In this brief article, we will answer the question, “How long does gluten stay in your system?” and provide information on what exactly is gluten, what is gluten sensitivity, what occurs in case of long-term inflammation, tips to deal with gluten exposure, and symptoms of gluten intolerance.
How long does gluten stay in your system?
Gluten can stay in your system for 1-2 days. However, this time period can vary from one individual to another. In individuals suffering from gluten sensitivity, the reaction to gluten can last for a longer time even if there is no gluten present in the body.
Some individuals can experience a short and immediate response to eating gluten. Others can experience a long and delayed response.
This can be especially true if you have a leaky gut. If you want the symptoms of gluten sensitivity to recede, you would need to fix your leaky gut.
What exactly is gluten?
Gluten is present in barley, rye, and wheat. It is a protein. When individuals with celiac disease consume gluten, it can cause long-lasting damage to their small intestines. Individuals diagnosed with gluten intolerance should consume a gluten-free diet their entire life.
This would mean avoiding all forms of gluten. Foods prepared using wheat, rye, and barley including spelled flour have to be avoided.
Many processed foods and baked goods contain gluten. Apart from this, bread, pasta, condiments, sauces, canned soup, seasoning mixes, and crackers can contain gluten too. It is important to read food labels before you buy any product.
What exactly is gluten sensitivity?
Gluten sensitivity is an immune response to gluten. When an individual with gluten sensitivity consumes gluten, there is an immune reaction that can cause damage to the intestines and other tissues of the body.
Sometimes, individuals with gluten sensitivity are accidentally exposed to gluten. This can occur because of cross-contamination of foods during the cooking or processing of food.
Some individuals can forget to read the labels of processed foods and end up consuming foods containing gluten. This can result in short-term or long-term damage to the intestines and other body parts.
How long does it take for gluten to leave in case of mild discomfort?
It can take around 30-40 hours for gluten to leave in cases of mild discomfort. However, this time can vary depending on the individual’s gut, pancreas, and liver.
As gluten is a protein, the digestion of proteins can take more than a day. Apart from this, the foods you have consumed can also play a role in digestion. For instance, simple carbs are digested quickly compared to protein-rich foods.
Apart from this, other factors like sleep, stress, exercise, gender, and hydration can also affect the time required to digest a meal.
What occurs in case of long-term inflammation?
In case of long-term inflammation (caused by gluten), there can be an excess production of antibodies. This can cause the gut to leak.
In such cases, it can take around 4 months to clear antibodies. However, pre-existing health issues and other factors can increase the time required to clear the antibodies.
Apart from this, the mucosal lining of the intestine can get heavily damaged. In certain studies, it was observed that mucosal recovery was absent in individuals suffering from gluten intolerance.
What are some symptoms of gluten intolerance?
Some of the symptoms of gluten intolerance are given below:
- Excessive or sudden weight loss
- Fatigue
- Nutrient deficiencies
- Rashes
What are some tips to deal with gluten exposure?
- Flushing the bowel is important if you have accidentally consumed gluten. Besides, if you have a slow intestinal transit time, it can take time to get rid of gluten.
- Intestinal cells regenerate after 2-7 days. However, this regeneration can be affected if there is an excess of gluten exposure. As a result, taking a break from consuming foods can facilitate the regeneration process.
- Consumption of probiotics can help in healing the intestines. It can aid in the growth of good microbiota.
- Consuming anti-inflammatory foods can help in slowing down inflammation caused due to consumption of these foods. Green juices and bone broths can soothe the digestive system.
- Consuming vitamin or mineral supplements to combat deficiency is important too.
How to check if you suffer from gluten intolerance?
You can check whether you suffer from gluten intolerance through intestinal biopsy. This might not be an accurate measure. Some clinicians can do a combination of genetic testing and blood testing as well.
Conclusion
In this brief article, we have answered the question, “How long does gluten stay in your system?” and provided information on what exactly is gluten, what is gluten sensitivity, what occurs in case of long-term inflammation, tips to deal with gluten exposure, and symptoms of gluten intolerance.
References
https://www.wholisticworks.com/post/how-long-does-gluten-stay-in-your-system
