Specific foods cause digestion problems and consuming them leads to adverse reactions in the body, which is referred to as food intolerance. Due to food intolerance, various symptoms can be observed. Such as: feeling bloated and experiencing stomach pain. These symptoms are usually seen a few hours after eating.

In recent years, The number of people who believe they are suffering from food intolerance has significantly increased. However, determining how many people are genuinely affected by this problem is challenging.
While many believe they are suffering from food intolerance, it is often observed that there may be underlying reasons responsible for their symptoms.

What is the Symptoms of Food Intolerance

Typically, those with food intolerance experience symptoms a few hours after consuming certain foods. However, these common symptoms are not exclusively associated with food intolerance; they can also be observed in various other medical conditions.

Therefore, determining whether a person truly has intolerance to specific foods can be challenging.

When a specific food is not tolerated, individuals commonly experience the following symptoms:

1. Digestive problems
2. Stomach pain
3. Bloating
4. Gas issues
5. Loose stools
6. Other discomfort
7. Skin rash or hives
8. Itching

Diseases that can cause symptoms like food intolerance

If a person consistently experiences the following four symptoms and the cause of these symptoms is uncertain, it is advisable to seek doctor consultation:

1. Diarrhea
2. Feeling bloated
3. Stomach pain
4. Developing skin rashes or hives

The doctor will engage in a conversation with the patient and base their diagnosis on the patient's symptoms. If necessary they may recommend additional tests including blood tests among others.

Commonly, the following conditions may exhibit symptoms similar to food intolerance:

1. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
2. Psychological stress and anxiety
3. Lactose Intolerance
4. Celiac Disease
5. Inflammatory Bowel Disease
6. Various food allergies

The digestive system is a sensitive organ, so when someone is unwell or experiencing mental stress, it often manifests as various gastrointestinal issues.

What causes food intolerance?

Understanding why a person may not tolerate specific foods is not always straightforward. In some cases, there are an intolerance related to certain foods and this isn't always easy to discern. For instance, in some cases there are a connection between food and symptoms due to a substance called "lactose," which is present in milk, yogurt, and soft cheeses. Some individuals may have difficulty digesting this lactose leading to intolerance symptoms after consuming dairy products.

If someone experience symptoms of lactose intolerance after consuming milk or dairy products, it has be assumed that they have "lactose intolerance". In such cases, it was important to consult a doctor to confirm the condition and take appropriate treatment.

Some people have problems digesting wheat or wheat-based foods. In this case, after eating wheat bread or bread, various symptoms such as flatulence, abdominal pain, wind problems, diarrhea and nausea appear.

Additionally food intolerances are sometimes be triggered by various preservatives, additives, and other chemical compounds added to food. These types of substances include:

1. Monosodium Glutamate (MSG): Used as a flavor enhancer in food, it can sometimes cause intolerance.

2. Artificial Colors, Flavors, Essences, and Preservatives: Various synthetic additives in food can lead to intolerance.

3. Artificial Sweeteners as Alternatives to Sugar: Examples include Zero-Cal, Sugar-Free, Equal, and Hexa, which may not be well-tolerated by some individuals.

4. Caffeine: Consumption of caffeine can lead to intolerance symptoms in some people.

5. Alcohol: Alcohol consumption can sometimes trigger intolerance reactions.

6. Contaminants from various microorganisms: These can contaminate food and lead to adverse reactions.

7. Histamine: This chemical can be found in mushrooms, processed foods, and alcoholic beverages and may cause intolerance symptoms.

If you experience digestive problems or adverse reactions after consuming foods or beverages containing these substances, it is essential to be aware of their presence and consult a healthcare professional if necessary.

Ways to Identify Food Intolerances

The best way to determine if you have an intolerance to a particular food is to

1. Monitoring the patient's symptoms and eating habits
2. Finding out if there is a link to a patient's symptoms with certain foods

If in doubt about a food, remove it from the list for a few days and see what happens. Then slowly add the food back into the diet. Apart from this, you can write down these information in a diary.

Food Diary

In the food diary, you should record the following six pieces of information:

1. Type of Food Consumed: Specify what type of food was eaten, including details like breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and any beverages.

2. Presence of Any Immediate Symptoms: Note whether you experienced any immediate symptoms or discomfort after consuming the food, such as bloating, gas, nausea, or diarrhea.

3. Types of Symptoms Observed: Describe the specific symptoms you noticed, such as stomach cramps, skin rashes, headache, or fatigue.

4. Timing of Symptoms: Indicate when these symptoms occurred. Were they immediately after eating, a few hours later, or the next day?

5. Improvement of Symptoms After Avoiding the Food: Mention whether the symptoms improved or disappeared after eliminating the particular food item from your diet.

6. Reoccurrence of Symptoms After Reintroducing the Food: If you decided to reintroduce the food into your diet at a later time, record whether the symptoms returned or if there were any changes in their severity.

Keeping a detailed food diary can be helpful for identifying food intolerances, allergies, or sensitivities and can assist healthcare professionals in making accurate diagnoses and recommendations.

Trial elimination diet

Due to the symptoms appearing in the body for certain reasons related to the consumption of certain foods, after forming an idea about it, the foods can be gradually eliminated from the diet. This method is called the 'Trial Elimination Diet'.

It should be observed whether there is any improvement in symptoms after eliminating the food item believed to be intolerable from the diet for 2-6 weeks. 

Afterwards, it should be observed whether the symptoms return upon reintroducing the food item. It may also be the case that consuming the food up to a certain quantity does not cause any issues, but exceeding that amount leads to the reappearance of symptoms.

To ensure the acquisition of all nutritional elements in the body during this process, seek advice from a nutritionist or dietitian.

Home Management of Food Intolerance

When it is certain that a particular food is causing intolerance the only solution is to stop consuming that food for a few days. Then, gradually reintroduce the food into the diet.

It should be observed how much of the food can be consumed until symptoms reappear. Afterward, the food can be added back to the diet.

To understand which foods need to be excluded, it is essential to develop the habit of thoroughly reading the labels on food packets.

If a child is suspected of having a food intolerance problem, it is imperative to seek advice from a doctor or a dietitian before excluding any food from the child's diet. For example, many exclude cow's milk from a child's diet, believing the child is intolerant. Cow milk is an excellent source of calcium, vitamin D, and protein. Therefore, after ensuring the child gets the necessary nutrients through alternative means, cow's milk can be excluded from the child's diet, but only under a doctor's or dietitian's guidance.

When Doctor's Consultation is Necessary

Even after following dietary restrictions, if there is no improvement in the condition, and symptoms keep recurring, it is essential to seek medical advice.

In the case of children, if they experience any of the following symptoms along with gastrointestinal issues. like: stomach pain and diarrhea, it is imperative to consult a specialist doctor:

• Failure to thrive or grow properly.
• Lack of improvement in the condition despite adhering to dietary restrictions.
• Sudden adverse reactions after consuming specific foods.
• Suspected food allergies.