You've probably heard the newest weight-loss secret — and maybe you've even tried it yourself: Drop 10 pounds "instantly" by giving up wheat. When Annakeara Stinson, a 26-year-old who lives in New York City, heard about it, she thought she'd found the secret to staying thin. "I was in my last semester at school and so stressed out. There was no way I could stay as fit as I had gotten over the summer." She headed to the doctor complaining of stomach problems, and he suggested they could be linked to the wheat protein gluten. She happily went gluten-free.

One month later, 15 pounds lighter, and raking in "You look great!" squeals, she veered into dangerous territory. She'd eat spinach and spoonfuls of almond butter — and nothing else — for dinner. She was irritable and fatigued, and her skin looked unhealthy and gray. "My gluten intolerance became an easy excuse for what turned into an eating disorder," she admits.

Not everyone who has food allergies or intolerances has an eating disorder. Far from it — allergies are real and can be life-threatening. But potential allergies run the gamut from sugar, nuts, and animal proteins (including eggs and dairy products) to nightshade veggies (potatoes, peppers, tomatoes, eggplant), soy, and gluten. And some women are now claiming allergies to food groups not out of a necessity for their health but to justify going on restrictive, often dangerous diets to lose weight. An allergy can provide a cover for a warped relationship with food. No one will question your shunning that pizza if it's because your doctor told you to avoid it.

The Goop Effect

When some svelte celeb, like Gwyneth Paltrow or Megan Fox, comes out hailing the wheat- or dairy-free gods, we take note. Ditch these devil foods and downsize to starlet proportions. And with dozens of diet books and cookbooks promising that cutting a food group will make you thin and healthy — Sugar Busters,Wheat Belly,The G-Free Diet — and even doctors and nutritionists encouraging Americans to get blood tests that uncover food allergies and sensitivities, the trend has some expert cred behind it.

No wonder one-third of us think we have a food allergy. And yet only 4 percent of us really do, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. "Many people are avoiding foods because of misunderstandings, not true allergies," says Scott Sicherer, MD, of the Jaffe Food Allergy Institute, at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. For example, maybe you eat a plate of pasta, feel sluggish, then blame wheat, or you feel ill after finishing a bowl of mint chip, then vow to go sugar-free. In reality, maybe you just ate too much.

Maybe, says Dr. Sicherer, we're confusing intolerances with allergies. With an allergy, your immune system goes into attack mode against a certain food, like lobster or peanuts. Your body releases histamines that can cause red, itchy skin, swollen eyes, dizziness, or wheezing. Food allergies are no joke: They send more than 30,000 people to the ER every year.

An intolerance is different. Your body may lack the enzyme to digest milk properly, creating lactose intolerance. Or you may be sensitive to gluten — a protein found in wheat and other grains — and experience gastrointestinal symptoms like bloating, gas, or diarrhea. About 1 percent of the U.S. population has an extreme form of gluten intolerance known as celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder in which gluten damages the small intestine and interferes with nutrient absorption. If you have an allergy, eating the food can, in some cases, be life-threatening — even in tiny amounts. You can see why you'd have to eliminate it from your diet. But with an intolerance, you may be able to eat dairy, gluten, sugar, or eggs in limited amounts without issues. And you may be able to reintroduce the food into your diet in the future.

Weight-Loss Miracle?

More women are crossing their fingers hoping they have a food allergy or intolerance to sugar, dairy, wheat, or whatever, says Lauren Schmitt, RD, a nutritionist in Studio City, California. "Some see it as the answer to losing weight or something that will force them to do so. Or they may blame an inability to lose weight on a food intolerance," she says.

Allergies make the perfect scapegoat. "It's a judgment-free way to have an unhealthy relationship with food that's socially acceptable," says psychiatrist Kim Dennis, MD, the medical director of Timberline Knolls, a residential treatment center in Lemont, Illinois. Pass up nachos with the girls and it's no biggie if you're dairy-free. But if you say you're skipping them because you don't want to get fat, your friends will be on your case.

Plus, allergies (whether they're real or fake) can provide a rigid structure and sense of control that women with eating disorders crave. Even when intentions start out healthy, if you have enough willpower to skip cupcakes, wine, and tomato sauce because you're sensitive to sugar — and you lose weight — then how far can you go? What other "bad" foods can you eliminate? You can fixate on being a perfect, clean eater.

That's what happened to Stinson, whose eating habits became so strict that she lost her period, a condition called amenorrhea that's associated with infertility and osteoporosis. "One of my doctors asked me if I had an eating disorder. And I said, 'No! I'm just gluten-free,' and that was the end of the conversation. My doctor bought it," Stinson recalls.

Diagnosis Fail

"It's easy to go to a doctor looking to be told you have an allergy and have that validated. Some make tons of money running allergy tests that may not be medically necessary," says Dr. Dennis. Another tack: Self-diagnosing, then cutting out certain foods. After all, no one dies from ditching crackers and bread.

Still, axing entire food groups without input from a doctor or dietitian means you may not get all the nutrients you need to feel your best. For example, eliminate wheat and you may lack fiber and energizing B vitamins. Cut out dairy and you may fall short on bone-building calcium and mood-boosting vitamin D.

Assuming you're healthy, there's also no evidence that restrictive diets like gluten-free are the path to skinny, finds a study in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Research shows that diets, especially ones that make you feel deprived of your favorite foods, can cause cravings, trigger binges, and cause you to regain the weight — and then some.

If you have reason to suspect that you have a food intolerance, you need a team on your side to diagnose and treat you. At minimum, don't give yourself a life sentence against a food you love for no reason.

Ask your doctor for a referral to a board-certified allergy specialist who can pinpoint problem-causing foods. A registered dietitian specializing in allergies and sensitivities can develop a healthy diet for you. And if you suspect you have an eating disorder, talk to a specialist. (Get started using the free chat line at NationalEatingDisorders.org.) Warning signs that something may be up include an obsession with eating clean, a long list of foods that are off-limits and a short list of what's okay, and withdrawal from friends and family.

Today, Stinson focuses on listening to her body. "Sometimes it feels good to have sweets, and sometimes I want veggies," she says. "But I know that there's no point in putting so much pressure on myself."

Is It An Allergy, Intolerance, or Eating Disorder?

Signs can be similar — here's how to tell what you're up against.

Allergy

What it feels like: Hives, swelling, itchy eyes, runny nose, sneezing, wheezing, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fainting — adult allergies are most commonly caused by peanuts, tree nuts (like almonds), and seafood.

Symptoms occur:Within minutes or up to two hours after eating the food.

Diagnosis: Your doc will do a medical history and physical exam, followed by skin-prick tests.

Intolerance

What it feels like: Sugar and dairy trigger bloating, gas, diarrhea, nausea, and cramps. Gluten can cause stomach issues, fatigue, and depression. Chocolate and caffeine can bring on headaches. Histamine-containing foods like cheese, red wine, and yeast breads cause headaches, rapid heart rate, flushing, fainting, and wheezing.

Symptoms occur:Hours to days after eating.

Diagnosis: Elimination diet (avoid the food for a certain amount of time), followed by reintroduction (eat possible offenders to pinpoint triggers). Consult your MD to try this successfully.

Disordered Eating

What it feels like: Strict avoidance of foods that aren't seen as clean or pure—including artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives, animal products, pesticides, fat, sugar, and salt — in order to control weight and not because of an intolerance or moral objection to these foods. Often linked to an eating disorder called orthorexia, aka an obsession with a healthy diet in the name of weight loss.

Symptoms occur: Gradually over a long period of time.

Diagnosis: See an MD or dietitian who specializes in eating disorders.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io