Guest Article: It can seem like everyone and their dog has a food intolerance nowadays. Before we had access to advanced technology, food intolerances were more than likely categorized into something that could create a life or death situation as a food allergy.

Now, we have a much clearer understanding as to how different foods can affect us and how they interact with the body, which means we have a greater understanding of what to look out for when it comes to certain food combinations. With that in mind, read on to find out the ins and outs of food intolerances, and steps to help with the management of these intolerances.

What is food intolerance?

Food intolerance is essentially when a certain type of food is difficult to digest and can cause adverse reactions in the body. These can vary from mild discomfort to extreme pain in the stomach, along with feeling sick, being bloated, and experiencing flatulence, to name a few. These symptoms usually start to develop a few hours after the food has been consumed and unfortunately, can last anywhere from an hour to a few days.

Food intolerances cannot actually be cured, and while there are treatments available to help, it is down to the discretion of the eater not to consume the foods that upset their body in the quantities that cause the reaction.

Dairy intolerance

Dairy intolerance is caused by lactose, which is the sugar found in milk and other dairy products such as cheese and yogurt. Lactose is broken down in the body by an enzyme called lactase, which, for those with an intolerance, is in short supply. This means they are unable to digest lactose, which then creates these uncomfortable symptoms.

It is estimated that 65% of the world has a lactose intolerance to a certain degree! So, if you experience any unsettling symptoms after eating dairy, there is a good chance it could be an intolerance. A quick and simple intolerance test is all you need to find out if you’re intolerant to any food.

Gluten intolerance

Gluten is a protein that can be found in wheat, barley, rye, and malt. While this short list might not seem a lot, it also these ingredients’ includes the subsections, such as durum, spelt, and semolina, etc.

This can be somewhat limiting to those who are gluten intolerant as these ingredients are found in a multitude of foods, though there are now products on the market that cater to those who are intolerant.

There is a sliding scale as to the extent that a person is gluten intolerant and the more severe end of the spectrum is Celiac disease. This is classed as an autoimmune disease, which means the body will begin to attack itself when exposed to this protein.

Along with the common side effects of a food intolerance such as stomach upset, bloating, and pain, there can also be more serious issues such as depression, anemia, and joint pain.

Often to manage a gluten intolerance, the person in question should modify their diet accordingly to contain no gluten. Thankfully, with businesses recognizing this issue, products are on the rise to accommodate those with intolerances so they do not miss out.