I have never really been aware of the
distinction between allergies and food intolerance. In fact, up until
recently, I didn’t even know there was any difference. But thanks to
this handy guide I understand that I may be food intolerant, even though
I am allergy free. As much as 10% of us suffer from food intolerance,
however, we usually don’t realize and therefore, do nothing about it.
Read on and see whether you have experienced any of these 11 signs of
food intolerance.
Note: If you experience any of these symptoms it is advisable that you
speak to your GP as soon as you can.
With food allergies, our bodies’ immune
systems reject certain foods. With food intolerance, a negative reaction
happens because our threshold for a particular food, and perhaps
certain chemicals, is exceeded. Tracking down the guilty perpetrator may
be difficult because symptoms may not display until many hours or days
have passed since the food was consumed. That means assessing whether
you have experienced any symptoms is the most important first step. Take
a careful look at the 11 most common signs of food intolerance.
1. Are you going to the bathroom often?
This could be a sign of Irritable Bowel
Syndrome (IBS), which includes symptoms like diarrhea, gas, a bloated
feeling, and abdominal pain. Badly absorbed carbohydrates, which are
called FODMAPs, are now considered the primary cause of IBS. The only
reliable treatment for IBS is a diet change, called the Low FODMAP Diet,
which aims to eliminate the fermentable carbohydrates that cause IBS
from one’s dinner table.
2. Do you have chronic muscle or joint pains that are spreading?
fibromyalgia, is said to affect 6% of us, particularly middle-aged
women. If you experience such a long-term widespread pain which is not
confined to any particular part of your body you may be suffering from
fibromyalgia. This is said to be triggered in the majority of patients
after they eat certain variable foods.
3. Does caffeine over-stimulate you?
Some of us, particularly in the west where
tea or coffee drinking had not been a part of our ancestors’ diet, are
slow at metabolizing caffeine. Therefore, consumption of something rich
in caffeine, such as strong coffee, could be leading to your digestive
stress, raised blood pressure, sweating, and an increased risk of heart
disease. If you find caffeine is giving you such a reaction, cut down on
coffee, tea, and chocolate, switching to decaffeinated alternatives
instead.
4. Do certain meals give you headaches or migraines?
This is one of the most common symptoms and
signs of food intolerance, which is generally considered to have one
principal food cause: monosodium glutamate (MSG). Symptoms might not be
experienced for quite a few hours after consumption. But it is always a
good idea to stay alert for products and cooking that contains MSG.
5. After a good sleep, do you still feel sleepy?
Diet is one of the principal causes of
chronic fatigue syndrome, a disorder that describes long-term tiredness
and exhaustion. Anywhere between one and four million ordinary Americans
suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome, yet it is estimated that hardly
even 20% of that number have been properly diagnosed. So if you are
feeling tired even though you think you have had sufficient rest,
perhaps this is the problem and you should consult a medical
professional.
6. Do you have no tolerance for wheat, even though you test negative for
celiac disease?
Up to 13% of people who do not suffer from
celiac disease still have trouble digesting the wheat protein, gluten.
This condition is called Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity, or simply and
more commonly Gluten Intolerance. So if you have had trouble eating
wheat, perhaps you should also consider a low FODMAPS diet .
Known as hypothyroidism, an underactive
thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones. Most cases of
hypothyroidism are caused by an autoimmune disease, called Hashimoto’s,
which is linked with those who suffer a gluten intolerance. A
gluten-free diet is a good way to reduce hypothyroidism, and therefore
conversely an underactive thyroid is a likely sign of a food
intolerance.
Lactose intolerance is extremely common,
particularly in East Asia. To deal with and digest the natural sugar
milk contains, lactose, we make use of the enzyme lactase. Any
deficiency in lactase within you will cause you great difficulty
digesting dairy products. If you suffer from this problem but continue
consuming dairy you may suffer serious gastrointestinal problems.
Instead, see a doctor immediately for a diagnosis, and stay off dairy.
Osteoarthritis is usually the result of
aging, however, rheumatoid arthritis is much more difficult to determine
the cause of, and lacks a cure. It may be that this form of arthritis
is a sign of a food intolerance though. Some researchers believe that
certain food sensitivities lead to an inflammatory immune response that
worsens the existing joint inflammation – increasing your pain and
swelling.
10. Do particular foods give you skin conditions?
Tomatoes and peppers contain quite a large
amount of salicylate, which is known to cause skin problems in around
2.5% of those of European origin. Although, it can be hard to determine
whether these two vegetables have caused your skin ailments since skin
reactions can be delayed for a long time. However, to be on the safe
side you should moderate your intake of these vegetables if you have
such skin conditions.
A FODMAP diet specifically tries to cut out
these foods. But since garlic and onions are so frequently used in
cooking, many people find them hard to avoid. However, apart from them
being high in FODMAPs that can damage your insides, they also contain
fructans that can trigger those who are over-sensitive. Thus, onions and
garlic are commonly intolerable. So, if eating meals heavily flavored
with these foods causes you belly trouble, you probably have a food
intolerance.
