by Sofia Moreau

Imagine you are consistently fighting fatigue, uncomfortable bloating, or even struggling with surprise weight gain. It could be something you’re not expecting – food intolerance. With about 45% of adults believing they have a food allergy or intolerance, without confirmation from a test, this could be the root cause of their discomfort. Interestingly, the ‘free-from’ food industry, catering to such concerns, has steadily grown and doubled its worth over five years, reaching a staggering £934 million.

Surprisingly, our western lifestyles may be partly to blame for the rise in adverse food reactions, along with an increase in hygiene. Over sanitization can potentially reduce our immunity, leading it to wrongfully target benign elements in our system. Fueling the problem, our state of wellbeing is a crucial factor. As we age, experience more stress, or lead an unhealthy lifestyle, the balance of our gut microbes – immensely more populous than our body cells – gets disturbed, contributing to food sensitivities and intolerances.

The Portrait of Food Intolerance

Our immune system can sometimes mistake certain food proteins as threats, responding by producing defense antibodies like IgG. A classic example is gluten intolerance, where consuming barley, wheat, and rye triggers an adverse reaction. Food intolerances can also originate from lacking specific enzymes, like lactose intolerance, where the body struggles to digest lactase, causing unpleasant side effects. Identifying culprit foods can be tricky, as symptoms can emerge anything up to 48 hours following consumption, but common indications include abdominal pain, bloating, wind, and cognitive side effects like mood swings.

If food intolerance is suspected, implementing an elimination diet can pinpoint the wrongdoers. It entails cutting out potential problem foods one by one and observing any difference in symptoms. A period of four to six weeks should give a clear indication whether symptoms subside or persist. If needed, blood tests can provide an overview of your body’s immune responses to various foods.

Conquering Food Intolerance

Finding a problem food is step one; the next is mitigating the side effects. Cutting that food out may result in a plethora of wellness perks, including weight loss, clearer skin, and increased energy. Variations in results can depend on the individual and the severity of their symptoms, so don’t be discouraged if your results differ from others. Fortunately, if you can’t tolerate certain foods, ‘free-from’ substitutions are available to ensure a varied diet.

Unraveling Food Allergies and Intolerances

Although often confused, food intolerances and allergies aren’t interchangeable terms. Allergic reactions occur when the immune system perceives a food as a threat and produces inflammation-causing antibodies, which can sometimes become life-threatening. While disconcerting, these severe allergic reactions are, fortunately, rather infrequent, affecting only an estimated 1-2% of people in the UK.

Unveiling the mystery behind food intolerances and self-diagnosis is more significant than ever in our modern society when understanding the intricacies of our food relationships can lead would-be sufferers to relief. Lasting wellbeing starts with small steps, and understanding our body’s response to various foods is a definitive stride towards health and happiness.

food intolerance, food allergy, gluten-free, dairy-free, free-from food industry, western diet, gut microbes, elimination diet, adverse food reactions, inflammation, self-diagnosis, wellbeing, health, happiness, relief, bloating, weight gain, Sigma Nutrition