Most people will assume that food intolerances will only cause digestive issues, and that, identifying and avoiding those problem foods will only help with those digestive issues. However, there has been a lot of research on the relationship between food intolerances and various health conditions, with research suggesting that avoiding certain trigger foods could help alleviate symptoms of other conditions. We’ve done the digging and identified 6 conditions (so far) that a food intolerance test could help you manage;
Conditions Associated with Food Intolerances
Crohn’s Disease
This branch of inflammatory bowel disease affects the gastrointestinal tract, causes inflammation, swelling, pain, and redness. This chronic condition can be hereditary, and 1 in 650 people have the disease.
A study found that Crohn’s disease patients have a higher prevalence of food intolerances compared to the general population. It’s thought that if Crohn’s sufferers consuming foods which they’re intolerant too could trigger flare-ups. There’s also evidence suggesting that a low FODMAP diet could help alleviate symptoms of Crohn’s.
Ulcerative Colitis
Another inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, causes ulcers and inflammation along the digestive tract. A Chinese study found that patients who followed a food intolerance test-based elimination diet saw significant improvement in their ulcerative colitis symptoms.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
IBS is a chronic condition affecting the large intestine. It can manifest itself as bloating, constipation, constipation, and diarrhoea. The case is unknown, and there is currently no known cure. However, many have found altering their diet to be quite effective at managing symptoms.
Studies have shown that IBS patients can reduce their symptoms by following a diet free-from their food intolerances. However, the foods that IBS patients are intolerant too aren’t the same for everyone, so proper testing is necessary to identify each individual’s dietary triggers.
Eczema
This irritating skin condition is a common sign of food allergies (though not exclusively), but new evidence has come to light indicating that flare-ups can also be triggered by food intolerances. Eczema sufferers are more likely to develop food intolerances, as well as depression, ADHD and insomnia.
Major Depressive Disorder
Speaking of depression, there is more and more research being conducted into the connection between mental health and gut health. Specifically, there’s a marked link between depression and leaky gut syndrome. There’s also a link between inflammation and depression – with chronic inflammation being connected with progressing depressive symptoms.
Ankylosing Spondylitis
Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic condition which causes the spine and other areas to become inflamed. The condition tends to develop gradually over time, and it’s hit and miss whether it gets better or worse.
A 2019 study found that ankylosing spondylitis patients had a higher likelihood of developing food intolerances compared to a control group. An earlier study found that those patients who reported aggravated gastrointestinal symptoms after eating certain foods had significantly greater disease activity, suggesting that avoiding certain foods might help prevent the condition from worsening.
More About Associated Conditions
With all of these conditions clearly being affected by patients’ diets, it’s clear that more research is needed into the benefits of food intolerance testing, and how food intolerances affect various conditions.
If you’d like to learn more about the research into each of these conditions we’ve written more about them and their connection with food intolerances;
