Asthma | Wheat Allergy | Gluten Allergy | Allergy

Wheat, Gluten and Asthma

by Allergy Guy

Asthma is strongly linked to environmental irritants and allergens. It is often triggered by physical exertion.  Wheat or gluten may also be a factor.

Typical asthma triggers include smoke (tobacco, wood fires etc.), chemicals, pollen, dust and dust mites, mold, pet dander and cockroaches.

Here are hidden asthma factors that no one is talking about: wheat and gluten.

These foods are probably not direct asthma triggers for most people.

A surprising number of people may be experiencing asthma from wheat and gluten, but indirectly.

Some studies have show a link between gluten sensitivity and asthma. For example, children with asthma have a higher incidence of celiac, according to one study.

Other studies have shown that when some people eliminate wheat from their diet, their exercise-induced anaphylaxis symptoms stop.

Numerous reports and anecdotal stories are showing a strong link between wheat or gluten, and asthma.

A reaction to wheat and a reaction to gluten may be two different things. What they have in common, besides the high levels of gluten in wheat, is that they are common foods, nearly impossible to avoid.

Because they are likely to be in your diet on a multiple-times-per-day basis, and because their effects are delayed, as are the benefits when these foods are removed from your diet, it is unlikely that you would notice the connection between wheat or gluten, and asthma.

However, if you eliminate all gluten-containing foods for three to four weeks, you may notice a big improvement in your asthma symptoms. I sure hope you do. Please add a comment with your story after you have tried this.

Note that traditional allergy tests may come up negative for wheat and gluten.

There are several reasons why you should ignore the results of such tests and try eliminating gluten from your diet instead. This is of course the ultimate test.

For one thing, if you have celiac, you don’t have an allergy, you have a specific reaction to gluten in your gut. This is a very serious condition that can do tremendous damage over time. There are tests for celiac disease.

Another reason tests are not that accurate. They give false positives, false negatives, and may miss other immune reactions such as delayed food reactions, food sensitivities etc.

So forget the tests, if you have asthma, try a gluten-free diet, and see what happens.

Please post your stories of wheat, gluten and asthma in the comment box below, so you can share your experiences with others experiencing the same problems. Thanks!

Gluten, Asthma and “My doctor thinks I’m crazy”

“My doctor thinks I’m crazy” you might say.  In deed, I copied and pasted this phrase from one of the many comments below.  Many doctors think in a linear way: asthma, cause unknown –> take asthma medication and avoid air borne allergens like dust and pet dander.  The idea of celiac disease is starting to take hold among doctors, but only if you have stomach ailments.  The idea that a gluten allergy or some other mechanism may somehow be connected to asthma won’t enter most of their brains, and if it does, they will assume you are crazy, not that they are ignorant.

If you find that a gluten free diet reduces or eliminated asthma symptoms, you may choose to tell your doctor about it, but think about it as a test to see if he is open-minded; don’t ask him for permission to treat you or your child’s asthma by avoiding gluten.

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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Phyllis J Muscolino August 15, 2019 at 13:07

Since i have been on the Keto diet[no wheat], i have not had to take my asthma medication. Yeah! I had no idea that i was allergic to wheat/gluten. None of the ther symptoms of gluten intolerance.

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2 Nicole December 3, 2018 at 23:31

Yup, it’s true! Im 58 and have had asthma since I was 12 yrs old. Just recently I chose to reduce sugar and remove wheat for 1 month – in order to lose a pound or two. After 3 weeks I realized I wasn’t using my inhaler much at all and no wheezing, hmmmmm…. Started introducing trial amounts of wheat back in and within 12 to 24 I was needing the inhaler. Imagine, all this time I have unknowingly been allergic because it is was in everything I ate!

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3 Tamie B June 25, 2018 at 09:05

In a nutshell, I got sick with a cold in Oct. 2016 and never felt right again. I thought I was left with asthma to be honest, even went to an allergist, but wasn’t allergic to any environmental allergens nor did I have asthma. A few months later my PCP did some blood work to test for food allergies and low and behold I had a gluten allergy. Not celiac, but a gluten allergy IgG antibody.

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4 Anand February 28, 2017 at 19:37

I’m 37, and have always been physically active. Age 20 through 35 i always sneezed, had runny nose, watery/itchy eyes, and found that regular workouts kept my allergies at bay. However, in the last two years my system responds differently – I’ve had onset of asthma. No runny nose, sneezing. BUT, I wheeze a lot and my lung inflammation lasts a long time. Although I use the fluticasone inhaler once a day, I feel miserable. I walked about 2 km today and was out of breath. I want to be able to breathe. I want to run.

After reading the posts, I’ve taken out all dairy from my diet for last 5 days, and gluten (wheat) for last 2 days. I’m yet to notice an improvement, but I see from the responses that this may take some time to make a noticeable change.

I love wheat beer and I can now connect to being always having allergic response after consuming wheat beer. I have similar reaction to red wine too. This led me to believe that I’m sulfite sensitive but I have eliminated alcohol from my diet as well.

From people who have seen benefits with gluten free diet, how long should I be on it before noticing a change ? I’m off gluten, dairy and sugar. I do consume rice and oat from the grain family. The rest fruits and veggies.

I’ll appreciate any advice. Help me put on my running shoes. I want to feel the fresh air deep in my lungs. Thank you.

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5 Sherri March 20, 2017 at 00:24

I’m sorry for your suffering! I am 55 and was having digestive issues, which is one of the ways wheat bothers me. A few yrs ago, when I was having severe digestive problems that caused bloating, pain, et made it impossible to eat, so I didn’t. After a week I went on a liquid diet. After 3 wks. I was feeling better. What I discovered as a consequence was that I felt a lot better and no longer had NIGHT TIME COUGHING. I had coughing during the night since I was 10 yrs old.I realized I hadn’t had any wheat in 3 wks. The coughing was definitely caused by wheat, as it causing inflammation everywhere in my body. Even though I tested negative for wheat allergy. I know better! Wheat affect my airway, digestion, my joints, causes brain fog. My son who is 30 now, had “exertion” asthma as the doctor called it, since he could run. I suspect he is sensitive to wheat too. In your case, it may depend on how much inflammation your body has stored before you are better, if wheat is the issue. Wheat is hidden in a lot of foods, so you have to be careful, you know like soups, sauces, et. I saw a nature path doctor last week, she said she’s hearing of more and more patients who are suffering from coughing that have wheat allergies. You are NOT crazy! You are listening g to your body. Good job!

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6 Christine March 20, 2017 at 11:22

Hi, I don’t remember how long it took, but when I ate gluten and dairy regularly , my seasonal allergies made me miserable. Now I am amazed that I can go out and breather the air with all these flowers around, my kids 14, 16 stay inside because of spring but me, I breather freely. Hang in there. Try avoiding corn also if you can, it’s full of Roundup anyways, or make sure it’s organic.
Hang in there, and stay tuned to your body. If you feel bloated, or even really full, there is a food you just ate that maybe should be avoided. Good luck !

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