Someone called experiencing food intolerance when his body reacts when eating food and difficulty digesting certain foods. This is different from food allergies because allergies are influenced by the immune system, whereas food intolerance is not.
Patients with food intolerance will experience symptoms a few hours after consuming certain foods, including abdominal pain, flatulence, diarrhea, and nausea, vomiting. However, these symptoms cannot be recognized as symptoms of food intolerance because they are quite common. Complaints of itching and rashes are more common in complaints of food allergies.
Some people mistake food intolerance for food allergies. In fact, food allergies occur when the immune system mistakenly assumes that food is entered as a hazardous material so that it performs a resistance or rejection reaction. Meanwhile, food intolerance does not involve the immune system. Another difference, symptoms of food allergies can be experienced in other parts of the body besides the digestive organs, whereas food intolerance is usually only limited to complaints in the digestive tract.
In food allergies, the amount of foods that trigger allergies in small amounts can cause a reaction, in contrast to food intolerance which generally depends on the amount of food consumed. In small portions, certain foods may not cause symptoms. But if consumed in excessive amounts or often, symptoms of intolerance will appear.
The causes of food intolerance can vary depending on the conditions and symptoms that are felt. The following are some of the underlying possibilities.
- Irritable bowel syndrome (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) that triggers diarrhea, constipation, and cramps.
- Psychological factors or recurring stress that can cause intestinal cramps.
- The absence of certain enzymes needed to digest food, such as lactose intolerance.
- Sensitive to preservatives in food, including sulfites which are used to preserve dried fruit.
Friendly with food intolerance
Food intolerance can be prevented and managed. Handling of food intolerance and symptom management varies greatly between individuals. Below are some guidelines to try.- Diary. Record what you consume every day, what symptoms are felt after consuming certain foods, and when these symptoms begin to be felt.
- Try removing foods that make you experience intolerance from your diet for at least 2-6 weeks, and see if your symptoms decrease. Then, you can try the food again to see if you can digest it to a certain degree. This can be tried to determine the extent to which your body can digest food properly in certain portions.
- Avoiding certain foods can make the body lose the necessary nutrients. It's a good idea to consult a nutritionist or a clinical nutrition specialist to determine which substitute foods you can consume.
- If food intolerance occurs in children, always consult their dietary management before moving children away from certain foods. Children need balanced nutrition to support optimal growth and development. If there is food intolerance or a suspicion that the child has food intolerance, then you need to consult with a pediatrician to get an appropriate feeding plan.
- Read the information and contents on food packages to avoid foods that you cannot digest.
- If needed, when eating outside the home, you can ask the waiter about the ingredients and how to process food to be eaten.
- Conduct an allergy check, to determine whether the perceived complaint is a result of food intolerance or allergies.
- In lactose intolerance, you can choose milk or dairy products with low or lactose-free lactose content. Lactase enzyme supplements can also be tried to prevent symptoms of intolerance. But you should consult with a doctor before using these supplements.
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