In this blog post, you will learn exactly what a food intolerance is, what symptoms it causes, and how it can be diagnosed. Do you know the difference between intolerance and allergy? No? Then read this post to the end, and we will explain it to you. Enjoy reading!
A food intolerance - food sensitivity - manifests itself in regular physical complaints after consuming certain foods. The symptoms occur because the body lacks the tools to properly process these substances. Affected individuals can get tested if there is suspicion of a food intolerance.
Various food components and ingredients - whether natural or artificial - can trigger an intolerance reaction. However, certain substances are particularly common causes of intolerances. These include lactose, gluten, fructose, histamine, and glutamate.
Meaning
A person suffers from food intolerances when specific foods or their components cause symptoms that would normally be digested without problems. There are different mechanisms involved. Generally, a food intolerance is when the body cannot properly digest and absorb a food component. Instead, it is broken down into products that cause discomfort. The reason is usually an enzyme deficiency or defect. This contrasts with food allergies. In allergies, the body's immune system overreacts to normally harmless ingredients in certain foods. Some ingredients do not cause allergies but so-called pseudoallergies. The difference is that these substances activate the immune system in a different way, but the symptoms are very similar or even identical.
Symptoms
A food intolerance usually triggers typical digestive problems after eating the corresponding food. In the long term, it can also lead to weight loss or deficiencies. Besides general digestive issues, there are symptoms of food intolerance that go beyond the gastrointestinal tract. How exactly a food intolerance manifests varies individually. Typical symptoms include:
- Loss of appetite
- Belching
- Abdominal pain
- Bloating
- Diarrhea
- Weight loss
- Constipation
- Nausea & vomiting
Diagnosis
Nowadays, food intolerances receive much more attention than a few decades ago. However, this also leads to an overestimation of their frequency. Suitable tests can be performed to determine whether repeated digestive complaints are actually caused by a food intolerance. Only then can a reliable diagnosis be made. Examples of tests include the H2 breath test or the lactose tolerance test to check for lactose intolerance. If the suspicion is confirmed, patients must adjust their diet so that the triggering substances are no longer consumed.
Difference Between Allergy and Intolerance
You have probably wondered what the actual difference between an allergy and an intolerance is - we explain it here:
There is an important difference! In a food intolerance, the immune system is not active. These intolerances usually arise because the body lacks certain enzymes or transport molecules needed to break down or absorb specific food components. These components often include lactose, fructose, or histamines.
An allergy, on the other hand, is an overreaction of the immune system to a harmless foreign substance, such as nuts or pollen.
