The incidence of autoimmune diseases has risen sharply over the past few decades.

You will almost certainly know someone with Celiacs, Hashimotos, lupus, psoriasis, asthma, IBS, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes I or any of the many health issues that are housed under this umbrella term.

– #360fit: CrossFit Abu Dhabi

They are very difficult to pin-point as the symptoms often, certainly at the beginning, are fairly mild and don’t prevent you from continuing with your usual routine.

They tend to come and go and it’s difficult to really explain to a doctor what exactly they are, so we tend to put up with them for far too long.

The danger of this is that they can cause serious damage to your body in the long term.

Gluten intolerance has had a lot of publicity recently and if you have any of the following symptoms, you would be wise to cut it out of your diet for a couple of months to see whether your symptoms improve.

Symptoms
There are many symptoms associated with gluten intolerance, but the following are a good place to start:
► Fatigue even after a good night’s sleep
► Abdominal bloating, pain, cramping, constipation/diarrhea, flatulence, indigestion
► Swelling, aches and pains throughout the body. If left unchecked, the lining of the intestines becomes damaged making it difficult for your body to absorb vital nutrients.  This can lead to:
► Osteoporosis
► Teeth and gum problems
► Brittle nails and dry hair
► Anemia
► Weight loss
Again, there are many other health issues associated with nutrient deficiencies, but these are some of the common ones you are likely to recognize.

Foods to avoid
It is always wise to read the label of anything you buy. Ingredients that are likely to cause an allergic reaction are generally listed. Here are a few foods that contain gluten and should therefore not be eaten:
► Wheat in any form – bread, biscuits, cakes, pastry, pasta and many breakfast cereals.  There are some alternatives and if you do your own baking you can use soya/quinoa/buckwheat flour to name but a few.  
► Avoid spelt, semolina, bran and couscous.  Do some research as there are other grains you may not associate with wheat.
► Barley, bulgar, oats, rye and seitan should also be avoided. 
► Check condiments and sauces to ensure they are gluten free.

Treatment
There is more and more evidence that autoimmune diseases are caused by diet.

I have also read that the balance of bacteria in the gut may also be a factor, so the digestive system is a good place to start.  

You may need a much more strict elimination diet as wheat and gluten are not the only foods that can cause symptoms (eggs, dairy and some vegetables, for example), but this is best done under the supervision of a dietician as it is very strict. 

Looking at your diet is definitely a good place to start because the usual medical route treats the symptoms and not the cause.