Take The Gluten Sensitivity Quiz

Below is a clear, symptom-by-symptom breakdown so you can compare your experience with the most common gluten reactions.

Recognizing Gluten Intolerance Symptoms

Neurological & Mood Symptoms

These neurological changes are strongly associated with non-celiac gluten sensitivity, even when traditional celiac tests come back negative:

• Brain fog or difficulty concentrating

• Memory problems

• Headaches or migraines

• Anxiety, irritability, or mood swings

• Depression or low motivation

You can learn more about “hidden” neurological and mood symptoms in The Hidden Symptoms of Gluten Sensitivity.

Musculoskeletal & Pain Symptoms

Many people with undiagnosed gluten intolerance first notice symptoms in their joints or muscles.

Skin & Immune Symptoms

• Chronic rashes, hives, or eczema

• Itchy bumps or blistering rashes

• Acne, rosacea, or unexplained skin inflammation

• Frequent infections or slow healing

Skin and immune reactions are often overlooked clues of gluten intolerance. For many people, rashes, breakouts, or frequent infections appear before digestive symptoms ever show up.

Oral & Dental Symptoms

• Canker sores or mouth ulcers

• Enamel defects

• Gum inflammation or bleeding

• Dry mouth

• Bad breath

Oral changes are common but frequently overlooked gluten intolerance symptoms. Mouth ulcers, enamel issues, and gum inflammation are increasingly recognized in both celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity.

To explore this in detail, see Oral Health Problems and Gluten.

Other Signs

Symptoms appearing across multiple body systems are a hallmark pattern of gluten intolerance in adults.

Understanding gluten intolerance symptoms is crucial for identifying potential health issues and taking appropriate actions.

• Unexplained iron deficiency or anemia

• Hormonal imbalance, PMS, or fertility issues

• Unexplained weight gain or weight loss

• Autoimmune diagnoses (thyroid disease, joint problems, etc.)

If you recognize yourself in several of these categories, especially across multiple body systems, gluten intolerance becomes much more likely – and taking the gluten sensitivity quiz is an important next step.

Understanding the difference between gluten intolerance and celiac disease is important because the medical tests are different. Some people experience clear gluten intolerance symptoms even when conventional celiac testing is negative.

Genetic testing is the gold standard for gluten sensitivity testing. Unfortunately, many doctors still use antiquated and inaccurate gluten sensitivity tests. Examples of these gluten sensitivity tests include:

• Anti-gliadin antibodies – this is a blood test that measures for antibodies to one of the types of gluten found in wheat. It is not very comprehensive and often  gives false-negative results.
• Anti-tissue transglutaminase – this gluten sensitivity test is only specific for celiac disease and also has a tendency to come back falsely negative.
• Intestinal Biopsy – this test is also only specific for celiac disease and comes back with a lot of false negatives.

• Not comprehensive

Genetic testing is available here.

How Do You Test for Gluten Intolerance? (Celiac Tests vs Gluten Sensitivity Tests)

When most people ask their doctor, “How do I test for gluten intolerance?”, they are typically only offered tests that look for celiac disease.  Medical tests commonly used in this case are:

• Tissue transglutaminase (tTG) antibodies

• Endomysial antibodies (EMA)

• Deamidated gliadin peptide antibodies (DGP)

• Intestinal biopsy

These tests can be very helpful for diagnosing celiac disease, but they are not ideal when trying to detect non-celiac gluten sensitivity, and they can produce false negatives even in patients with serious gluten-related problems.

If you want more background on conventional celiac diagnosis, see the Celiac Disease Test article.

A more complete testing strategy looks like this:

1. Conventional Celiac Testing (Helpful, But Not the Whole Picture)

• Blood tests (tTG, EMA, DGP) and, in some cases, intestinal biopsy are used to diagnose celiac disease.

• A negative celiac test does not rule out gluten intolerance. It simply means you may not meet the strict criteria for celiac disease.

This is why many people with non-celiac gluten sensitivity continue to struggle with symptoms despite “normal” labs. The absence of celiac markers does not mean your immune system is tolerating gluten.

2. Genetic Testing for Gluten Sensitivity (Gold Standard for Risk)

Genetic testing looks at specific genes (like HLA-DQ variants) associated with gluten sensitivity and celiac disease. If you carry certain gene patterns, your immune system is more likely to react negatively to gluten.

• Genetics don’t change over time, so this test only needs to be done once.

• A positive genetic pattern suggests you should take gluten very seriously – even if your blood tests and biopsy are normal.

This type of gluten intolerance genetic test helps determine whether your immune system is predisposed to reacting to gluten

**Note: Gluten Free Society offers specialized, at-home Genetic Testing for Gluten Sensitivity and Celiac Disease to help you see whether gluten is a likely root cause of your symptoms.

3. Symptom-Based Self-Assessment (Quizzes & Checklists)

Symptom-based tools like the quiz on this page and the Gluten Intolerance Symptoms Checklist can help you identify patterns that strongly suggest gluten involvement.  They are not a formal diagnosis, but they can:

• Serve as a gluten intolerance self-test that provides helpful direction even when medical testing is unclear

• Reveal symptom clusters you may have overlooked

• Give you an intelligently structured way to identify gluten-symptom relationships, and make diet changes that could improve your health.

• Help you decide whether it’s worth pursuing genetic testing and a strict gluten-free trial.

For a more in depth educational dive, you can also review:

• What Are the Symptoms of Gluten Intolerance?

• Symptoms of Gluten Sensitivity

4. At-Home Elimination and Re-Challenge Trial

For many people, another option to “test” for a gluten reaction at home is to perform a diet elimination/re-challenge.  To do this, take the following steps:

1. Strictly eliminate all gluten for a period of two months.

2. Track changes in symptoms

3. Carefully reintroduce gluten while monitoring for reactions

This approach must be done carefully and 100% gluten free during the elimination phase.  There are drawbacks to an elimination diet’s accuracy.  The most common include:

• Gluten consumption can cause a delayed reaction where symptoms don’t manifest right away.
• Gluten proteins break down into morphine-like compounds.  This morphine affect can mask symptoms. 
• Depending on the person, gluten can stay in the body for varying lengths of time, making it difficult to assess an elimination diet.

Because gluten can linger in the body and immune system for several days, some reactions may not appear immediately. This delay is one reason a longer elimination period improves accuracy when testing for gluten intolerance at home.

For more on how long gluten can linger in the body, see How Long Does Gluten Stay In Your System?

How Can I Test for Gluten Intolerance at Home? (At-Home Gluten Intolerance Test Guide)

You can start gathering powerful information about your body’s relationship with gluten without leaving your home.

Step 1 – Take the Gluten Sensitivity Quiz

• The quiz is short, easy to take, and will only take a few minutes.
• The questions are based on weighted medical evidence of symptoms and diseases linked to gluten sensitivity and celiac disease.  

• Answer each question honestly based on your current symptoms and medical history.

How to interpret your quiz:

• Once your quiz is completed, Gluten Free Society will direct you to a page with your results and email you your score.  As a general rule, the more positive symptoms you have, the more likely you are to have a problem with gluten.

• If you check only a few mild symptoms, gluten intolerance is still possible but less likely.

• If you check many symptoms, especially across multiple systems (gut, brain, skin, joints), gluten intolerance becomes much more likely, and further action may be warranted.

Step 2 – Start a Symptom & Food Journal

For 2 months, track:

• What you eat (especially gluten-containing vs. gluten-free meals)

• Your daily symptoms: GI, energy, mood, pain, skin, sleep, etc.

• Timing (e.g., “bloating 1–2 hours after pasta,” “brain fog next morning after pizza”)

Patterns often emerge quickly when you write things down.

Step 3 – Do a Strict Gluten-Free Elimination Trial

For at least 60 days remove the following foods from your diet:

• Wheat, barley, rye, spelt, and many oats

• Bread, pasta, cereal, crackers, cookies, pastries, and most baked goods

• Breaded and fried foods

• Sauces, gravies, soups, and processed foods that may contain hidden gluten

If you need practical help with food choices, recipes, and swaps, check out:

• A Guide to Gluten and Dairy Free Food

• What Foods Contain Gluten? (Unsafe Ingredients List)

Be vigilant about:

• Cross-contamination (shared toasters, cutting boards, fryers)

• Medications and supplements containing gluten-based fillers

Step 4 – Re-Evaluate Your Symptoms

After a strict elimination period, ask:

• Has my digestion improved?

• Am I thinking more clearly?

• Do I have less joint pain or fewer headaches?

• Is my energy more stable?

If you see meaningful improvements, that’s a strong clue that gluten was playing a role.

Step 5 – Consider a Controlled Re-Challenge (Optional and Cautious)

Some people choose to reintroduce gluten once to confirm their suspicion:

• Under guidance, eat a gluten-containing meal.

• Monitor symptoms for 24–72 hours.

If symptoms rapidly return or worsen, it strongly supports gluten intolerance.

This kind of gluten challenge test helps confirm whether gluten is a direct trigger for your symptoms.

**Important: If you have known celiac disease, severe reactions, or significant autoimmune disease, do not reintroduce gluten without discussing the risks with a qualified practitioner.

What to Do If Your Gluten Sensitivity Quiz Suggests Gluten Intolerance

If your quiz results and symptom patterns point strongly toward gluten intolerance, consider the following next steps:

1. Commit to a Strict, Lifetime Gluten-Free Lifestyle

Gluten intolerance is not a fad. For many people, even small amounts of gluten (20 parts per million or less) can:

• Trigger inflammation

• Set off autoimmune reactions

• Damage the gut, brain, and other tissues

What this means:

• No “cheating” on weekends or vacations

• Reading labels carefully

• Learning to cook and eat in a way that supports your long-term health

For those with gluten intolerance, even very small amounts — including trace exposure — can be enough to trigger symptoms. Consistency and complete avoidance are essential to reducing inflammation and supporting long-term healing.

Check out our gluten free recipe database to help with meal planning.

2. Learn to Identify Hidden Sources of Gluten

Gluten can hide in:

• Sauces, gravies, and salad dressings

• Processed meats

• Candy and snacks

• “Gluten-free” foods that are cross-contaminated

• Medications and supplements

More in depth information on these topics can be found in the following article: What Foods Contain Gluten? Use This Ultimate List 

3. Support Gut Healing and Nutrient Status

Many people with gluten intolerance also have:

• Leaky gut (intestinal hyperpermeability)

• Imbalanced gut flora

• Nutrient deficiencies (iron, B-vitamins, vitamin D, magnesium, etc.)

A comprehensive and functional approach to going gluten free to maximize healing includes:

• A nutrient-dense, whole-food diet

• Testing for nutritional deficiencies and strategic supplementation where needed

• For more in depth information read our comprehensive nutritional supplement guide

Many nutrient deficiencies linked to gluten intolerance develop due to inflammation and impaired absorption, making it important to correct these imbalances early.

Testing for nutritional deficiencies is also an option. Gluten Free Society offers Intracellular Nutrient Analysis (INA). This simple blood test is an advanced way to assess nutritional status and customize diet change and supplementation.  

4. Assess Autoimmune and Systemic Risks

Gluten intolerance can be linked to many other conditions:

• Thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s, Graves’)

• Joint and connective tissue disorders

• Neurological and psychiatric conditions

• Skin autoimmune conditions

For a broader overview, see Gluten and the Autoimmune Disease Spectrum.

Gluten sensitivity is strongly linked to autoimmune activation, even in people who do not meet the criteria for celiac disease, making gluten avoidance especially important for prevention.

If you already have an autoimmune diagnosis or a strong family history, taking gluten seriously becomes even more important.  Going gluten free may help your body heal and repair from other forms of autoimmune disease beyond celiac.

5. Consider Genetic Testing for Gluten Sensitivity

If you want a clear, black and white answer about your genetic risk:

• Genetic testing can reveal whether your immune system is likely to react to gluten.

• When combined with your history, quiz results, and response to gluten-free living, this can give you the confidence you need to commit fully.

You can learn more or order a kit here:
Genetic Testing For Gluten Sensitivity and Celiac Disease.

If your child has multiple unexplained symptoms, a gluten-focused evaluation and medical follow-up may be warranted.  Learn more about how gluten can affect babies and children here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are the most common questions people have when they suspect gluten intolerance or receive a high score on a gluten sensitivity quiz.

Final Thoughts

If you’re asking, “Am I gluten intolerant?”, it most likely means that your body is already sending you clear messages that something is wrong. By using the gluten quiz and tools guidelines listed above, you can determine if going gluten free is right for you.

With proper testing, symptom tracking, and gluten elimination strategies, many people can identify gluten intolerance early and reduce long-term inflammation or autoimmune risks.

**This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice.

Work with a qualified healthcare professional – ideally one trained in functional medicine and gluten-related disorders – before making major changes to your diet, medications, or supplements.