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Could it be a food intolerance? written by Trudy Cadoo

Bloating, diarrhoea, constipation and flatulence are not only annoying but they can be downright embarrassing.  If you suffer from one of these symptoms you are not alone but there’s hope.

Working as a naturopath I find that talking about people’s bowel habits and digestive issues are a major part of my day. By the time people arrive at the clinic I often find that they have already trialled many different diets, possibly been to a nutritionist or naturopath and in some cases have even been through the medical system and undergone various tests that have been negative or inconclusive.

Getting no results or no answers can lead to a feeling of frustration and discouragement as often the client has already had a diet overhaul and has put a lot of effort into the food that that they are choosing to consume. This is when I would recommend a food intolerance test.

A food intolerance test ¹ generally consists of screening a person against a number of foods. The participant will then be advised which foods that they are intolerant to and their level of intolerance.  People commonly confuse a food intolerance with a food allergy. However there is a distinct difference between the two ^2.  A food allergy occurs when the immune system reacts to an otherwise harmless food. This reaction can be severe and an anaphylactic shock can occur causing a life threatening situation. An allergy typically occurs soon after ingesting the food that is responsible for the allergic reaction and can present itself in a variety of ways. Some of the most common side effects of a food allergy include diarrhoea, breathing difficulty, itching, swelling, skin rashes and vomiting. 

Food intolerance can also be hard to detect because while some symptoms occur immediately after food intake, others may not develop for up to 24 hours. Common side effects of a food intolerance include gas, cramps, constipation, diarrhoea, headaches, rashes, eczema, sinus, sweating, fatigue and heartburn.

When trying to determine if your symptoms are from a food allergy or food intolerance, it is important to identify the possible food suspects that you have consumed in the past 24 hours. Determining if the reactions that you are experiencing are due to a food intolerance can prove to be quite difficult as it can depend on the amount of the particular food that you have consumed. Most people with a food intolerance learn that there is a threshold of a particular food that they can eat before they start experiencing symptoms. Luckily with a food intolerance there are some very likely suspects that are more common than others.  These include dairy products, wheat, eggs, yeast and certain fruits. 

Once you have determined that the symptoms were being caused by intolerance to a certain food or foods, you can learn how to live with them. Eliminating the foods that cause the intolerance is often the easiest way to ensure that you don’t endure the undesirable reactions. It is highly recommended that you speak with a health professional to see if this option is best for you. 

While eliminating certain foods can be  disheartening, it is important to remember that there are many other foods you can substitute into your diet to provide you with the nutrition and sustenance your body needs. Many meals can easily be prepared at home and with people and businesses becoming more aware of food intolerances, shopping for your needs has become much easier. Knowing what to look for is the key to making a food intolerance liveable and minimising its impact on your life. 

If you find that you or your child are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned in this article, it is important you seek help and it is recommended you undertake a food intolerance test.  This can then allow you to take the next steps and continue on with the more important things in life!

Author of this article:

Trudy Cadoo is a Senior Naturopath at Brisbane Livewell Clinic, Wavell Heights. She believes that health is more than the absence of disease. It is the balance of many factors including mental, emotional and physical wellbeing.  Trudy uses a wide range of diagnostic tools to identify and treat presenting problems.

This article was taken from Issue 1 of our magazine. For more articles like this, please subscribe to the Great Health Guide magazine – (subscription FREE for limited time only)

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