Food Intolerance

Key Points

Overview

A food intolerance means your body struggles to properly digest certain foods or ingredients. Unlike a food allergy, it doesn't involve your immune system and is typically not life-threatening, though it can cause significant discomfort. It happens when your body can't break down specific components of food, such as lactose in dairy or gluten in wheat. This digestive difficulty leads to various uncomfortable symptoms that can last for hours or even days after eating. Managing food intolerance usually involves identifying and reducing or avoiding the trigger foods. It's important to do this under medical guidance to ensure you still get all necessary nutrients, especially for children.

Signs and Symptoms

• Diarrhoea
• Bloating
• Farting
• Tummy pain
• Headache
• Feeling tired or exhausted
• Nausea
• Constipation
• Joint pain
• Rashes

Things That Increase the Risk

• Genetic factors (e.g., for lactose intolerance)
• Enzyme deficiencies (e.g., lactase deficiency)
• Consumption of specific food ingredients (e.g., gluten, histamine)
• High intake of certain foods (e.g., caffeine, alcohol)

Diagnosis

• Referral to a food and nutrition specialist (dietitian)
• Elimination diet (avoiding suspected foods)
• Reintroduction of foods to observe symptom return
• Blood tests
• Breath test (for lactose intolerance)
• Keeping a food and symptoms diary

Treatment & Management

• Avoid or reduce trigger foods and ingredients
• Consult a GP or dietitian before cutting foods
• Ensure a balanced diet to prevent nutrient deficiencies
• Monitor symptoms with a food diary

Prevention

• Identify specific trigger foods
• Carefully manage dietary intake
• Read food labels for ingredients
• Seek professional dietary advice
• Avoid unproven home tests

Related Diseases

• Food allergy
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Coeliac disease
• Lactose intolerance

Available Treatments

Explore our range of treatment options for Food Intolerance: