Food Intolerance

Food Intolerance is when the body has a reaction to a particular food that has been eaten. Unlike a food Allergy, food intolerance is not a severe reaction but can occur hours or days after the food is ingested. A food intolerance or sensitivity was first recorded by Hippocrates who observed that milk could cause gastric upset and urticaria. IgG antibodies are usually implicated in a food intolerance whereas IgE antibodies are involved in Food Allergy. Although the symptoms of food intolerance are not as severe as a food allergy, food sensitivities can be the underlying reason for many illnesses such as migraine, IBS, rheumatoid arthritis, joint pains and fatigue. The most common food intolerance is to gluten found in certain grains such as wheat, rye and barley and lactose found in dairy products.

What are the symptoms?
Symptoms include bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhoea and sometimes dizziness, nausea, palpitations and headaches can occur if the intolerance is very bad. 
What are the causes?

Some people lack an enzyme that is needed to digest certain food such as the enzyme lactase to digest the sugar found in milk, lactose. In most cases, the body mistakenly makes antibodies (IgG) to certain foods which triggers the immune system to over react every time that food is ingested. In other cases, people are just sensitive to certain manmade chemicals found in food such as MSG or E numbers, and to natural chemicals such as salicylates, histamine (chocolate, strawberries, cheese and some fish), nitrates and sulphates (food preservatives) or caffeine . Other causes include ingestion of moulds and strong spices. The best way to identify a food intolerance is to carry out a food elimination and challenge diet or to take a blood test. In most cases individuals with food intolerance have “leaky gut” or “gut permeability” which allows larger than normal particles to enter the body from the gut which then triggers the immune system to attack the offending food. Optimum gut health is important for addressing food intolerances and sensitivities.