Introduction:
Food intolerance or food sensitivity happens when there is difficulty digesting certain food items or a particular ingredient. It affects the digestive system. Symptoms like diarrhea, bloating, pain in the stomach, or farting can identify food intolerance. It can also be associated with headaches, tiredness, dizziness, and constipation. The unwellness can last hours to days. Food allergy is different from food intolerance. In food allergy, certain symptoms include rashes on the skin, itchy skin, or swelling of the face, lips, and eyes, or it can be associated with wheezing.
What Are the Causes of Food Intolerance?
The cause of food intolerance is that the body cannot digest certain ingredients in the food. The common type of food intolerance seen is lactose intolerance. Lactose intolerance is when the body cannot digest lactose, the sugar in milk and dairy products like yogurt and cheese. Apart from lactose, different types of food or ingredients can be intolerant to people. People with food intolerance do not produce a particular digestive enzyme that can digest a certain type of food or ingredient, causing food sensitivity. Some gastrointestinal conditions like celiac disease (immune reaction while eating gluten in some people) or inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s disease (inflammation of the digestive tract) and ulcerative colitis (inflammation, pain, and presence of ulcers in the gastrointestinal tract) are more prone to develop a food sensitivity or food intolerance.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Food Intolerance?
The signs and symptoms associated with food intolerance include -
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Pain in the abdomen.
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Abdominal bloating.
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Headaches.
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Heartburn.
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Stomach upset.
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Gas.
What Are the Commonly Seen Food Intolerances?
The commonly seen food sensitivity or food intolerance include the following -
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Lactose - There will be a deficiency of lactase enzyme, which help in breaking down lactose which is present in dairy products and milk. Lactose intolerance is very common. Avoid milk, cheese, yogurt, ice creams, butter, or dairy products.
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Fructose - Practice is also a sugar that can be seen in some fruits, vegetables, and in honey. Fructose intolerance is caused due to deficiency of an enzyme that helps in digesting fructose.
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Histamine - Natural chemical found in cheese, bananas, chocolate, wine, pineapples, etc. These people who are tolerant to histamine do not produce diamine oxidase enzyme, which helps break the chemical.
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Gluten - The protein in wheat, barley, and rye is called gluten. It is found in food items like pasta and bread. People who have gluten intolerance have difficulty digesting gluten.
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Caffeine - Caffeine intolerance is difficulty digesting or breaking down caffeine found in tea, coffee, and some drinks.
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Sulphites - Sulphites are found in drinks like beer, wine, and cider.
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Salicylates - Salicylates are found in certain vegetables, fruits, and spices.
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Food Additives - Food additives are substances used to enhance flavors and increase food taste. They include antioxidants, artificial coloring and flavoring agents, preservatives, and sweeteners. Food intolerance caused by additives is rare. The nitrates, monosodium glutamine, and sulfide present in food additives can cause certain adverse reactions in some people.
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Shellfish - Selfish is a marine creature with a protein that is intolerant of certain people. Marine creatures like crabs, lobsters, oysters, or shrimp should be avoided in such cases.
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Corn, Soy, and Peanut - Some people are intolerant to these food items. So these food items are avoided by some people.
What Is the Difference Between Food Allergy and Food Intolerance?
Food intolerance affects the digestive system, whereas food allergy affects the body's immune system. Food intolerance occurs when the digestive or gastrointestinal system cannot digest or break down certain types of food items or particular food ingredients. A food allergy occurs when the immune system identifies a protein or certain ingredient in food items as a threat and releases antibodies against that protein, called immunoglobulins or IgE, to fight the threat. Food intolerance can cause stomach upset, which is not life-threatening. In contrast, food allergy can cause allergic reactions like skin rashes, itching, swelling, wheezing, and difficulty breathing. Food allergies can cause life-threatening reactions like anaphylaxis, requiring serious treatment. Food intolerance can be identified a few hours after eating the food items. Food intolerance does not occur or does not show any symptoms if only a small amount of food is consumed. Food allergies can sometimes become fatal if treated quickly.
How Is Food Intolerance Diagnosed?
There is no specific test for food intolerance, but various allergy tests can test food allergy. To diagnose food intolerance, the meals and drinks intake are recorded and kept, and certain food are eliminated to remove particular food from the diet for two to six weeks. If the symptoms reduce during this period and come back after eating the food again, it is considered a food intolerance. In the case of lactose intolerance, a hydrogen breath test is conducted. This test is done by drinking the liquid containing lactose and breathing it in a container every 30 minutes for a few hours. If the person is lactose intolerant, then there will be a high level of hydrogen in the breath caused by undigested lactose, and it will be associated with various symptoms and signs after drinking the lactose solution. There is no particular test for gluten intolerance and histamine intolerance.
What Is the Treatment for Food Intolerance?
Food intolerance is treated only by avoiding, limiting, or eliminating the food items causing intolerance in the body. In case of lactose intolerance, people can consume lactose-free milk or dairy products. When symptoms present with food intolerance, it can be reduced by taking antacids and antidiarrheals.
Conclusion:
People with food intolerance can have a deficiency in nutrition like calcium and Vitamin D. They can be supplemented by lactase enzyme when consuming milk or dairy products or using gluten-free grains, and eating more fresh vegetables and fruits helps them get enough fiber. But food intolerance is not a life-threatening problem compared to food allergy. Avoiding certain types of food will reduce the symptoms associated with food intolerance. If it is associated with severe pain in the abdomen or diarrhea, then consult a doctor.
