5 signs you have a food intolerance
If someone asked you “what are the symptoms of a food intolerance?”, what would you say? Would you assume throat swelling, itchy eyes or wheezing?
If so, this article is for you.
There’s a stark difference between a food allergy and a food intolerance, but they are often thought to be the same thing.
Consequently, people may not automatically correlate their symptoms with a food intolerance due to the misconception that they can cause severe effects.
Food intolerances are estimated to affect 45% of the adult population. Adult food allergies, on the other hand, only affect 2% of UK adults.
But what makes them different?
There’s three main points:
- A food allergy can be fatal. A food intolerance, on the other hand, is not life-threatening, but it can interrupt your day-to-day life.
- Symptoms of a food allergy typically occur within 2 hours of exposure. Food intolerance symptoms begin between 2 hours to 3 days later.
- A food allergy in an adult is usually for life. However, a food intolerance could be temporary once gut health has been restored.
How do you know if you have a food intolerance?
To name a few, here are 5 signs.
1. Bloating
We all find ourselves bloating every so often. You could be swallowing too much air, drinking too many fizzy drinks or stress could be taking its toll. However, regular bloating could be a sign for you to take a closer look at your diet.
2. Joint pain
It’s estimated that more than 9 million people in the UK suffer from arthritis or related conditions. Inflammation occurs as the body’s immune system targets affected joints, leading to pain and swelling. Eliminating certain trigger foods from your diet could be beneficial to your joint health as it’s an important step forward in maintaining an anti-inflammatory diet.
3. Tiredness
It’s common place to repeatedly hit snooze on your alarm every so often, but if you are noticing a lack of energy quite regularly then perhaps something else is going on. 1 in 10 people suffer from constant tiredness, with women more likely to be affected than men.
One survey which involved over 5,000 participants and analysed by the University of York found that 87% of those who suffered from low energy levels saw benefit from taking a food intolerance† test*.
4. Migraines
Migraines can be debilitating when they strike. Clinical studies show that identifying and taking away trigger foods from your diet can reduce the severity and, or, frequency of headaches, or even stop them completely. Even leading migraine charities recognise the correlation between diet and migraines
5. Respiratory issues
We all catch common colds from time to time, but if you are experiencing a ‘stuffy nose’ or congested sinuses, then your diet could be at fault. You may not notice these symptoms yourself until other people point them out, especially if they say: “you sound bunged up today!”.
Sinusitis and rhinitis are often caused by inflammation. As a result, removing offending foods which cause inflammation could help combat these disrupting symptoms.
Are you surprised by some of these symptoms?
It’s always important to seek advice from your GP if you relate to any of the above – just so they can rule out anything underlying. Symptoms can be wide-ranging and vary between individuals.
Luckily, taking a closer look at your diet has never been so easy. YorkTest Laboratories, who have 35 years in diagnostic testing, offer simple finger-prick blood tests you can do at home.
Their food intolerance† programmes give their customers an in-depth look into their food-specific IgG reactions to up to 208 food and drink ingredients along with nutritional support.
For more information and to claim 33% off one of their full programmes using code SUMMER33, visit their website: www.yorktest.com **.
*Hardman and Hart, 2007.
** Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Applies to full food intolerance† programmes only: FoodScan, FoodScan Junior, IBS Diet Premium programme, Food&DrinkScan Premium programme, Ideal Weight Premium programme only. Ends 31st July 2019 at 23:59pm.
† YorkTest define Food Intolerance as a food-specific IgG reaction.
Our information is intended to provide nutritional advice for dietary optimisation. YorkTest do not claim to treat or cure symptoms and recommend that you discuss any medical concerns you have with a GP before undertaking a YorkTest programmes
