Food Intolerance

Do you have a food intolerance? Food intolerances are conditions that are shared by millions of people. They can make it seem like you always have a stomach ache after drinking milk. Food intolerances can cause you to be sorry you ate certain foods, as you spend next several hours feeling ill. You may even find that you avoid entire food groups because of the stomach aches. If this sounds like you, you may have a food intolerance.

Food intolerance occurs when the body is unable to digest a certain type of food. The most common food intolerance is milk, which is poorly digested by about 10% of Americans. Intolerances can be present from birth, or they can manifest later in life. They may be permanent, or they may come and go depending on the day.

How do you know if you are suffering from food intolerance? The symptoms vary widely, and two people with the same intolerance may have completely different symptoms. Some of the most common symptoms are headache, nausea, abdominal discomfort, fatigue, gas, diarrhea, and sore throat. These symptoms can be extremely unpleasant and can lead to long-term suffering and ill health.

These symptoms should not be confused with the symptoms of food allergies, which can include all of the above and may also include skin hives, itching, and swelling, vomiting, wheezing, swollen lips, and swelling of the throat. These reactions will occur immediately after eating the offending food and may be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, seek medical treatment immediately because they may be life-threatening.

Sometimes it can be difficult to tell the difference between an intolerance and an allergy. If you are in doubt, it's best to see an allergist for allergy testing. These tests can determine which substances you are allergic to, but not which foods you may just not be able to tolerate. However, ruling out an allergy is the first step toward being able to manage your food intolerance.

Once you know that you are intolerant to specific foods, how do you adjust your nutrition? You will first need to remove that item from your diet. Make sure to avoid items that have your intolerance hidden, as it can still trigger your sensitivities. You should feel a lot better once the food has been eliminated from your diet.

Dairy foods are difficult to completely remove from your diet, so if you are lactose intolerant, some problems may arise. Fortunately, most such people can eat some forms of dairy without much trouble. One strategy that you might use is to avoid all dairy foods for two weeks, and then slowly reintroduce certain dairy products into your diet to see which ones cause your problems. Many people can eat yogurt or cheese but cannot drink liquid milk, for example. So dairy may not have to completely disappear from your diet.