Food intolerance or food sensitivity is characterized by the problem digesting particular foods. This issue is usually identified through gastrointestinal problems, such as abdominal pain, intestinal gas, or diarrhea.
According to several estimates, food intolerance is a common problem that affects 15-20% of people. This problem has been found more prevalent in people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
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Are food intolerance and food allergy the same thing?
While many people confuse food intolerance with food allergy, both are different. Food intolerances occur due to food-specific immunoglobin G or IgG, a type of antibody. This antibody mainly causes problems with the digestive system.
On the other hand, food allergy happens due to the antibody called immunoglobin E. This problem is identifiable through various symptoms, only some of which indicate digestive issues.
Food Intolerance Symptoms
Food intolerance can cause discomfort a few hours after eating certain foods. You can identify this problem from its digestive system-related issues.
Here is a list of common food intolerance symptoms.
- Stomach pain
- Diarrhea
- Migraine
- A runny nose
- Headache
- Excess gas
- Malaise
The severity of these symptoms depends on the amount of food eaten. Generally, these symptoms emerge after some time of the food ingestion and may persist for a few hours to a few days.
Sometimes, it can be difficult to discern whether the symptoms you experience are due to food intolerance or food allergy. This is because some symptoms of both these conditions share the same traits.
What are the causes of food intolerance?
Food intolerance happens mainly due to the release of food-specific immunoglobin G or IgG, a type of antibody. These antibodies are released due to the following factors.
- Insufficient levels of an enzyme required for food digestion: The most common example is lactose intolerance.
- Sensitivity to food additives: For instance, many foods are preserved using sulfites, which can cause asthma attacks in people with sulfite sensitivity.
- Irritable bowel syndrome: This condition is characterized by flare-ups in digestive issues, such as constipation, cramping, and diarrhea in response to specific foods.
- Psychological factor: Sometimes, you despise a particular food to the extent that the thought of it makes you sick. Eating such foods can lead to symptoms indicating a food intolerance.
- Celiac disease: Some symptoms of celiac disease are similar to those of a food allergy. However, this problem is a chronic digestive condition usually caused by eating gluten and wheat proteins.
If you experience an uncomfortable body reaction after eating a particular food, consult your doctor to check whether this response signifies food intolerance or food allergy.
What is an IgG?
Generally speaking, IgG or Immunoglobin G is a type of antibody produced by the immune system when an antigen enters the body. These antibodies interact with normal body tissues and stimulate inflammation, causing uncomfortable symptoms.
Food intolerance and its symptoms are caused by food-specific IgGs, which are released when the immune system encounters partially digested or undigested food particles and starts treating them as antigens.
Irritation or inflammation in the gut lining can cause these unprocessed food particles to leak into the bloodstream, resulting in excessive IgG production in response to various foods.
How is food intolerance diagnosed?
The two food intolerance tests performed at EuroMed Clinic Dubai are the York Test and Foodprint Test. Let’s have a brief look at both these diagnostic procedures.
York Test
York Test is a comprehensive food sensitivity test that analyzes your body’s response to over 200 food and drink ingredients. This test involves pricking your finger to take a tiny amount of your blood as a sample, which is sent to a lab for a detailed analysis. During this analysis, the lab experts measure all four food-specific IgG subtypes and prepare an inclusive report explaining the type of food particles that may cause food intolerance.
Foodprint Test
This test involves extracting a small amount of blood and sending it to a lab. Like York Test, this test aims to identify the root cause of a person’s hypersensitivity to certain foods, beverages, additives, and other compounds. This test helps measure food-specific immunoglobulin type G or IgG antibodies to diagnose the type and severity of food intolerance.
Benefits of Food Intolerance Test
Food intolerance is a bothersome problem that can affect the quality of life. Fortunately, proper testing can help identify the root cause of this problem. With the test results in hand, your practitioner will be able to suggest a diet plan that would help you avoid any food intolerances. This test essentially takes the guesswork out of your diet plan.
Food Intolerance Test FAQs
What are the most common food intolerances?
The most common types of food intolerance are:
Dairy
Gluten
Salicylates
Caffeine
Amines
FODMAPs
Sulfites
Fructose
Are food intolerance tests reliable?
Food intolerance tests can yield a precise diagnosis provided that the set protocols are followed correctly.
What food intolerance causes bloating?
Gluten intolerance is the type of food intolerance responsible for producing excess gas in the GI tract. This leads to bloating.
Consult our Experts
Consulting an expert physician is the first step during which you will be prescribed the food intolerance test you need to get. At EuroMed Clinic Dubai, we have board-certified physicians who perform an accurate diagnosis of your food intolerance problem and suggest the most appropriate treatment. You can get in touch or book a consultation with us by filling out the form below.
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