Unlike a variety of food allergies, food intolerances are not life-threatening. However, food intolerances can be very bothersome and problematic for patients. Visit our physicians at Gastroenterology Consultants of Central Florida for the best advice and care.
Recognizing a food intolerance:
Last time we discussed how patients can live life normally with lactose intolerance. We mentioned quite a few options for cow milk alternatives. If you are joining us from last week, welcome back.
If you did not read last week’s, take a quick look. Many people find it helpful to know what signs to lookout for. It may be incredibly obvious when you have a food allergy as opposed to food intolerances.
This is due to the extent of which the body cannot handle an allergy compared to an intolerance. It is estimated that nearly twenty percent of the world’s population has a food intolerance. Also, it is common for food sensitivities or intolerances to be hard to spot.
You may have brushed off symptoms of a food intolerance many times in your life- writing it off as a touch of food poisoning. Because it is so difficult to pinpoint a specific food bothering your digestive system and overall health, food diaries are often recommended.
However, it can remain challenging to pinpoint a food intolerance without a doctor’s help. Food intolerance symptoms can begin within a few hours of ingesting the food. The symptoms may last for hours or days even.
Symptoms all together can be delayed for forty-eight hours. While keeping a food journal, this may just confuse you more. This is why it is crucial to get a medical professional’s direction.
In addition, if you are consuming foods in which you are intolerant to daily, it can make it close to impossible to decipher between foods you are and are not intolerant to. The most common symptoms of food intolerances are nausea, vomiting, rashes, headaches, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
This week, we would like to share with you the most common food intolerances in hopes it may help you. Remember not to go through this complicated journey alone. Most likely, if you experience any symptoms, you require medical attention and advice.
Most common food intolerances:
Lactose is one of the most common food intolerances as we discussed last week. Lactose is a sugar found in cow milk and dairy products. Lactase is an enzyme the body uses to break down the lactose.
When a body has a lack of lactase enzymes, there is a lactose intolerance. The lactose intolerance then causes digestive issues because of the inability to break down the lactose.
Most common symptoms of lactose intolerance include diarrhea, abdominal pain, cramping, gas, bloating, and possibly nausea. Healthline estimates about sixty-five percent of the world’s population has a lactose intolerance. With your gastroenterologist’s permission, you may try kefir or other fermented products which contain less lactose.
Gluten is found in wheat, barley, rye, and triticale. We have discusses gluten in the past. Check out those blogs for more in depth information.
Treatment may be dire for some intolerances or food sensitivities:
There are multiple scenarios which causes a person to react badly to gluten. Celiac disease, wheat allergy, and non-celiac gluten sensitivity just to name a few. For this intolerance or sensitivity, it is dire to get treatment promptly as the body actually attacks itself.
Once a person consumes a drink or food with gluten in its ingredients, the immune system attacks the small intestine causing horrible damage. Even patients that test negative to a wheat allergy or celiac disease experience symptoms similar to these issues. This is what doctors refer to as a non-celiac gluten sensitivity.
Symptoms of the non-celiac gluten sensitivity is actually just about the same as celiac disease’s symptoms. For example, a person may experience fatigue, anemia, skin rash, depression, anxiety, and bloating.
Caffeine is something that also wreaks havoc inside the digestive system. It is a bitter chemical and stimulant found in many drinks such as teas, coffee, soda and energy drinks. Most adults can consume 400 milligrams of caffeine safely without any issues. This is the equivalent to about four regular cups of coffee.
Next blog, we will move on to Part Three and share more of the most common intolerances and food allergies. Please make see our gastroenterologists to be treated thoroughly and with care. We hope you have a beautiful weekend!
Staff Writer