Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity (NCGS) occurs when a person experiences symptoms similar to celiac disease but doesn’t actually have celiac disease. NCGS is often defined by what it’s not: It is not an allergic reaction such as a wheat allergy, and it’s not an autoimmune reaction such as celiac disease either. 

Even though people with NCGS don’t have an autoimmune or allergic reaction, they still experience symptoms after eating anything with gluten or other wheat proteins in it. Symptoms usually appear soon after eating gluten and disappear when gluten has been removed from the diet.   

Common Gluten Sensitivity Symptoms

The symptoms of NCGS are similar to the digestive issues found with celiac disease and wheat allergy, such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, and bloating. But people with NCGS also tend to have nondigestive symptoms, such as:^1,2

• Headache
• Mental confusion or a “foggy mind”
• Fatigue
• Joint Pain
• Numbness in the arms and/or legs

Children with NCGS have typical digestive symptoms, such as abdominal pain and chronic diarrhea, but tiredness is also a frequent complaint.³

Common Triggers

Gluten isn't found in just wheat. It's in barley, bulgur, rye, and seitan too. And products that are labeled as wheat-free aren't necessarily gluten-free. They may contain spelt (a form of wheat), rye, or barley-based ingredients, which are wheat free but not gluten free. And although oats don't contain gluten, they're often processed in facilities that also produce gluten-containing grains, which means they can be contaminated. Thus, many people with NGCS should avoid oats, too.

Some common foods that can contain gluten and can cause a response include: