What is Food intolerance?
Food intolerance is a digestive disorder that occurs when the body has difficulty digesting certain types of food or certain components in food.
Unlike food allergies, which involve the immune system, food intolerances do not trigger an immune response.
Instead, they cause symptoms such as digestive upset, headaches, & skin rashes.
There are several different types of food intolerances, including lactose intolerance, gluten intolerance, & histamine intolerance.
Lactose intolerance is caused by the body's inability to digest lactose, a sugar found in milk & other dairy products.
Gluten intolerance, also known as non-celiac gluten sensitivity, is a condition in which individuals experience digestive symptoms after consuming foods containing gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, & rye.
Histamine intolerance is a condition in which the body has difficulty breaking down histamine, a compound found in certain foods such as fermented foods, aged cheese, & red wine.
Symptoms of food intolerance can vary depending on the type of intolerance & the individual. Common symptoms include bloating, gas, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, headaches, & skin rashes.
Symptoms may occur immediately after consuming the offending food or may take several hours to appear.
Diagnosis of food intolerance involves keeping a food diary & eliminating suspected foods from the diet to see if symptoms improve.
A doctor may also perform tests to rule out other digestive disorders, such as celiac disease or inflammatory bowel disease.
Treatment of food intolerance involves avoiding the offending foods or components in the diet. In some cases, individuals may be able to tolerate small amounts of the offending food without symptoms.
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