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Diet and Nutrition |
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Food Intolerance |
Food intolerance or non-allergic food hypersensitivity is a delayed, negative reaction to a food, beverage or food additive. It can involve symptoms in one or more body organs and systems, but is not considered directly related to the immune system. Intolerance can result from the absence of specific chemicals or enzymes needed to digest a food substance, or from reactions to naturally occurring chemicals in foods. The precise distinction between food intolerance and a food allergy is often missed.
A deficiency in digestive enzymes can also cause some types of food intolerances. Dietary carbohydrate intolerances include, Lactose intolerance is a result of the body not producing sufficient lactase to digest the lactose in milk; dairy foods which are lower in lactose, such as cheese, are less likely to trigger a reaction in this case. Coeliac disease (gluten intolerance) results in damage to villi in the small intestine, which makes it difficult for the body to absorb water and nutrients from foods,and fructose intolerance.
Food intolerance can present with symptoms affecting the skin, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract (GIT) either individually or in combination. On the skin may include skin rashes, urticaria (hives), angioedema, dermatitis , eczema. Respiratory tract symptoms can include nasal congestion, sinusitis, pharyngeal irritations, asthma and an unproductive cough. GIT symptoms include mouth ulcers, abdominal cramp, nausea, gas, intermittent diarrhea, constipation, and irritable bowel syndrome. , and may include anaphylaxis.
Food intolerance has been found associated with; irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease, chronic constipation, chronic hepatitis C infection , eczema , NSAID intolerance and respiratory complaints including asthma., rhinitis and headache , functional dyspepsia , eosinophilic esophagitis and ENT illnesses.
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