Glossary
Gluten Sensitivity
Updated February 28, 2026
Many users report symptoms after gluten exposure, but the underlying cause is often not one pattern. Use a structured distinction before changing diet long term.
Pattern map for symptom origin
| Pattern | Biological signal | Typical clue set | Practical meaning |
|---|
| Celiac disease | Immune markers and biopsy findings | weight drop, chronic loose stool, nutrient deficits, fatigue, dermatitis pattern | Needs clinician confirmation and strict long-term gluten avoidance |
| Non-celiac wheat/gluten sensitivity | No villous damage pattern, symptoms rise with exposure and improve with removal | bloating, gas, brain fog, headache, variable stool form after grain-heavy meals | Diet cycle can be tested with elimination then controlled rechallenge |
| Intolerance-type response | Dose or process sensitivity with no immune markers | timing linked to volume, mix, and fermentable load more than brand type | Often requires grain-type control and meal structure changes |
Structured elimination baseline
| Day block | Rule | What to collect |
|---|
| 0 to 14 | Keep daily record of meals, timing, bowel pattern, and pain score | score each symptom 0 to 10 and note onset interval in minutes or hours |
| 15 to 35 | Remove obvious gluten items, then hidden sources in processed foods, sauces, and supplements | keep calories and macros stable using food logging so energy shifts do not mask trends |
| 36 to 42 | Continue removal and compare symptom trend versus baseline | 30 to 50% reduction in score is a meaningful signal |
Reintroduction sequence with dose steps
| Step | Exposure item | Dose ladder | Rule for valid test |
|---|
| 1 | Single low-dose grain exposure | 1 serving of a defined product once | symptom onset tracked for 24 hours with exact timestamp |
| 2 | Second exposure after 48 hours if step 1 passes | 2 servings of same product | repeatable response needed before interpreting positive |
| 3 | Alternative source test | same dose from oat, spelt, or rye source | one product at a time; separate 48-hour washout |
| 4 | Escalation check | escalate to mixed meal context only if no repeat symptoms | abandon if severe pain, recurrent vomiting, or dizziness appears |
Clinician escalation checkpoints
| Signal pattern | Why escalation is needed | Next action |
|---|
| Recurrent diarrhea, blood in stool, severe weight decline | injury risk and nutrient loss pattern | move directly to medical review and pause self-testing |
| Persistent abdominal pain beyond 4 hours, dehydration signs, or night symptoms | possible red-flag physiology | urgent evaluation before further diet changes |
| Any positive red-flag lab pattern from food allergy tracking | possible immunologic overlap | route to clinician for diagnosis and differential testing |
Use food intolerance for overlap with dose triggers and food diary plus water intake goals for context around timing, hydration, and recovery behavior.