Food intolerance
Is there afood intolerance test?
There are no tests for food intolerances. The only way to know if you have one is to monitor your symptoms and the food you eat. See what happens when you cut out the suspected food for a while, and then reintroduce it back into your diet.
Food diary
Trykeeping a food diary, noting:
- what foods you eat
- any symptoms you have after eating these foods
- when these symptomscome on
Trial elimination diet
Once you have a good idea which foods may be causing your symptoms, you can try excluding them from your diet one at a time and observing the effect this has.
Try:
- Cutting out the suspected food from your diet for two to six weeks and see if your symptoms improve.
- Then, reintroduce the food , to see if symptoms return. You may find you can tolerate a certain level, and you only get symptoms if you have more than this amount.
Consider seeing a dietitian to make sure you're receiving all your recommended daily nutrients while you do this trial. Find a registered dietitian .
Never restrict your child's dietunless this has been advisedby adietitian oryour doctor.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
A food intolerance is difficulty digesting certain foods and having an unpleasant physical reaction to them.
What are the symptoms of food intolerance?
In general, people who have afood intolerance tend to experience: Tummy ache , bloating, windand/or diarrhoea , or skin rashes and itching These symptoms usually come on a few hours after eating
Is there afood intolerance test?
There are no tests for food intolerances. The only way to know if you have one is to monitor your symptoms and the food you eat. See what happens when you cut out the suspected food for a while, and t
Could my symptoms be something else?
If you regularly have diarrhoea, bloating, tummy pain or skin rashes but you're not certain of the cause,see your GP. Your GP may be able to diagnose the cause from your symptoms and medical history.
Is it a food intolerance or foodallergy?
A food intolerance is not the same as a food allergy . Here's how you can tell the difference: Afood allergy: is a reaction from your immune system (your body's defence against infection) - your
What causes a food intolerance?
It is often unclear why a person is sensitive to certain foods. If your symptoms come on after having dairy products, it's possible you may have lactose intolerance . This meansyour body can't digest
How do I manage it?
If you're confident youare intolerant to a particular food, the only way you can manage this is to: stop eating the food for a while, and then reintroduce small quantities while monitoring how much
When do I need to see a specialist?
Your GP may want to refer you to a specialist if they're not surewhat's causing your symptoms and further tests are needed. You may also be referred if your child has digestive symptoms (such as tumm
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