Special foods for wheat allergies have become more popular over the years. Several new diets, and new products, have been popping-up every catering to people with these allergies. If you have a true allergy to wheat removing it from your diet is imperative. If you aren't allergic to wheat, you should not attempt to remove this basic staple from your diet completely.
These are not very common although frequently other conditions including wheat intolerance, celiac disease and gluten intolerance are mistaken this type of allergy. Gluten is a protein from wheat, rye, barley and oats. Gluten is a rubbery substance that helps to give a spongy consistency to baked goods. A true wheat allergy is not the same as intolerance. Wheat intolerance, gluten intolerance and celiac disease are not wheat allergies even though people who have these cannot eat these products either.
The immune system is a great defense system for the body, if there is a protein that the body considers a foreign substance the immune system will react causing an allergic reaction. Allergic reactions can be triggered by eating wheat products as well as inhaling wheat dust; approximately 30% of people who work in bakeries suffer from inhaled wheat. The antibodies the body creates help the body to fight these proteins if they are introduced to the system again. The reasons the body reacts to some foods this way is not something that is completely understood.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction to wheat include hives, eczema, swelling, nausea, vomiting, runny nose and asthmatic reactions. If you are having the same reactions each time you eat an item containing wheat it can be assumed you have an allergy to wheat, although you should have your doctor do tests to determine if you are in fact allergic to it. Severe allergic reactions can cause anaphylaxis. Since they can trigger such severe reactions it is important not to eat or drink anything with wheat in it if you are allergic and to be cautious while handling these products. Reading food labels can help with this.
There are products that are made specifically for those who cannot eat wheat so your diet doesn't have to be changed too much from a 'regular' diet. Pasta, cereals and flours are made so they are similar to wheat products but do not cause the symptoms that they do.
If you have a wheat allergy as a child it is possible to outgrow it. Allergies that show up later in life usually do not go away with time. There is not an effective medication to treat your allergies.
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