Wheat Allergies

Wheat Allergies

People with wheat allergies have an auto-immune response to wheat and wheat products. Their immune system mistakes wheat molecules as invaders and their white blood cells form protein antibodies that try to neutralize the invaders.

Symptoms can occur within a few minutes to several hours and can include:

• nausea
• vomiting
• hives
• watery eyes
• eczema
• rashes
• itching
• runny nose
• coughing
• headaches
• swelling of the throat, lips and limbs
• difficult breathing
• and general aches & pains

Though rare, in severe cases, people can have anaphylactic shock.

Those with wheat allergies may respond to the gluten protein, but also may respond to the other non-gluten proteins in wheat products.

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