Understanding Of
A Food Intolerance

With the understanding of a food intolerance, and its meaning in the human body, it may make it easier to prevent the symptoms commonly associated with a reaction.

A food intolerance does not involve the immune system in any way like an allergy does. Most food intolerances are a breakdown of the digestive system somewhere. This can occur during the process of digestion or later after the food has been processed and absorbed into the system. Generally the latter situation is because the individual components of the food have not been digested completely or the body is having trouble processing something in the food.

Common Causes Of Food Intolerance

• Carbohydrate Intolerance- is inadequate carbohydrate digestion by the time the food leaves the small intestine and it is not completely digested. The food therefore is entering the large intestine with an improper balance of sugars to water which leads to the symptoms of gas, bloating, cramps and abdominal pain.

• High Toxicity Levels of Histamines- Many people do not understand the concept of a food intolerance from histamine levels. They have always been informed histamine release is a symptom of a food allergy. It is possible though to not be allergic to a food, but still have very high histamine levels. This happens usually by ingesting many foods which are considered high in histamines.The intolerance is therefore generated by levels much greater than the human body can tolerate.

• Salicylates,Benzoates, Sulfites, Tartrazine and other Food Dyes- Adverse reactions from many food dyes and preservatives can be found in anyone but the asthmatic always gets hit the hardest. The complete science of an understanding of a food intolerance to any asthmatic is so new, definitive answers are not even available for most questions to date.

• MSG or Monosodium Glutamate-MSG is a flavor enhancer being used more frequently because of its favorable impact on the taste of a final food product. Many people though do state its use does create a whole host of uncomfortable symptoms.

To date, the understanding of a food intolerance is an often overlooked and under diagnosed malady in our society. Many medical personnel do not have enough understanding of the subject to make an informed diagnosis. Unfortunately it may be necessary for you as the patient to make many repeated trips to several doctors before a possible conclusion is reached. Often, time and a clearer understanding of your situation could be saved by you taking the initiative and logging all the pertinent data which arises each time you develop any symptoms. Take this valuable information with you then to your doctor's appointment.

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