Gluten-Free Diet Can Help Treat Anemia

There's more than one reason to go-gluten free. If you have a gluten sensitivity, limiting gluten makes sense. Some people cut out gluten for other health reasons.

And if you allergic to gluten or have been diagnosed with Celiac disease, avoiding gluten is critical to your health. It's a tall order considering how many common foods contain gluten, like many breads, cereals, pastas, and other foods made from grains containing gluten.

If you develop symptoms associated with a gluten allergy (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hives or rash, congestion, eye irritations, and even difficulty breathing), it's important to see a doctor. If you do have Celiac disease, a test often reveals a low number or red blood cells, also known as anemia.

What causes anemia? The most common cause of anemia for people with gluten intolerance is a lack of vitamin B12. Damage to the lower intestine from Celiac disease can limit the amount of vitamin B12 your body can absorb. Without this vitamin, it's a lot harder for the body to produce red blood cells needed to deliver oxygen throughout the body.

Fortunately, most people can overcome this problem once they know they have a gluten allergy or Celiac disease. It's one more reason you should see a doctor if you think you might be allergic to gluten. Adopting a gluten-free diet can give the lower intestine time to recover, and eventually begin absorbing more vitamin B12 and other essential nutrients your body needs.

When your diet needs to be gluten free, it's an adjustment for most people. You typically have to purge your pantry and refrigerator of a lot of foods you used to eat. Write off some of your favorite restaurants. And tell everyone you know, who may now or in the future invite you over for dinner, that you're allergic to gluten, and explain to them what that means.

Want to make going gluten-free a little easier? We can help. Take a look at some of the favorite Gluten-Free meals our customers enjoy. (Note: these meals haven’t been lab-tested and approved as gluten-free, but our gluten-free customers have never reported any problems.)