of a spelt intolerance?

Is there any truth to the myth, or is the hype around intolerance to wheat and spelt just pointless hype?

Basically, gluten intolerance is an autoimmune disease. Gluten is the sticky protein responsible for holding the dough together in bread. This makes the dough elastic and processable.

In Europe, about three percent of the total population suffer from an intolerance to gluten.

What is celiac disease?

If you suffer from celiac disease , the lining of your small intestine is very sensitive. As soon as it comes into contact with gluten, it raises the alarm and becomes inflamed. The reason is that immune cells invade the lining and release inflammation-promoting substances as soon as you come into contact with an intolerable substance.

Gluten is also present in spelt. If you have celiac disease, you are therefore sensitive not only to wheat but also to other grains that contain gluten. Spelt is one of them.

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Due to the inflammation triggered in the intestine, your body can no longer absorb the necessary vitamins and may also suffer from a vitamin deficiency . Celiac disease is therefore also called a disease with many faces.

Secondary diseases caused by celiac disease are not uncommon. Most often, you will notice celiac disease through symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, or abdominal pain. In many cases, those affected also suffer from fatigue or weight loss. Depression due to celiac disease is also very common.

The only treatment option is to avoid gluten. Those affected are advised to avoid consuming gluten-containing foods for life.

What is a spelt intolerance?

Have you already been tested for celiac disease but still suffer from symptoms despite a negative result? Then you are like many other people. Although only very few people suffer from celiac disease, many are affected by an intolerance to gluten.

An intolerance, however, should not be confused with an allergy. Affected individuals usually complain of similar symptoms. Intolerance to spelt or other grains should therefore be taken just as seriously as celiac disease.

Besides celiac disease, there are different types of intolerance to spelt. More precisely, there are two different disease courses. One is an allergy. In this case, the affected person experiences severe symptoms within minutes after consumption or contact.

Usually, the symptoms are severe. Skin rashes or respiratory symptoms are common. It is enough to just touch the allergenic food. A wheat or spelt allergy is therefore also known as baker’s asthma. It is enough to inhale the dust to suffer symptoms.

Most often, an allergy causes breathing difficulties, skin rashes, or sneezing. The symptoms appear very quickly and are usually much more severe than with an intolerance.

The symptoms of an intolerance are usually limited to the digestive tract. Affected individuals suffer from symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting. The difference from an allergy lies in the timing of symptom onset.

Even if you only experience symptoms days later, you can still have an intolerance to a food you ate three days ago. An allergy shows itself immediately.

Antibodies play a decisive role in the occurrence of symptoms.

Did you know that antibodies are part of your immune system? They release messenger substances and thereby trigger allergic reactions in your body.

Test for spelt intolerance

Do you suspect you have an intolerance? Antibodies play an important role in intolerance. With a special allergy test, you can find out if you suffer from an intolerance.

The symptoms of a spelt intolerance are very similar to those of other intolerances. It is therefore very difficult for a doctor to diagnose a spelt intolerance. Still, consult your doctor and ask about an allergy test.

They can help you find out which foods you react intolerantly to. They may recommend an elimination diet.

Very few people suffer from an intolerance to spelt. Usually, it is not the grain itself that causes the symptoms but rather the gluten contained in the grain. The likelihood that you suffer from other intolerances in addition to a spelt intolerance is therefore very high.

If you and your doctor decide on an elimination diet, you should avoid not only spelt but also other grains that contain gluten. Only in this way can you find out if you are intolerant to gluten. Alternatively, you can divide the diet into different phases.

Do your symptoms improve when you avoid spelt? Can you possibly still eat wheat? Then you may be one of the few people who are actually intolerant only to spelt.

If you have no suspected food yet, you can also start the diagnosis with a food diary. For at least four weeks, note everything you eat. Also write down the symptoms. A food diary provides a good basis for your doctor. Based on the symptoms, they may be able to rule out some foods.

Keep in mind that symptoms of an intolerance can also appear days after consumption. A spelt roll you ate yesterday can still be responsible for your symptoms tomorrow. Symptoms of a spelt intolerance only appear once the intolerable food has reached your intestine.

The best way to find out which foods you are intolerant to is a blood test. This can be done either by a doctor or through an online provider.

Many online providers now offer special kits that are conveniently sent to your home. After successfully taking a blood sample with a small prick on your fingertip, you can send the test strip back and receive the results within a few days.

How you can eat spelt despite intolerance

Is a healthy and balanced diet important to you? Spelt is one of the most valuable grains. Its ingredients are very nutritious and extremely healthy for your body.

To ensure that no other allergens get into your dishes, you should prepare your meals yourself and fresh.

For example, bake your bread yourself. Especially if you suffer from an intolerance, you should strictly avoid or only consume very little of the affected food.

Depending on how severe your intolerance is, you can still consume spelt in small amounts. Mix spelt with other grains or combine the grain with legumes.

Before processing, spelt must be soaked. The soaking process makes spelt more tolerable for many people and causes fewer symptoms. The grain contains a lot of sticky protein. The dough is therefore usually stickier than wheat dough. It is best to bake the bread in a pan so it does not spread out in the oven.

Spelt must be soaked for at least two days. To filter out unwanted substances, you must change the water every day.

You can buy spelt flakes at the supermarket. These have already been processed so that you can use them directly. Depending on how severe your intolerance is, it is quite possible that you can still eat some spelt products without problems.

It is best to always try very small portions first to find out how your body reacts.

Sources

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