Bread, pancakes, muffins, rice, pasta; gluten is in so many different things. Kind of like glue, gluten is the component that holds these foods together and there are many studies that suggest that it isn’t good for the body, at least not modern day gluten. In fact, some people can’t eat gluten at all.

For these people, they either have a difficult time digesting gluten or can’t digest it at all. Known as celiac disease, this gluten intolerance can have adverse effects on the body.

Do you think that you may be having trouble with gluten? Here are 10 signs that will tell you that yes, without a doubt, you are having difficulty processing gluten and that you should stop eating it.

1. You have an increased amount of gas, bloating and diarrhea, or you are constipated. If you are having a difficult time digesting gluten, your bowels will be greatly impacted. In fact, for most people, this is the first sign of gluten intolerance.
2. The development of Keratosis Pilaris, or ‘chicken skin’ on the back of the arms. This happens when the body has a deficiency in fatty acids and a vitamin A, which is secondary to fat-malabsorption, which is a result of gluten doing extensive damage to the gut.
3. You feel tired, run down and like you are in a fog, especially after you eat a meal that contains gluten.
4. You have been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Lupus or Ulcerative colitis. These autoimmune diseases are partially the result of your body trying to break down the gluten, even though it can’t.
5. You have certain neurological symptoms, including dizziness or you feel as if you are off-kilter (imbalanced).
6. You have a hormone imbalance, like PMS or PCOS, or you have been trying to become pregnant and can’t or you are otherwise infertile.
7. You are experiencing frequent and severe migraine headaches.
8. You have been experiencing constant pain that is not linked to an illness (fibromyalgia) or you have been diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome. These diagnosis mean that your doctor is unable to identify what it is that is causing your condition.
9. You have inflammation, swelling or pain in your joints, your fingers, your knees or your hips.
10. You are experiencing serious issues with your mood, including anxiety, depression, mood swings or attention deficit.

If you think that you may be intolerant to gluten, you should talk to your medical care provider as soon as possible. He or she will be able to conduct a series of tests in order to accurately diagnose whether or not you unable to process gluten. However, even if your doctor does determine that you are gluten intolerant, it can take months or even years to clean it out of your system.