Dorothy FarrarFood intolerance (food intolerance)
A food intolerance , food intolerance or food allergy can lead to a wide range of symptoms, but is not nearly as common as the layman might think. In surveys, around 20% of respondents say they suffer from an intolerance. If these people are subjected to a provocation test, the number of those in whom a food intolerance can actually be objectified is reduced to 2-4%.
What is a food intolerance?
Food intolerance is the non-toxic reaction of the body to the intake of a specific food or its components, whereby a distinction must be made between food allergies and food intolerance.
An allergy occurs when the body overreacts with a specific immune response after consuming a food, such as with a wasp sting allergy. If, on the other hand, there is an abnormal physiological reaction of the human body without the immune system being involved, the food intolerance is based on an intolerance.
causes
In the case of an allergy-related food intolerance, the immune system initiates an excessive reaction to the consumption of seemingly harmless foods . There is still no satisfactory explanation for this phenomenon. Genetic factors appear to play a role, which explains why a particular allergic food intolerance can run in families.Another explanation could be the hygiene hypothesis, according to which excessive hygiene measures in childhood and adolescence understrain the immune system and, as a result of insufficient activation, can later lead to allergic reactions. On the other hand, if the food intolerance is due to an intolerance, in most cases there is an enzyme deficiency and the digestion of a food poses a problem for the body.
The enzyme deficiency can be congenital or develop for a variety of reasons over the course of life. The best- known example of a food intolerance based on intolerance is probably lactose intolerance , in which cow’s milk and products made from it can no longer be digested due to a lack of lactase. At times it can be difficult to tell the two subtypes of food intolerance apart.
symptoms and course
Typical symptoms:
The symptoms of an allergic food intolerance can be triggered by even tiny amounts of the food in question and subside as soon as it has left the body. The body’s immune response to food contact can occur suddenly within seconds, but in extreme cases it can take two days. The symptoms of such a food intolerance include gastrointestinal problems such as nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain, skin changes such as hives , edema in the eye area and itching , but also asthma attacks and coughing , headaches , fever up toshock and even behavioral problems. Typical symptoms of a food intolerance caused by intolerance are bloating , abdominal cramps , diarrhea , occasionally also constipation and nausea.
Diagnose
If a food intolerance is suspected, various tests must be carried out for diagnosis, which have one goal: to trigger the symptoms of the food intolerance so that the responsible food can be identified. This includes skin tests with so-called allergen extracts, followed by a diagnostic diet , with which detailed detective work is used to test which food is responsible for the food intolerance. It can also be determined whether an allergy occurs immediately or only after hours, which symptoms are caused and whether there are any other allergies that were previously unknown to the person concerned.
In the case of patients who react to a food intolerance with shock states, these tests may only be carried out under medical supervision so that, in an emergency, intervention can be carried out quickly.
treatment and therapy
Once the trigger of an allergy-related food intolerance has been identified, there is only one thing that can be done: you should avoid it and consistently remove it from your menu, which is referred to as an allergological or therapeutic diet. Not only should food intolerance be taken into account, it is also important to maintain a balanced diet that meets your needs.
Those affected should therefore receive professional nutritional advice that offers them alternative food choices. For example, if there is a food intolerance to chicken protein, which is completely eliminated from the menu, the person concerned runs the risk of an undersupply of vitamins A , D and protein .Fish, meat, vegetables and legumes can then create a balance. Good nutritional advice not only helps to avoid strict elimination diets, but can also provide additional tips and tricks. The technical preparation in the kitchen, such as food storage, drying and heating, should also be addressed, because some allergens can be inactivated by heating, for example, which brings you one step closer to a healthy eating style.
The components of many foods are not always obvious at first glance, they can contain hidden allergens and thus ruin any therapeutic diet. Here, too, solid nutritional advice can help. If the food intolerance is based on an intolerance due to a lack of enzymes, the missing enzymes can in some cases be taken in the form of tablets or capsules with meals, such as lactase in lactose intolerance, which is one of the most common food intolerances in this country.
prevention
For a food intolerance based on an intolerance, there are no preventive measures to prevent its development. However, the development of food allergies can be prevented by breastfeeding infants for 4 – 6 months and at the same time avoiding supplementary infant formula. The nursing mother should avoid foods that are known to commonly cause allergies ( soy , fish, cow’s milk). If the infant is not breastfed, a special hypoallergenic diet can prevent food intolerance.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.