Suspect you have celiac disease? Don't jump straight into starting a gluten-free diet! Even if you believe you may have celiac disease, there are benefits to getting tested for celiac disease before adopting a gluten-free diet. Here are four reasons you should get tested for the condition first.
When a gluten-containing food causes you discomfort, your first instinct is likely to remove the source of your pain and go gluten-free. But this is one situation where you shouldn't jump the gun! If you think you have celiac disease or gluten allergy, getting tested and receiving a formal celiac diagnosis before starting a gluten-free diet is the best choice. Here are four reasons you should get tested before adopting a gluten-free diet.
For a gluten antibody test to work, you need to be on a gluten diet! This is because antibody tests check for the presence of IgA and IgG antibodies in the blood; these antibodies are only produced when you consume gluten. You can take a genetic test while on a gluten-free diet, but genetic tests are not as reliable when detecting celiac compared to antibody tests, which have very high accuracy.
Celiac disease isn't the only condition that can cause a reaction to certain grains. You may have gluten sensitivity, a wheat allergy, or a wheat intolerance. The treatments for each of these conditions differ. Testing will help you home in on the source of your reaction and get the necessary medical care.
Another reason to get tested before adopting a gluten-free diet is that celiac disease has a genetic component. If you have celiac, there's a 10 percent chance that the other members of your family have it, too. By getting tested, you can see if other relatives need to get tested or if there's a risk of passing on the disease to your kids.
Celiac disease can cause damage to your small intestines over time. It can also increase your risk of developing other conditions, like anemia, diabetes, and heart disease. For this reason, people with the condition must follow a gluten-free diet vigilantly. But if you only have a wheat allergy or intolerance, you don't need to be nearly as strict with your diet. All you have to do is not eat wheat. You can still enjoy other grains like barley and rye.
By testing, you can learn how vigilant you need to be with your diet. You can’t cheat on your diet when you have celiac, but you don't need to be nearly as strict if you have a different condition.
Want to test for celiac disease easily, quickly, and comfortably from home? At RxHomeTest, we have at-home gluten antibody tests for sale. Just collect your samples, ship them off for free to our world-class labs, and wait for your report from our physicians. Learning your risk of celiac disease has never been simpler.
Order an At-Home Celiac Genetic Test.
Celiac – FAQs - key facts about gluten intolerance.
How to Read a Celiac Genetic Test Report? - makes it simple, easy to understand your results.
The Differences Between Celiac Genetic and Antibody Tests - key differences while testing for gluten intolerance.
Five Negative Impacts of the Gluten-Free Trend - going gluten-free may not always be the right answer.
What is Celiac? History, Present and Genetic Risk - a detailed look at celiac.
Sensitivity to Food – Allergy, Intolerance, and Celiac Disease - a comprehensive review.
Food Allergies vs Food Sensitivities: What’s the Difference? - a few simple steps to differentiate.
The 5 Most Common Types of Food Sensitivities in Adults - a short summary.
Food Allergies in Children - a short summary.
