Learn More About Food Intolerances
Many people are finding out that the symptoms they are experiencing are caused from a food intolerance. A food intolerance occurs when your digestive system has a negative physical response to one or more foods that you are consuming. The negative response may be due to your body not being able to digest the food the way it should, or it is unable to properly break it down. You can learn more about food intolerance here.
Food intolerances can affect people of all ages
While food intolerances can start rearing their heads in small children, adults can also develop a food intolerance to a food, or foods, that they have always been able to consume without any issues in the past. Therefore, if you start to notice you seem to have a hard time handling the foods you have always eaten, don't tell yourself it's impossible for you to suddenly have become intolerant, because it is actually quite possible.
How to tell a food intolerance from an allergy
Along with food intolerances, there are also many people who are dealing with food allergies. You don't want to think of these two things as being one in the same because they are actually quite different. With a food allergy, the allergy can be triggered with even traces of a certain food and the reaction can range from a mild rash to anaphylaxis shock.
With a food intolerance issue, the amount of offending food you consume will generally dictate how severe of a reaction you will experience. The reactions from a food intolerance can range from mild stomach cramps to severe vomiting and diarrhea. Some of the other symptoms that can come along with a food intolerance include feeling nauseous, feeling bloated, having cramps, experiencing flatulence, having heartburn, and more.
Why people end up with food intolerance issues
People can end up with food intolerances for many reasons. Different food intolerances will also have different causes. An example of something that can cause a food intolerance can be seen in a lactose intolerance. With lactose intolerance, a person will lack the enzymes necessary for that person to be able to digest the lactose the way they should. Another example can be seen in those with gluten intolerances. A gluten intolerance occurs when the gluten that comes in things like wheat and rye cause an intolerance when the person can't properly digest the protein in gluten.
What to do when there is a suspected food intolerance
If you are noticing that certain foods make you feel bad after you consume them, then you should make an appointment to see a food intolerance specialist. The specialist will be able to determine whether you do have an intolerance to a certain type of food. They can also give you an education on how to best avoid those foods by gaining more knowledge on what food products generally contain them.