What are the causes of wheat allergy?

2 ANSWERS

1. Guest3953
   

   A wheat allergy is an immune system response. Our immune system is designed to protect us from foreign bodies and pathogens (things that cause disease), such as bacteria, viruses, and toxic substances. An allergic reaction occurs when the immune system mistakes a normal or good substance for a pathogen, and attacks it. Sometimes our immune system may attack good tissues and cells in our bodies; this is called an autoimmune disease. In the cases of wheat allergy, the immune system attacks wheat proteins as if they were, for example, harmful bacteria.

   
   

   The body of a person who is allergic to wheat produces an antibody to a protein found in wheat, causing an allergy. When the human body has developed an allergy-causing antibody to a specific agent (an allergen), which in this case is a wheat protein, the immune system becomes sensitive to it. Whenever that person eats a protein contained in wheat, their immune system attacks it.

   
   

   Albumin, globulin, gliadin and gluten are classes of protein in wheat that can cause an allergic response. Some people are allergic to just one of them, while others may be allergic to two or even more.

   
   

   Read more on:
   
   http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/174405.php

   Report (1) (0)  |   12 years, 8 month(s) ago  

2. Guest3491
   

   It's important to first note that some people can be severely allergic to wheat. They're often medically diagnosed with the disease called Celiac or Celiac Sprue. This is an illness that's treatable, but can be painful and confusing for patients and their families, as there are a lot of lifestyle changes that must be made to accommodate the celiac patient. Celiac patients are also often allergic to wheat's "sister" grains, rye, oats and barley. Fortunately, most people don't suffer from Celiac disease. Most problems are from simply consuming too much wheat. Generally, people can assimilate a small to moderate amount as a PART of their diet. It's when we make it the MAJOR part of our diet (western/industrialized diets) that it often becomes a problem. There are many people who just can't break down wheat and similar grains, as they lack certain enzymes to do so. We see this more in O blood types than others, as they don't fare well on a diet with regular grains.
   Consuming too much wheat can lead to decreased pancreatic function, the decreased output of insulin and digestive enzymes. This can lead to blood sugar regulation problems such as hyper- or hypoglycemia and chronic digestive disorders.

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