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Food Intolerance

Food intolerance is defined as 'any illness or abnormality in the body that is connected to the ingestion of a particular food or dietary substance'.

This usually applies to foods which are a part of the daily diet and have nutritional value. e.g. protein, carbohydrates, fats etc.

There is some debate about the use of the term 'food intolerance. For the purpose of this article, food intolerance describes the theories and possible triggers for what is sometimes a complex and subtle reaction within the body which occurs as a result of eating a particular type of food.

Food Allergy

A food allergy refers to the more sever immune reaction which can occur when a particular food is eaten (see the food allergy topic). Food allergies may cause acute symptoms in a person which can be easily linked to the intake of a particular food, however there may be a less obvious connection in the case of food intolerance. A person may fail to recognise or be able to identify they type of food which is causing symptoms.

Diet

Many people are aware of the dangers of a diet high in sugar, fat, salt, refined foods, caffeine and alcohol. It is suprising for some people to learn that negative health effects can also occur from eating every day foods considered to be part of a normal, healthy diet. Wheat and dairy foods are examples of nutritious foods which some people are unable to tolerate in the diet.

There are number of theories as to why food intolerance develops. In some cases where a person is food intolerant, large fragments of digested food molecules (peptides) are allowed to pass through the gut wall and into the blood stream.

Enzyme Deficiency

An enzyme deficiency is another theory for food intolerance. If certain digestive enzymes are in short supply or not operating efficiently, food is not digested properly and more peptides may be absorbed into the blood stream. A direct overreaction of the immune system to a particular substance is a cause of food intolerance in some people.

Milk

Lactose is a type of sugar found in cow's milk which is broken down into smaller fragments for digestion by the lactase enzyme. People who are deficient in lactase are unable to properly digest dairy products. lactose intolerance may occur at birth or develop later on in life.

Symptoms of lactose intolerance include, bloating, wind and diarrhoea. Lactose intolerance should not be confused with milk allergy which is related to the protein portion of milk. People with lactose intolerance are sometimes able to tolerate small amounts of dairy products which contrasts sharply with milk allergy which may give us serve symptoms after consuming only a small amount.

Wheat

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, oats and barley. Coeliac disease results from an intolerance to gluten which causes gastric discomfort, wind and diarrhoea. The disease may also contribute to eczema and arthritis.

Strict avoidance of gluten is necessary in the management of coeliac disease.

Signs and symptoms

1. It is thought that a food intolerance may cause a person to crave the particular food which is causing the problem.
2. In most cases, this craving is for wheat or milk and may go unnoticed because these foods tend to appear in every meal. Cravings for beer, wine, bread, etc, may indicate a yeast intolerance.
3. Another indicator of food intolerance may be eating excessive amounts of a particular food and increasing the frequency of intake during times of stress.
4. Feelings of calmness or reduced agitation after eating certain food may be an indication of food intolerance eg. if feelings of sadness or anger are relieved by eating chocolate.
5. The cause of a food allergy and in some cases food intolerance can be pinpointed to a particular food.
6. This food is then eliminated from the diet and symptoms cease to occur. In other cases, however, more subtle symptoms such as headache, mood swings, lethargy and poor concentration which do not respond to medical treatment may also be relieved by eliminating or reducing the intake of a food which is not being well tolerated by the body.

Health Management

As with all conditions, your Doctor should be consulted.

If a food intolerance is suspected, your doctor may refer you to a dietitian to help manage the condition and provide you with a diet plan to suit your needs. Pharmacist's Advice

Follow the Diet Hints If you are suffering from a lactose intolerance and ask your Pharmacist about lactase tablets and drops to help with the digestion of milk. A food intolerance (which is the result of an enzyme deficiency) may respond to digestive enzyme supplementation.

Lactose intolerance or a milk allergy should always be treated medically. Managing the condition without medical advice could be harmful e.g. replacing cow's milk with goat's milk is not recommended for young children as it is low is folic acid.

If the diet is inadequate, consider some supplements. A person avoiding dairy foods may require additional calcium. Wheat contains high levels of B group vitamins which can be supplemented in cases of gluten intolerance.

Feel free to come in to Healthpoint Chemist and ask our friendly staff for advice.

Please Note: The advice on this website is to be used as an educational aid only. It is not intended to replace advice from your qualified GP or medical practitioner. Please ensure that you speak to them in relation to all of your health issues.