Allergies can be life-threatening. With many people having intolerances that end up leaving them in the emergency room, food intolerances are ones that won’t leave you in a life or death situation.
Food intolerance can be quite common, with almost 70% of the Australian aboriginal populations suffering from the intolerance. However, it is important to know that allergies and intolerances are quite different.
The chemical testing laboratories in Sydney have spoken about the one main difference that food intolerance and food allergies have – i.e. the period in which they begin showing up in the body. For example, if your body is intolerant to a particular food item, the symptoms of discomfort will be visible within the first few hours of having a food itself. On the other hand, food allergies only show their symptoms after a day or 2 of consumption.
That being said, the most common food intolerances are:
1. Dairy
As mentioned before, lactose intolerance is easily one of the most common food intolerances in individuals. This intolerance is caused due to the absence or shortage of lactase enzymes, leading to problems in the digestion of lactose. The symptoms of lactose intolerance include:
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhoea
- Gas
- Bloating
- Nausea
2. Gluten
Have you ever heard one of your friends order up their foods without gluten? Chances are they are sufferers of gluten intolerance. The category of gluten includes foods like wheat, parsley, rye and triticale. In some cases, the intolerance can rise to more serious problems such as celiac diseases, non-celiac diseases as well as wheat allergy. The symptoms of gluten intolerance include:
- Bloating
- Pain in the abdomen
- Constipation or Diarrhoea
- Fatigue
- Rashes
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Anaemia
- Joint pain
3. Caffeine
Even though you might be one of those people that cannot imagine getting out of bed without a cup of coffee in hand, there are quite a few people who do not have the privilege to do so. The adverse effects caused by the caffeine in some individuals can be linked to genetics, ultimately leading to poor ingestion of even the smallest amount of caffeine.
Symptoms of caffeine intolerance include:
- Severe anxiety after consumption, which can ultimately increase to heart palpitations.
- A higher heart rate, which can occur as a result of high anxiety as well.
- Jitters, to a point where you might feel your body spazzing due to it.
- Insomnia, leaving you up at night.
- Nervousness and restlessness are common symptoms, leading to discomfort in focusing on a particular subject.
4. Fructose
Fructose is one of the most common sugars found in fruits and vegetables, as well as artificial sweeteners. When it comes to the digestion of fructose in intolerant bodies, the mal-absorbed fructose travels to the large intestine, allowing it to be fermented by the bacteria of the gut, ultimately leading to digestive distress.
The symptoms of fructose intolerance include:
- Acid reflux, due to the mal-absorbed fructose travelling to the large intestine.
- Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are both common, leaving the individual drained of energy completely.
- Pain in the abdomen is yet another common symptom.
If you want to avoid fructose intake in your diet, you can begin by avoiding foods such as soda, honey, apples, agave nectar, watermelon, cherries and much more.
If you’re curious about the food intolerances you might have, you can take the intolerance test in Sydney at the Australian Biologics. With biolabs in Sydney, they can help you understand which intolerances are present in your body easily.
Knowing the intolerance that your body holds can be especially helpful in the long run, allowing you to be well-prepared for the worst beforehand. Take care of yourself, starting today!
