Separating a gluten intolerance from a yeast intolerance can be difficult as the two are often found in the same food items. We will outline the difference between yeast and gluten intolerances so that you can take steps to prevent symptoms from occurring again.
What Is the Difference Between Gluten and Yeast?
To start, it is important to know how gluten and yeast differ, as you may be intolerant to either one or both.
Gluten is a group of proteins known as prolamins found in grains such as wheat and barley. These proteins act as a ‘glue’ for foods, for example in bread gluten improves the texture and retains moisture.
Yeast, on the other hand, is a fungi that has been used in food for thousands of years. Nowadays yeast is separated into brewer’s yeast, for making alcohol, and baker’s yeast for baking. This is because through the process of fermentation, brewer’s yeast makes alcohol and carbon dioxide, whereas baker’s yeast produces a large amount of carbon dioxide for helping bread to rise.
Yeast and Gluten Intolerance
An intolerance is when people experience unpleasant body reactions after eating certain foods. Whether you are intolerant to either gluten or yeast, you could experience similar symptoms with both.
What Is Yeast Intolerance?
An intolerance to yeast means that your body struggles to digest yeast itself, and it will often back up in your stomach as your digestive system struggles to break it down. This kind of reaction doesn’t involve the immune system because it is a struggle with digestion, not your body attacking the food ingredient itself.
What Is Gluten Intolerance?
Similarly to yeast, a gluten intolerance can occur when the body cannot break down gluten when digesting the protein. However, a difference with gluten intolerance is that some people can have an autoimmune response and be diagnosed with celiac (or coeliac) disease.
Celiac Disease Symptoms
Celiac disease is when the immune system attacks gluten which ultimately damages the small intestine. For individuals with this health issue, symptoms can include:
- Abdominal pain.
- Constipation.
- Chronic fatigue.
- Headaches.
- Weight loss.
- Vomiting.
- Bone and joint pain.
- Itchy skin.
- Mouth ulcers.
Difference Between Gluten Intolerance and Celiac Disease
Symptoms do overlap between gluten intolerance and celiac disease, but less common responses such as mouth ulcers, itchy skin, and bone pain are more likely to be a result of an immune response.
Symptoms of a Gluten or Yeast Intolerance
For those experiencing an intolerance caused by digestive issues, common signs and symptoms of gluten or yeast intolerance include:
- Stomach pain.
- Bloating.
- Excess gas.
- Heartburn.
- Diarrhoea.
To read more about how these symptoms manifest, you can read our symptom guide on gluten intolerance.
How Can I Test Whether I Have a Gluten Intolerance?
To determine whether you have a gluten intolerance, you can complete an intolerance test at home, where 63 common intolerances including gluten are tested from a small blood spot sample. Within seven days of us receiving the sample, you will be sent your personalised results to show which food items you are intolerant to.
If you discover you are intolerant to gluten based on this test, you may want to consult with a medical practitioner to run further tests to determine whether you are suffering from celiac disease.
Testing Whether You Are Sensitive or Yeast or Gluten
Considering symptoms could be the same for both gluten and yeast intolerances, if your body responds negatively to bread how do you know what the culprit of these reactions is?
In this instance, you can order a sensitivity test where a massive 500 sensitivities are tested from a hair sample. The results of this test will show you whether you are sensitive to gluten, yeast or both.
Yeast Intolerance – Foods to Avoid
Some foods to avoid that may contain yeast are:
- Most breads.
- Baked goods including cakes, cookies, pastries, crackers.
- Cereal.
- Alcohol that has been created with brewer’s yeast.
- Processed meats.
- Dried fruits or processed fruit juice.
- Gravy and stock cubes.
- Processed fruit juices.
- Certain condiments.
Is Yeast Gluten Free?
Some types of yeast are naturally gluten free, but you’ll need to check the ingredients list to know for sure.
Gluten Intolerance – Foods to Avoid
Luckily there are lots of options in supermarkets now for gluten-free food products, as it is a common intolerance.
Foods containing gluten that you will need to avoid may include:
- Most breads, wraps and crackers.
- Pastas.
- Baked goods including cakes, cookies, pastries.
- Certain condiments.
- Snacks like cereal bars or pretzels.
- Some drinks made with gluten e.g. beers, pre-made coffee drinks.
- Meat substitutes.
- Processed cheese.
Living With a Gluten or Yeast Intolerance
It has been shown that by engaging in an elimination diet, you could reverse the effects of a food sensitivity and could go back to consuming yeast or gluten without uncomfortable symptoms. Order your test today to start living life without the negative impacts of a yeast or gluten intolerance.
For more information about sensitivity and intolerance testing, you can visit our FAQs or contact our friendly experts on the customer support page.
