A food intolerance occurs when the digestive system is unable to break down a particular food properly. Food intolerance reactions are not as severe and have a much slower onset than allergic reactions, but they are much more common. Common symptoms of food intolerance include:
- bloating
- cramps
- diarrhoea
- headaches
- heartburn
- nausea
- wind
- vomitting
So how can you know if you have a food intolerance? There are certain tests which can establish food intolerances but another popular method is restriction or an elimination diet. Such an eating plan involves eating only a limited number of foods which are unlikely to provoke an intolerant reaction and slowly reintroducing the potential offending foods so that when symptoms occur, the food causing the reaction is identified. Elimination diets should only be carried out under the supervision of a qualified professional, whether a nutritionist or nutritional therapist. After helping you ascertain which foods you are intolerant too, a nutritional therapist can help you design a sustainable and balanced diet that fits your unique requirements so that symptoms and side effects are minimised and your health and overall wellbeing is optimised. Many individuals who have suffered from food intolerances find their symptoms improve when they sustain a monitored and specifically designed nutritional programme.
