Gluten-Free Diet Eliminates Headaches

Q. Two years ago, I was getting headaches every day for several months. I visited five different doctors, but none had a clue as to the reason, and they weren’t any help.
I then read about a lady who had written to you. She said her headaches stopped when she stopped eating wheat, oats, barley and rye. The next day, I quit and so did the headaches. Other readers with chronic headaches should try not eating gluten and see if it helps.
A. Migraine headaches are an often-unrecognized symptom of celiac disease. People with this condition cannot tolerate the protein gluten that is found in the grains wheat, barley and rye. Because celiac disease damages the intestine and interferes with nutrient absorption, it puts people at higher risk for osteoporosis, dementia and some cancers. Other symptoms can include digestive difficulties, itchy skin rashes, neuropathies, anemia and fatigue. If you think you may have celiac disease, you should ask your doctor about a test.