If your body has a hard time digesting a particular food, you may be suffering from food intolerance. The terms “food intolerance,” “food sensitivity” and “hypersensitivity” get used somewhat interchangeably as these terms are still poorly defined in medical literature.
Food intolerance disorders are functional digestive problems that sometimes have immunologic consequences.
Intolerance may refer to a digestive physiologic irregularity, such as lacking a key digestive enzyme that results in improper digestion and nutrient absorption.
Types of Food Intolerance
Many of these intolerances have overlapping information but there are key areas that also sets them apart. Let’s have a closer look at each one.
- Lactose Intolerance
- Gluten Intolerance
- Histamine Intolerance
- Celiac Disease
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Lactose Intolerance
Lactose Intolerance is the most common carbohydrate intolerance. Individuals who are lactose intolerant lack the enzyme lactase (hypolactasia) and therefore cannot break down lactose, the disaccharide sugar found in milk and other dairy products.
Symptoms
- bloating
- stomach pain
- increase in gas
- diarrhea
Most people produce lots of lactase as an infant, but it wanes with age. Most lactose intolerant individuals stop producing lactase. This results in undigested disaccharides attracting water into the large bowel and causing diarrhea and nausea.
Bacterial fermentation of the sugar in the colon releases gasses that cause bloating and abdominal pain.
Managing Lactose Intolerance
Many people suffering from Lactose Intolerance choose to adopt a dairy-free diet choosing plant-based milk and cheese products.
There are also plenty of lactose-free dairy products available on the market. In addition, commercially available lactase enzymes, such as “Lacteeze” can be taken before consuming dairy which will aid in digestion.
Celiac Disease
Celiac Disease (also referred to as Gluten Enteropathy and Celiac Sprue) is an autoimmune disease caused by a permanent intolerance to the gliadin portion of the gluten protein found in wheat, rye and barley.
When a person with celiac eats wheat, gluten-sensitive T cells are activated. Over a period of time, eating gluten damages the intestinal lining, preventing it from absorbing essential nutrients.
Common Symptoms
- diarrhea
- weight loss
- fatigue
- bloating
- anemia
Diagnosis
Indications of Celiac Disease can be found in blood testing. Elevated levels of antibody proteins can suggest an immune reaction to gluten. This will only be accurate if the patient is consuming gluten containing foods. Once a gluten-free diet has been implemented, the levels of antibodies in the blood will appear normal and the test will give a false negative result.
A confirmation of Celiac disease is made through biopsy of the intestinal tissue through an endoscopic procedure.
Management of Celiac Disease
Celiac Disease is a lifelong condition but can be put into remission. The only way person with celiac disease can go into remission and reverse the damage to their intestinal lining is by refraining from eating all forms of gluten.
Gluten Intolerance
Gluten intolerance, also known as “non-celiac wheat sensitivity” is similar to celiac disease in that sufferers react to components of wheat and related cereals. A protein component of gluten called “gliadin” is likely playing a role in symptoms. Also, wheat products contain fructans (a FODMAP) which can cause digestive distress in some individuals. This is not the same thing as a wheat allergy, which shows symptoms almost immediately after eating.
People suffering from gluten intolerance report similar gastrointestinal symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain, bowel abnormalities as well as headache, foggy brain, fatigue and skin rash.
Histamine Intolerance
Histamine intolerance, or “enteral histaminosis” is a sensitivity to naturally occurring histamines found in fish and aged foods such as certain wines, cheese, and smoked or preserved meats. Our small intestines normally produce an enzyme called “diamine oxide” which breaks down histamine to prevent absorption into the body.
People who lack this enzyme literally experience histamine intoxication. As they cannot degrade the histamine, it builds up in the bloodstream and causes a host of unpleasant symptoms such as stomach pain, vomiting and skin rashes.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome is a digestive disorder that has immunologic consequences sharing aspects of food intolerance and food sensitivity. You can read more about IBS here.
