Food intolerance simply indicates a difficulty for your body to digest a particular food. Unlike food allergies, however, food intolerances do not cause immune system reactions. Instead, you may experience milder symptoms, such as abdominal pain, gas or bloating. If you have a food intolerance you can likely consume modest amounts of the triggering food without experiencing adverse symptoms, according to Mayo Clinic asthma and allergy specialist James T. Li, M.D. For best results, seek your doctor's guidance.
Types
A restrictive diet may help determine whether you have a food intolerance. An Elimination Diet, also called an Elimination and Re-challenging Diet, involves eliminating suspected foods individually until your symptoms diminish. Foods may be reintroduced gradually, until symptoms re-develop. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, an Elimination Diet is not 100 percent effective in determining food intolerances; however, it may help you narrow your potential culprit foods down. Once you know what food causes your symptoms, your diet may involve total restriction of the food or reduced, limited intake.
Common Intolerances
Though you can have an intolerance to almost any food, certain foods are more common irritants. According to a 2004 CBS news report written by Tatiana Morales, approximately 50 million Americans are lactose intolerant, meaning they do not properly digest lactose---the naturally occurring sugar found in cow's milk, ice cream, yogurt, ice cream and other foods. In addition to dairy, common food intolerances include wheat, peanuts and tree nuts. Some or all of these foods may be restricted from your diet during an Elimination Diet until the culprit is determined.
Misconceptions
In many cases, people mistake symptoms of other conditions for food intolerance. According to Li, food poisoning, sensitivity to food additives, emotional stress and celiac disease---a digestive condition that causes adverse immune system reactions to the gluten protein---are often mistaken for food allergies or sensitivities. If you have a negative experience with a particular food, such as eating Chinese food just before the onset of the flu, you may develop an emotional aversion to the food that may produce physiological symptoms.
Time Frame
A restricted food intolerance diet may last for various amounts of time. If you determine your culprit quickly, you may not need to spend time investigating other foods. If the problem-causing food remains unknown, you may require a longer-lasting diet and restriction of numerous foods, introducing them one at a time until you no longer experience symptoms. If your symptoms persist, regardless of eliminated foods, your doctor may suggest alternate tests or treatments. If you have a severe food intolerance, a diet devoid of the food may continue indefinitely.
Suggestions
If you suspect a food intolerance, discuss your symptoms and concerns with your doctor. Since symptoms of food intolerances are similar to those of other more severe conditions, some of which are life threatening, according to Li, proper guidance and testing is vital.
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