Food Intolerance: Causes and Dietary guidance
Food intolerance, also known as non-Immunoglobulin E(IgE) mediated food hypersensitivity or non-allergic food hypersensitivity, refers to difficulty in digesting certain foods. Food intolerance in children is generally less severe and often limited to digestive problems.
Symptoms
The following are the most common symptoms of food intolerance:
- Bloating
- Migraines
- Headaches
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Feeling under the weather
- Stomach ache
- Irritable bowel
- Hives
Causes
Food intolerance describes a range of food-related symptoms that are not immunologically-mediated. These account for the majority of food reactions.
- Functional intolerance – this means an isolated enzyme deficiency
- Enzymatic defects – this means the inability of the body to digest and absorb a certain nutrient because of the unavailability of a specific enzyme.
- Transport defects – this mean the inability to transport nutrient molecule into the cells
- Bacteria overgrowth of the small bowel – Patients who are at risk for bacterial overgrowth include those who have been surgically treated by bowel resection
- Active compound in foods – Many foods contain compounds with intrinsic biologic activity
- Idiosyncratic intolerances – Some substances in our foods evoke individual intolerances
- Structural intolerance – Structural intolerance is due to abnormal structure of the digestive tract
Types
Lactose intolerance
Lactose intolerance is a digestive disorder caused by the inability to digest lactose, the main carbohydrate in dairy products. People with lactose intolerance don’t make enough of the enzyme lactase, which is needed to digest lactose.
Symptoms
If not managed properly, lactose intolerance can cause severe digestive problems.
The most common symptoms are
- Bloating
- Abdominal cramps
- Gas
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Vomiting
Dietary advice
- Avoid dairy products like cow and goat milk and cheese, ice cream, yogurt and butter etc.
- Avoid food with lactose in them like baked goods, sauce with milk in them, custard etc.
- Other foods to eat include, plant based milk (almond and rice milk), green leafy vegetables etc.
wheat sensitivity
Wheat Sensitivity or Non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) implies a specific reactivity to gluten in those who do not have CD but who develop gastrointestinal or extra-gastrointestinal symptoms, immunological, or morphological changes after exposure to dietary gluten. It is possible to no longer be intolerant to wheat by eliminating it from the diet and then reintroducing it later in life.
Symptoms
Wheat intolerance symptoms do not present themselves immediately. It is thought that they can be delayed for up to 72 hours. The signs of a wheat intolerance may vary in severity and can affect a person both physically and mentally. Typical symptoms of a food intolerance could include:
- IBS
- Stomach ache
- Bloating
- Headaches
- Migraines
- Eczema
- Acne
- Itchiness
- Rashes
- Tiredness
- Fatigue
- Joint pain
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Respiratory complaints
Dietary advice:
- Avoid foods with wheat or made with wheat flour like baked goods, fried breaded foods, pasta, sauces, semolina etc.
- Foods without wheat to eat: buckwheat, amaranth, quinoa, oat, corn etc.
Gluten intolerance
This can cause similar symptoms to celiac disease, but it is a different issue with different long-term effects. Gluten intolerance is an immune reaction to eating gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye.
Symptoms
The symptoms may include:
- Tiredness
- bloating
- abdominal pain
- diarrhea
- nausea
- constipation
- a general feeling of being unwell
The following may also occur:
- anxiety
- headaches
- brain fog
- confusion
- numbness
- joint or muscle pain
- a skin rash
Dietary advice
- Avoid any food containing gluten such as foods made from wheat, barley and rye like baked goods, Pastas, semolina-based products, Couscous, some beers etc
- Other products that may contain gluten includes seasonings, sauces, soups, canned foods, spices
- Foods without wheat to eat: potato, quinoa, lentis, beans, rice, fruits and vegetables etc.
Other types of intolerance includes
- caffeine
- histamine, present in mushrooms, pickles, and cured food
- additives such as artificial sweeteners, coloring, or other flavorings etc.
References
What is a food intolerance (published by medical news today) https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/263965
Causes of food intolerance (published by news medical life science) https://www.news-medical.net/health/Causes-of-Food-Intolerance.aspx
Wheat intolerance (published by yorktest) https://www.yorktest.com/intolerance/wheat/
Lactose Intolerance 101 – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment (published by healthline) https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/lactose-intolerance-101
What is gluten intolerance (published by medical news today) https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/312898
One thought on “Food Intolerance: Causes and Dietary guidance”
Leave a Reply
Related Blogs
FREE Sports class Demo at your preschool
Please fill the form to get more information and set up a FREE Go Alpha Demo at your preschool.
Ꮤay cool! Some very valid points! I appreciаte you writing this article and the rest of the website is
very good.