We already knew that carbs are one of the many culprits that can hinder our weight loss goals. What many of us don’t know is that a certain kind of protein called gluten, found in certain carbs, like pasta and wheat bread, can be potentially life threatening for some. Officially called celiac disease, gluten allergies is a problem some people have with foods that contain gluten. Gluten is a kind of protein found in foods like bread, crackers, and pasta. With celiac disease, your immune system attacks the gluten and harms your small intestine when you eat these kinds of foods. This makes it hard for your body to absorb nutrients that keep you healthy.

Gluten comes from grains like wheat, barley, and rye. It’s important to get treatment, because celiac disease can lead to iron deficiency anemia and osteoporosis. It can also raise your risk of lymphoma. Doctors don’t really know what causes the disease, but having certain genes can increase your chance of getting it. You are more likely to have these genes and get celiac disease if a close family member has it. Here are three ways to tell if you have a gluten allergy.

Rapid Weight Loss

Since people with gluten allergies cannot absorb the nutrients their body needs form the foods they eat, many will start to notice that they are rapidly losing weight. If you notice that you are losing weight quickly and you’re not ill or on any kind of restrictive diet, you might want to consult your doctor and have them test you for celiac disease.

Vomiting

Though it is more likely to happen with children, people who eat gluten often have to throw up soon after. It’s usually because your body is having a negative reaction to the gluten protein and cannot digest it. If this is occurring, pay close attention to what you were eating beforehand and seek treatment from your doctor immediately.

Changes In Bowel Movements

Because gluten affects the way your body digests nutrients, it also creates changes in your bowel movements. If you notice that you are constantly constipated or have diarrhea, you could be allergic to gluten. These symptoms are often confused with irritable bowel syndrome, but in reality could also be a symptom of celiac disease. Make sure when you speak to your doctor they check you for gluten allergies in addition to any other tests so that you can accurately diagnose the issue.