Things You Should Know and Do if You Have a Food Intolerance
Things You Should Know and Do if You Have a Food Intolerance
Do you think you might have a food intolerance? Well, you wouldn’t be alone. There are claims that anywhere between 40% and 70% of the population suffer from at least one food intolerance.
The symptoms can be rather vague: intestinal upset, fatigue, headaches, and some reactions that seem more allergic than anything else. They can also show up hours or even days after consuming the problem food, making it very difficult to identify the cause of your ailments. To be sure of what you’re dealing with, seek the help of a physician. Let your doctor know what your body is experiencing. He or she can then refer you to a nutritionist or other food intolerance specialist to ensure that you’re getting all the nutrients your body needs.
Wheat and lactose intolerance are common complaints. There are special tests that can be used to determine whether a person suffers from these conditions. If wheat intolerance is detected, you should also be checked for celiac disease, or gluten intolerance, since gluten is a wheat protein.
Of course, any intolerance will require adjustments in the way you eat. Be sure to inform your friends and family of your diagnosis so they can plan meals appropriately. Caretakers and schools should be informed if a child is found to have a food intolerance.
What changes can you make to ensure that you or your loved ones are safe from problem foods and substances? First, become a great food label reader! Every country in the European Union is required to display certain nutritional facts on prepackaged food labels. These foods must be clearly marked if they contain certain ingredients in concentrations higher than 10 mg/kg or liter. These ingredients are tree nuts, peanuts, seafood, milk, eggs, fish, gluten, soya, celery, sesame seeds, mustard, sulphites, and lupin.
It’s best to check the ingredients of everything you purchase prepackaged. Please note that foods which are not prepackaged, like most deli or bakery items, aren’t subject to the same labeling requirements. If your intolerance is severe, you should avoid foods that might be exposed to other foods you’re susceptible to during preparation.
You can also look for supermarket lists or specialty stores that sell foods which are free from certain problematic ingredients. Wheat, gluten, and dairy-free alternatives are becoming easier to find as there is more awareness about these intolerances. And some of them are really delicious!
Of course, you could always go online to look for the foods you need. It’s easy to find nutritional information that way. Just be sure to check the labels as well, since recipes can change without warning. The web is also a great source for recipes that are “free from” whatever it is you need to avoid. Honestly, it doesn’t have to be difficult!
Find more information about food intolerances, allergies, and home tests at http://www.foodintolerancenews.com
By: Kimberly Buchanan
About the Author:
Do you think you might have a food intolerance? Well, you wouldn’t be alone. There are claims that anywhere between 40% and 70% of the population suffer from at least one food intolerance.
The symptoms can be rather vague: intestinal upset, fatigue, headaches, and some reactions that seem more allergic than anything else. They can also show up hours or even days after consuming the problem food, making it very difficult to identify the cause of your ailments. To be sure of what you’re dealing with, seek the help of a physician. Let your doctor know what your body is experiencing. He or she can then refer you to a nutritionist or other food intolerance specialist to ensure that you’re getting all the nutrients your body needs.
Wheat and lactose intolerance are common complaints. There are special tests that can be used to determine whether a person suffers from these conditions. If wheat intolerance is detected, you should also be checked for celiac disease, or gluten intolerance, since gluten is a wheat protein.
Of course, any intolerance will require adjustments in the way you eat. Be sure to inform your friends and family of your diagnosis so they can plan meals appropriately. Caretakers and schools should be informed if a child is found to have a food intolerance.
What changes can you make to ensure that you or your loved ones are safe from problem foods and substances? First, become a great food label reader! Every country in the European Union is required to display certain nutritional facts on prepackaged food labels. These foods must be clearly marked if they contain certain ingredients in concentrations higher than 10 mg/kg or liter. These ingredients are tree nuts, peanuts, seafood, milk, eggs, fish, gluten, soya, celery, sesame seeds, mustard, sulphites, and lupin.
It’s best to check the ingredients of everything you purchase prepackaged. Please note that foods which are not prepackaged, like most deli or bakery items, aren’t subject to the same labeling requirements. If your intolerance is severe, you should avoid foods that might be exposed to other foods you’re susceptible to during preparation.
You can also look for supermarket lists or specialty stores that sell foods which are free from certain problematic ingredients. Wheat, gluten, and dairy-free alternatives are becoming easier to find as there is more awareness about these intolerances. And some of them are really delicious!
Of course, you could always go online to look for the foods you need. It’s easy to find nutritional information that way. Just be sure to check the labels as well, since recipes can change without warning. The web is also a great source for recipes that are “free from” whatever it is you need to avoid. Honestly, it doesn’t have to be difficult!
Find more information about food intolerances, allergies, and home tests at http://www.foodintolerancenews.com
By: Kimberly Buchanan
About the Author:
Kimberly Buchanan has been interested and involved in various aspects of the health industry for over 10 years. She has personal experience with food intolerances and allergies as well as experience helping others discover the cause of and cure for their own intolerances, allergies, and other health related ailments (eg vitamin deficiency, weight gain).