Food intolerances are chemical reactions to food. According to Food Intolerance Diagnostics, approximately 30% of the population suffers from food intolerances. Unlike food allergies, food intolerances are not fatal, but interfere with the quality of one’s life. Intolerances are believed to be a product of the unhealthy and over-processed diets we tolerate on a daily basis. Therefore, food sensitivities are a way of compelling us to make better lifestyle and dietary choices.
How do food intolerances differ from food allergies?
Unlike intolerances, food allergies involve an immune response – an overreaction of the body’s immune system to a particular allergen. Food intolerances are characterised by symptoms such as stomach aches, diarrhoea, constipation and headaches. The symptoms of food allergies, including wheezing, anaphylactic shock and skin rashes are much more dangerous and potentially fatal. According to the Better Health Channel, allergic reactions to food are much less common than intolerance reactions, affecting approximately one in 20 children and one in 100 adults. Allergies often have a genetic basis, while intolerances are believed to have a grounding in the environment. Common causes of food allergies are nuts, eggs, fish and milk, while intolerance reactions are often triggered by dairy products, food additives and citrus fruits. Allergic reactions mostly occur within 30 minutes of eating the specific food, and hence are generally easily identified.
Are food intolerances dangerous?
Food intolerances cause digestive upset, among other symptoms, and are therefore more unpleasant than dangerous. Our bodies often crave that to which we are intolerant to, perpetuating uncomfortable symptoms. However, food reactions have been linked to more serious (but rarer) symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal and psychotic behaviour.
Can food intolerances be treated?
The simplest way to treat intolerance to a particular food is to eliminate the food trigger from your diet. If the cause is unknown, a food diary may be useful to trace patterns. Food intolerance reactions may be delayed up to 48 hours and the effects may be cumulative, making it more difficult to identify the trigger of symptoms. Other methods such as skin prick tests, blood tests and hair sample analysis may also be useful in identifying the harmful trigger. Avoidance of the food for a period of approximately six months, and then gradual reintroduction of the food into your diet, may enable your body to overcome your food intolerance.
Applied kinesiology (or muscle testing) is an increasingly popular method whereby allergens are identified by placing pressure on particular muscles. Originating in the 1960s, Goodheart discovered that muscles in the body became weak when exposed to harmful materials. Applied kinesiology can also be used to treat food intolerances. Allergy Pathway Clinics, currently in Australia and New Zealand, practice muscle testing to detect which substances may be contributing to negative symptoms, and address these symptoms through positive association technique. However, Allergy Pathway cannot treat physiologically mediated allergies such as celiac disease or lactose intolerance. It must also be kept in mind that food sensitivities often change over time.
Which self-help techniques may help manage food intolerances?
There are a few natural ways in which people can manage their food intolerances, including the following:
- Improve your diet: Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, and limit junk food. Limit refined sugars and processed foods. The general rule of thumb is everything in moderation.
- Improve your eating habits: Eat small meals at regular intervals, eating slowly and chewing thoroughly. These techniques are known to improve digestion.
- Vary your diet: Try and avoid eating the same food two days in a row. This technique reduces binge eating and boredom and aids with digestion.
- Avoid stress: Meditation and gentle forms of exercise such as yoga and Pilates are useful for promoting deep breathing, which is beneficial for digestion.
Sources:
Food Intolerance Network
Food Sensitivities or Intolerance
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