People often say that they can’t eat certain things because they are
allergic to them, but in many cases, what they mean is that they have an
intolerance to it. If you have a bad reaction to a certain food, it may be an
allergy or it could be a food intolerance.
Food intolerance
is difficulty digesting certain foods and having an unpleasant physical
reaction to them.
However, it is very important to understand the differences between
a food allergy and food intolerance, because that knowledge can literally
save your, or someone else’s, life. An allergy is when your body's immune
system thinks the food is harmful and tries to fight it off. Intolerance means
your body has a hard time digesting food or an ingredient in it, such as a
dye or a chemical. The number of people who believe they have food intolerance
has risen dramatically over recent years, but it's hard to know how many
people are truly affected. Many people assume they have food intolerance
when the true cause of their symptoms is something else.
What Are The Symptoms Of Food Intolerance?
General symptoms people tend
to experience who have a food intolerance are:
·
Stomach Ache/Cramps
·
Bloating, Gas
·
Diarrhea
·
Skin Rashes/Hives
·
Headache
·
Nausea
Some symptoms of food
intolerance or sensitivity are similar to those of allergies. Food intolerance
is not the same as a food allergy. Unlike a food allergy, symptoms of food intolerance,
such as bloating and stomach pain, usually come on a few hours after
consuming the food. You often have overeaten a lot of the food, and it may
take an hour or more for you to develop symptoms. It can be uncomfortable, but
food intolerances usually aren't dangerous. But a food allergy may be life-threatening.
Here
is some symptoms for your help to differentiate.
FOOD ALLERGY:
v Food allergy is
a reaction from your immune system (your body's defense against infection) –
your immune system mistakenly treats proteins found in food as a threat
v Food can
trigger typical allergy symptoms, such as a rash, wheezing and itching,
after eating just a small amount of the food (these symptoms usually come on
rapidly)
v Allergy is
often associated with particular foods – common food allergies in adults are
to fish and shellfish and nuts, and in children to milk and eggs
as well as to peanuts, other nuts and fish
v Food allergy can
be serious and life-threatening.
FOOD INTOLERANCE:
v Food
Intolerance doesn't involve your immune system – there is no allergic reaction,
and it is never life-threatening
v Intolerance causes symptoms
that come on more slowly, often takes many hours after eating the problem
food
v Food
Intolerance only results in symptoms if you eat reasonable amounts of the food
(unlike an allergy, where just traces can trigger a reaction)
v Food
Intolerance can be caused by many different foods
Intolerances usually
show up typical symptoms of stomach trouble like gas, pain, bloating, and diarrhoea.
But the food allergy is associated with rashes, hives, and watery eyes that are
common with all allergies. It can be difficult to know for sure whether you
have a food intolerance as these are very general symptoms, of many other
health conditions too. You should see a doctor to learn for sure what's causing
your problem.
Types And Causes Of Food
Intolerance:
Intolerances are often caused
by things in the food, such as:
Lactose Intolerance: Lactose a
natural sugar
found in milk, cheese,
and other dairy products. If your symptoms come on after having dairy products,
it's possible you may have lactose intolerance. This means your body
can't digest lactose, a sugar found in milk, yogurts and soft cheeses.
Gluten Intolerance: Gluten is a
protein in wheat, barley, rye, and some other grains. Some people have trouble
digesting wheat and experience bloating, wind, diarrhea, vomiting and
stomach pain after eating bread.
Fructose Intolerance: Fructose is
a natural sugar found in most fruits and also in high-fructose corn syrup, a sweetener used in some soft drinks and some processed foods, like pastries and
cereal
Sulfites Intolerance: Sulfites are chemical preservatives used in
a range of foods including beverages such as wine and beer. They are added to
processed foods to increase their shelf-life and even to some medications to
keep them stable. Sulfites can trigger allergic reactions in some people, mainly those having
asthma. Sulfites are present in wines, pickled foods, and sodas.
FODMAPs Intolerance: Fermentable Oligosaccharides Disaccharides
Monosaccharides And Polyols (FODMAP), carbohydrates that draw water into your
intestine during digestion. FODMAPs cause gas, bloating, and abdominal pain in
some people (usually those with other digestive issues). Many plant foods
contain FODMAPs, including apples, honey, garlic, and wheat.
Other sources of Food
Intolerance may be a food additive, chemical, or contaminant, such as:
·
Histamine (found in mushrooms, Quorn, pickled and
cured foods, and alcoholic drinks)
·
Toxins, viruses, bacteria, or parasites that have
contaminated food
·
Monosodium glutamate (MSG)
·
Caffeine
·
Alcohol
·
Artificial food colors, preservatives
or flavor enhancers
Is There A Food
Intolerance Test?
Unfortunately, there are
no definite tests for food intolerances. The only way to know if you have one
is to monitor your symptoms and the food you eat. Notice what happens when you
cut out the suspected food for a while, and then reintroduce it back into your
diet.
Keep
a Food Diary
Always try keeping
a food diary, noting:
ü what foods
you eat and drink
ü any symptoms
you have after eating these foods
ü when these
symptoms come on
Trial
Elimination Diet
Once you have a clear idea
which foods may be causing your symptoms, you can:
ü try excluding
them from your diet one at a time and observing the effect this has.
ü try cutting
out the suspected food from your diet for two to six weeks and see if your
symptoms improve
ü reintroduce
the food to see if symptoms return – you may find you can tolerate a certain
level and you only get symptoms if you have more than this amount
It is better to consult
a dietitian to make sure you're receiving all your recommended daily nutrients
while you undergoing this trial.
HOW
TO MANAGE FOOD INTOLERANCE?
Once you have identified
you are intolerant to a particular food, the only way you can manage this
is to:
·
stop eating the food for a while, and then
·
reintroduce small quantities while monitoring
how much you can eat without symptoms coming on
·
Checking food labels will help you to know
which sorts of foods to avoid.
If you think your child
may have a food intolerance, check with your doctor or a dietitian before
eliminating foods from their diet, as a restricted diet could affect their
growth and development. Cows' milk, for example, is an important source of
calcium, vitamin D and protein.
WHEN
DO I NEED TO SEE A DOCTOR?
You may need to refer a
doctor if you are not sure what's causing your symptoms and further tests
are needed.
You may also need a
doctor’s consultation if your child has digestive symptoms (such as tummy pain
and diarrhoea) and:
·
isn't growing well
·
hasn't responded to any elimination diet
that your health-care professional recommended
·
has reacted suddenly or severely to a
food
·
has a suspected food allergy
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