At Test Your Intolerance, we are always looking to educate others. Food intolerance, also known as non-IgE mediated food hypersensitivity or non-allergic food hypersensitivity, usually causes an individual to suffer a variety of symptoms every time they consume an offending food item. There are many ways to cope with and manage a food intolerance, but the first point of call is always an intolerance test. Here are our top tips for identifying a food sensitivity or an intolerance:
1) Order an Intolerance Test
First things first, it is important that you know the difference between an allergy and intolerance. If you think you have an allergy then we recommend you immediately consult your doctor, but if no allergy is detected then you probably have a food intolerance. To identify what item you have an intolerance to, you can order an intolerance test here. This will mean that you are able to discover what is causing your symptoms and as a result, you can remove this item from your diet.
2) An Elimination Diet
Removing an item that you are intolerant to can sometimes be disheartening, especially if it is one of your favourite foods. This could easily be the case, as an intolerance can be caused by an individual overindulging on their food. Food intolerance does not trigger the immune system, whereas food allergies do. An elimination diet can be laborious and time-consuming but it should see your symptoms subside and then you will be able to live your life to the full. Be prepared though, as foods most commonly associated with food intolerance include dairy, wheat and gluten and other food items which cause symptoms like a bloated stomach, headache, and a runny nose.
3) Symptoms of Food Intolerance
An elimination diet removes symptoms of food intolerance which tend to take longer to appear than symptoms of allergies. The symptoms are varied, and they include vomiting, nausea, and a bloated stomach. Remember, it is important to determine whether or not you have a food intolerance or a food allergy. Intolerance symptoms are not life-threatening, whereas allergy symptoms have the potential to be disastrous. It is essential that if you have an allergy or an intolerance, you know what ingredients are in the foods that you are eating.
To find out more about symptoms of food intolerance and an intolerance test, please click here.
