Food intolerance is common medical condition that causes indigestion and other gastrointestinal complications. According to Dr. Lawrence Wilson, more than 60 percent of Americans have to avoid certain foods to prevent gastric symptoms, such as indigestion. Food intolerance is commonly mistaken for a food allergy. The two conditions can both cause indigestion within minutes of eating certain foods. The University of Maryland Medical Center states that food intolerance is more common than food allergies, but recommends that you get tested to receive a clinical diagnosis.
Food Intolerance
Food intolerance is typically caused by a defect in the small intestines. When you eat or dink anything, your intestines need to create certain enzymes to break down the proteins and sugars in the food or beverage. For example, when you drink milk, your digestive system needs to create enough lactase, the enzyme needed to break down lactose, a complex sugar found in milk. If your body lacks particular enzymes, it will not be able to digest the food, which will lead to inflammation, swelling and irritation.
Symptoms
Indigestion is a common symptom of food intolerances. Because your digestive system cannot properly digest the food, it will sit in the gut until bacteria can break it down. This causes the stomach to become upset, leading to further complications. You may develop diarrhea, stomach pain, abdominal cramping, nausea and vomiting as a result of food intolerance, according to the American College of Gastroenterology. Symptoms commonly develop within 20 minutes after consuming a food you're intolerant to, but can take up to a few hours. The severity of your symptoms may vary among foods and people.
Treatment
To properly treat the condition, you need to identify which foods are causing the intolerance. Common foods that cause intolerance are milk, soy and wheat products. Once identified, you will need to eliminate those foods form your diet. Some food intolerances may be treated with medications. Most food intolerances do not cause any permanent damage to your body, but result in unpleasant symptoms.
Allergy Consideration
MayoClinic.com states that food intolerance and a food allergy can easily be confused. The major difference between the two conditions is their cause. Food intolerance is caused by a malfunction of the digestive system and a food allergy is a defect in your immune system. Only a medical doctor can distinguish the difference.
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