Food intolerance is essentially a disorder that primarily affects the human digestive system. More specifically, if you suffer from a food intolerance, you may face complications when digesting certain food groups. The main types of food intolerance include lactose intolerance, fructose intolerance, gluten intolerance, salicylate intolerance, histamine intolerance and food poisoning.
Food intolerance mainly affects the digestive system of our body. People with food intolerances have difficulty digesting certain foods properly. Although food intolerance is not a life-threatening problem, indigestion can cause discomfort and lead to the development of gas, diarrhea and constipation.
What is a food sensitivity or intolerance?
Food sensitivity is another name for food intolerance. If you have a food intolerance, your digestive system has a difficult time breaking down or digesting certain foods. This means that your intestines are irritated by certain foods and therefore cannot break them down. When you eat foods that you are sensitive to, you may experience gas, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
What are the common types of food intolerance?
Known food intolerances include:
Lactose intolerance: Lactose is a type of sugar that is present in dairy products. Our digestive system breaks down food using certain digestive enzymes. Lactase is an enzyme that helps digest lactose. People with lactose intolerance do not have enough of the enzyme lactase and are therefore sensitive to or unable to tolerate lactose.
Gluten intolerance: Gluten is a type of protein found in wheat, barley, rye and other grains. Gluten sensitivity is different from celiac disease, so gluten sensitivity is also referred to as non-celiac gluten sensitivity. However, the symptoms of both these conditions may seem similar. People with gluten sensitivity may experience fatigue, headaches, brain fog, joint pain, anxiety, and depression. If you notice any of these symptoms, go for a food intolerance test.
Fructose intolerance: Fructose is a type of glucose found in some vegetables, fruits and honey. This intolerance can occur in people who lack the enzyme that normally breaks down fructose. Although it is an unusual intolerance, this food sensitivity can be caused by genetics. People with fructose intolerance may experience bloating, gas, fullness, stomach cramps and diarrhea.
Salicylate intolerance: Salicylates are compounds found in some vegetables, fruits, spices and herbs. They can also be found in preservatives and artificial flavors including candies, chewing gum and toothpaste. Symptoms of this intolerance include rashes, stomach pain, hives, fatigue, wheezing, runny nose and diarrhea.
Histamine intolerance: Histamines are organic chemicals found in pineapples, bananas, avocados, cheese, chocolates, some red and white wines. People with histamine intolerance lack the DI amine oxidase enzymes that generally break down histamine.
Food poisoning: Some foods contain some natural chemicals that have a poisonous effect on human beings. Bacteria, viruses and parasites in food generally cause food poisoning. Contamination occurs most often in eggs, meat and dairy products. Symptoms can vary depending on the cause of the poisoning, but people with food poisoning generally experience nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, headache, weakness, loss of appetite, mild fever, and diarrhea.
What are the causes of food intolerance?
The main causes of food intolerance or sensitivity are discussed below.
Genetics: Many studies have shown that both food allergies and food intolerances can be inherited. Lactose sensitivity and fructose sensitivity are types of food intolerance, which is considered to be an inherited disorder of lactase enzyme deficiency. People of Asian, African and Native American descent are also more prone to lactose sensitivity than any other heritage.
Lack of digestive enzymes: Digestive enzymes are a type of protein that plays an integral part in digestion by breaking down food and being excreted by the gastrointestinal system. These enzymes help in the absorption of nutrition and the digestion of fats, proteins and carbohydrates. Most types of food intolerance are caused by a deficiency of certain digestive enzymes. For example, a person with lactose intolerance lacks lactase enzymes. If you lack the enzyme lactase, your digestive system cannot fully digest lactose.
Non-celiac gluten sensitivity: Most people confuse gluten intolerance with celiac disease. The two conditions are different, but the symptoms may seem similar. The specific cause of gluten intolerance is still unknown. However, researchers interpret this condition as a non-autoimmune and non-allergic condition that causes gastrointestinal symptoms due to gluten consumption.
Gastrointestinal disease: People with undetected gastrointestinal disease are thought to be more prone to developing food sensitivities. One survey shows that people with irritable bowel disease have food intolerances to dairy and histamine. People with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis have food intolerances to food groups including fats, dairy products, artificial flavors and chocolate. In addition, people with inflammatory bowel disease also suffer from certain food intolerances.
Sensitivity to food chemicals and additives: Our foods contain natural chemicals. Most people can digest them, but unfortunately some cannot. Why some people are unable to digest food chemicals remains unclear. However, consumption of salicylates, histamines, mono sodium glutamates, and caffeine may cause gastrointestinal symptoms in some people.
These are all causes of food intolerance. However, remember that food intolerance and food allergy are not exactly the same thing. But the symptoms may seem similar. Only food allergy testing can determine if you have any food allergy, and the cost of food allergy test is also very nominal.
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