Food Intolerance : Symptoms And Treatments
Does drinking a glass of milk cause you stomach to hurt? Have you eaten something, and later felt nauseous? Are there specific foods or beverages that cause you to feel sick? Many people share these symptoms with you. There is a condition called food intolerance, and millions suffer from it. You too may have this condition.
When your body is not able to digest some particular type of food it is termed as food intolerance. Nearly 10% of Americans are intolerant to milk. It can be found in infants also who are intolerant to milk or some other food substance since birth. Or it can develop at any age. Food intolerance has been found to be permanent in some cases. But generally it comes and goes 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.
It is important to note that these symptoms overlap with those of food allergies. Do not confuse the two. Symptoms of food allergies may also include hives, itching, swelling, vomiting, wheezing and swelling of the throat or lips, and usually occur right after eating the food. The medical consequences can be serious, so seek medical treatment immediately if you experience them.
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.
Food intolerance is a condition and millions suffer from it. When the body cannot properly digest a certain food, this is intolerance to food. Some people are born with intolerances to certain foods; others may develop it later in life. Food allergies cause abdominal discomfort, such as: pain, diarrhea, nausea. Symptoms are swift and severe and occur as you are eating the food you are allergic to. Food allergies can be life-threatening, so if you have symptoms, you need to seek immediate medical treatment. Visit a physician for allergy testing for suspect foods. If testing is negative you can be sure it is intolerance, therefore, adjust your nutrition.
- Robert Harrison
