How Can I Test Myself For Gluten Intolerance?

How do I test for gluten sensitivity at home?

That’s a very popular question these days. Sensitivity to gluten is on top of a lot of people’s minds.

Gluten is a general name for the proteins found in wheat, rye, barley and triticale. According to the Celiac Disease Foundation, gluten helps foods to maintain their shape by acting as a sort of glue that holds the food together.

Gluten intolerance occurs when, you guessed it, your body cannot tolerate gluten. Gluten can be found in many types of foods, so when a person has an intolerance, that can spell trouble. In these circumstances, a person may experience symptoms such as:

• bloating
• diarrhea
• constipation
• strong odorous feces

Other symptoms may include non-gastrointestinal symptoms, such as brain fog, headache, joint pain, and numbness in the legs, arms or fingers. When present, these symptoms typically occur within hours or days after ingesting gluten.

How Can I Test Myself for Gluten Intolerance?

Fortunately, it is possible to test for gluten from the comfort of home using a home testing kit from myLAB Box. The Gluten Sensitivity + Celiac Disease Screening Testis easy to use. A simple blood test is delivered straight to your door. This test identifies certain antibodies in the blood that can help predict the probability of a gluten sensitivity or Celiac Disease. Even if you aren’t experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above, you may want to test yourself for gluten intolerance.

Screening can be especially useful for people who may be at a higher risk for Celiac Disease, an immune disease where eating gluten causes damage to the small intestine. One reason why you might be at risk could be your family’s medical history. It’s true! If a close family member has Celiac disease, or if you have another autoimmune disorder, such as Type 1 Diabetes you could be at greater risk yourself. Fortunately, myLAB Box offers a home Diabetes – Hemoglobin A1c Screening Test as well!

Preparing for the Test

Before testing for gluten sensitivity, don’t begin altering your diet just yet. You can make a checklist of “food to avoid” later. To start, it is advisable that you continue eating the regular gluten-packed foods you normally consume. Basically, gluten needs to be present in your diet for the test to actually work.

A Special Note About Celiac Disease Testing

One important thing to remember: if you are concerned that you may have Celiac Disease, speak with your healthcare provider before introducing [M1] gluten into your diet. In the event that you do have Celiac disease, it can be hazardous to your health. Celiac Disease is covered in greater detail in this myLAB Box article.

Get Your Results

After testing, you will learn your level of risk for gluten sensitivity and Celiac Disease. If you discover that you are at high risk, we recommend speaking with your doctor. Along with a dietician, your healthcare provider will be able to prepare a checklist of foods to avoid, and some other healthy alternatives to gluten. You’ll be able to quickly remove gluten from your diet. Once gluten is eliminated from your daily intake, you should quickly notice a change. Then, after a few weeks, gluten can be reintroduced to your system. If the symptoms return, it is likely that you have gluten sensitivity. Moving forward from this point, you can adjust your diet accordingly.

Screening from the comfort of home allows you to take full control of your health. You won’t need to wait before beginning the testing process. Once you suspect that you may have a gluten intolerance, it’s a smart call to screen yourself.