Many Americans suffer from new stomach pains or bowel issues they have never felt before. Often times, the cause is not as scary as patients’ imaginations lead them to believe. Put your mind at ease by visiting our gastroenterologists, and you may just find you are simply dealing with food allergies or intolerances.
Is your food hurting you?:
Many patients come into our offices scared of what our doctors may find during examination or testing. The truth is, there is sometimes very upsetting diagnosis. Other times, there are simple changes in a patient’s diet that can decrease or diminish pain.
Keep in mind, simple does not always mean easy. Cutting one ingredient out of a person’s diet can be quite the task. For example, cutting down the amount of cooking oil you consume may greatly reduce your digestive issues.
Although the quality of food consumed should be carefully considered, the actual ingredients may need to be reevaluated as well. When is the last time you read the packing labels of your food and drinks? Each food and drink item in United States stores has a nutritional facts label or sign close by.
On these labels, patients have the opportunity to evaluate each food item they regularly consume. This is what patients are advised to do if they suffer from stomach pains. After allergy testing, some patients believe they are clear to continue eating as they have been.
Intolerance versus allergy:
Food intolerances are a bit different than food allergies, but people tend to put them into the same category. Let’s look into the difference between intolerances and allergies. An allergic reaction to a food will cause an immune system reaction that affects multiple organs in the body.
In some cases, a food allergy can cause a deadly reaction. Food intolerance reactions are usually less severe and are often limited to symptoms in the digestive system. According to the Mayo Clinic, most reactions to foods are food intolerances and not allergies.
Now, let’s talk about what makes a person intolerant to a food. A person can lack an enzyme which is needed to fully digest a food. Lactose is a perfect example. A body can be intolerant of certain foods if a person has irritable bowel syndrome.
IBS can causes excessive cramping, constipation, or diarrhea. So eating a food your are intolerant to will flare up these symptoms. Patients can also have food sensitivities. For example, canned foods can be preserved with sulfites which may cause asthma attacks.
Psychologically, the mere thought of a food may make a person nauseous or anxious. This is not fully understood. Patients with food intolerances may actually eat small amounts of foods they are intolerant to without experiencing any symptoms.
People with food intolerances may only have symptoms once they eat large amounts of the food they are intolerant to. For example, many people around the world live safely with a lactose intolerance. In contrast, if you have symptoms after eating certain foods, it is important to visit Gastroenterology Consultants of Central Florida to distinguish between a food allergy or intolerance.
Living with lactose intolerance:
There are alternatives to classic cow milk that make many people’s lives much easier. Most restaurants offer these alternatives. One alternative to cow milks is almond milk, and this the most common.
Coconut milk is a trending alternative. It is very creamy making it a great alternative to cow milk or creamer. Coconut milk products are mostly all gluten-free, dairy-free, and soy-free. It is also high in fat which makes it a great option for lactose intolerant babies and children. All of which cause digestive issues for many Americans.
Popular Asian and Indian dishes use cow milk alternatives. More specifically, coconut milk is used because some cultures and religions require a vegetarian diet without using cow products. These products also make delicious dairy-free ice creams and desserts, so no food product has to be off-limits for lactose intolerant patients.
While, soy milk has been a popular milk alternative for a while now, especially for those dieting for weight loss, other cow milk alternatives include rice milk, flax milk, and hemp milk.
Next week, we hope to dive into more helpful advice for people with food allergies and intolerances. Thank you for stopping by. Have a great week!
Staff Writer