Food Intolerance Testing, Symptoms, and Treatments

What is a food intolerance?

Food intolerances are less well-known than allergies, but they can be just as painful and debilitating. They're also on the rise: according to a study in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, the prevalence of food intolerance has doubled in the last 20 years.

Food intolerances occur when your body's immune system mistakenly identifies a particular food or food component as harmful. This results in an inflammatory response that can lead to a wide range of symptoms, including stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and headaches.

The most common food intolerances are lactose intolerance (an inability to digest milk), fructose malabsorption (fructose sugars can't be digested properly), celiac disease (gluten sensitivity) and gluten sensitivity (a reaction to wheat).

Food intolerance vs food allergy

Food intolerances are more common than food allergies. Food intolerance is a reaction to a food or ingredient that does not involve the immune system. Food allergies involve the immune system and can cause anaphylaxis, which is potentially life-threatening.

Food intolerance differs from food allergy in several ways:

Food intolerance isn't an immediate reaction like a food allergy. It can take several hours for symptoms to appear after eating certain foods.

Food intolerance symptoms vary from person to person, while specific foods cause allergenic reactions in most people who have food allergies.

Food intolerance doesn't usually cause hives, swelling or other physical symptoms like itching or rashes.

Symptoms of a food intolerance and reactions

If you have a food intolerance, your body is reacting to a certain food and causing a negative reaction. The most common symptoms are digestive problems such as bloating and diarrhea. You may also experience headaches, fatigue, and joint pain.

If you have a food intolerance, your body is reacting to a certain food and causing a negative reaction. The most common symptoms are digestive problems such as bloating and diarrhea. You may also experience headaches, fatigue, and joint pain.

Treatment for food intolerance

The best way to determine whether you have a food intolerance is get tested.

It's important to note that not all people with an intolerance will experience an allergic response — some people may be sensitive to certain foods due to their digestive system not being able to properly digest them

If the patient experiences a reaction after eating a specific food, he or she should avoid that food for several days. If no reaction occurs, the patient can slowly reintroduce the suspected food into his or her diet to determine whether it is truly responsible.

In addition to identifying the offending foods, physicians may offer lifestyle changes for more severe reactions. Some patients may benefit from probiotics or other supplements that help balance gut bacteria. Even chiropractic can treat food intolerance.

Concerns

If you’re concerned about your health, talk to Dr Tuchinsky today! There is no need to try and self-diagnose yourself based off an online test or article.