What is a food intolerance and what are the symptoms?

A food intolerance is a sensitivity to a certain food (or drink) that is causing you to feel unwell. Many people do not make the association between what they are eating and their symptoms and suffer silently for years. These sensitivities can manifest themselves in different ways in different people. Some suffer debilitating headaches or migraines, others have IBS, bloating or discomfort and some may experience acne, psoriasis or persistent fatigue.

Other symptoms include:

Catarrh
Sinusitis
Rhinitis
Asthma
Coughing
Throat clearing
Frequent colds
Lethargy
Muscle pain
Joint pain
Growing pains
Depression
Anxiety
Behavioural difficulties
Autistic spectrum disorder
Sleep problems
Nightmares
PMT
Period pain
Thrush
Cystitis

What is the difference between a food intolerance and a food allergy?

People often refer to these two terms interchangeably but they can be very different responses.

A food allergy is controlled by the human immune system - the body’s defence against infection. A food allergy occurs almost straight away, after ingesting even a small amount of food, and in some cases can be life threatening and lead to anaphylaxis. Symptoms tend to focus on facial swelling - around the eyes, lips, tongue and mouth, hives on the skin, difficulty breathing and vomiting.

As a food intolerance tends to be a delayed reaction to a food, it can be harder to discover what the true cause of our issue is and many people opt for testing rather than lengthy elimination diets.

How can a food intolerance test help you?

Testing can help you to identify any food or drink sensitivities that may be causing you problems. I can also test products you use in your household as well as checking your main vitamin and mineral levels to detect any deficiencies.

Upon testing, you will receive your results alongside tailored advice on undertaking a temporary elimination diet in order to help alleviate your symptoms. For any foods we discuss removing from your diet, alternatives will be provided, as will advice on re-introducing problem foods in the future if you choose to do so.

How are food intolerances caused?

Those with a family history of allergy or intolerances can be more susceptible to them however intolerances can also develop at any point in a person’s life and are often triggered by big events such as lifestyle changes, illnesses or stress. Examples could be:

• Hormonal changes - e.g. puberty, pregnancy, starting or stopping breastfeeding, starting or stopping the contraceptive pill, menopause or starting or stopping HRT

• A nasty virus or tummy bug

• A course of antibiotics or starting a new medication

• Recovering from an operation or hospital stay

• A prolonged period of stress or going through a big life change – e.g. work, relationships, redundancy or bereavement.