Most people who believe they have a food allergy actually suffer from food intolerance, according to MayoClinic.com. The two conditions are commonly confused because they have similar symptoms related to the digestive tract, causing stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. If you experience adverse reactions after eating certain foods, your doctor may recommend a detection diet to help identify the foods that are causing your symptoms. Do not modify your diet without first talking with your doctor.
Food Intolerance
When you eat food, your small intestines produce specific enzymes to break down the sugars and proteins found in the food. The American College of Gastroenterology states that if you have an intolerance towards a food, your intestines malfunction and don't create enough of the needed enzymes to digest that food. Common foods that cause intolerance are wheat, milk and eggs. A food intolerance is different from an allergy because it is exclusively related to digestive tract and does not affect the immune system.
Detection Diets
Detection diets are intended to identify the specific foods that you suspect are causing reactions after you eat them. A detection diet is not used to diagnose your condition but is intended to uncover suspected foods for further testing. Your doctor will oversee your detection diet to ensure you're safety based on your medical history and any current medications you may be taking.
Implementation
Talk with your doctor about the foods you suspect are causing unwanted symptoms after you eat them. You and your doctor will determine which foods to avoid. Once determined, you eliminate those foods completely from your diet for one to two weeks. After a week or two, you reintroduce one of the foods back into your diet slowly. As you reintroduce each food, keep a record of which food you ate, how much of it you ate and how it affected your body. After each food has been tested, discuss the results with your doctor to determine if you need tests.
Considerations
Although uncommon, you may have a food allergy. If you develop any food-related allergy symptoms, call your doctor immediately. A food allergy can cause a severe allergic reaction, called anaphylaxis, which could lead to death. Symptoms to be concerned about include the inability to breathe, swelling of the face, lips or tongue, hives and feeling dizzy. Discontinue the diet if any of these symptoms develop.
Member Comments