Gluten is a type of protein that some people are allergic to. Gluten intolerance, also known as gluten sensitivity, is characterized by the body’s inability to digest or break down gluten. Some people with gluten intolerance have a mild sensitivity to gluten. In contrast, others have celiac disease (a digestive disorder caused by an abnormal immune reaction to gluten), which is an autoimmune disorder. It can cause symptoms like those of diarrhoea-predominant IBS. It is found that many people with IBS are also gluten intolerant.
So what has gluten? Wheat, rye, barley, bread, cereals, pasta, and so on. Anything that uses flour or is starchy is high in gluten. In fact, some cosmetics and even shampoo have gluten. Although this doesn’t affect IBS it is, however, recommended to avoid cosmetics such as lipstick as it may be easily ingested.