Understanding Food Intolerance Symptoms: Causes and Management Tips

Food intolerance is when your body finds it difficult to digest certain foods, causing undesired effects. It's not the same as a food allergy. The symptoms of food intolerance are usually not life-threatening but are uncomfortable. The common digestive symptoms include abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, headache, and other digestive issues.

Certain foods, fruits, and vegetables can trigger it. Understanding food intolerance-associated symptoms and causes allows efficient management of symptoms.

In this article, we are going to talk about food intolerance symptoms, their causes, and signs in various age groups, so keep reading.

There are different types of food reactions that you should be aware of. Not every food reaction is the same. Various types of food reactions have various causes and symptoms.

When your body is not able to properly digest the food you eat, it's called food intolerance. For instance, you had milk and right after that you start feeling bloated, which shows that you are lactose intolerant. The common symptoms include stomach pain, diarrhea, bloating, and headache, which often appear hours after eating.

When your immune system detects the food you eat as a harmful substance, it attacks it, and the condition is called a food allergy. For instance, you consumed peanuts or something containing peanuts in it, and you then experience allergic reactions such as breathing problems, swelling, or hives. Food allergy can be life-threatening. Common food allergy symptoms are nausea, vomiting, trouble breathing, swelling, rash, or hives.

When your body reacts in an insignificant way or the body’s reaction is delayed after you eat something, it’s a food sensitivity. For instance, you eat something such as chocolate or gluten, and the next day you are experiencing a headache or feeling lethargic. Common symptoms are fatigue, headaches, joint pain, skin problems, and brain fog.

When you eat the bad food, spoiled food, or food containing harmful bacteria, the condition is called food poisoning. For instance, you consumed spoiled meat and felt sick after a few hours. Common symptoms are abdominal cramps, fever, diarrhea, and vomiting, which are indicative of various digestive problems.

Trigger foods are the foods that usually cause food-related reactions in people, which may be food allergy, food intolerance, or food sensitivity. 

So the common trigger foods that are usually problematic for most people are:

Milk and dairy products, such as milk, cheese, and yogurt, are difficult to digest for certain food intolerances due to the presence of lactose, but a lactose solution may help some people. People with lactose intolerance may experience symptoms such as stomach pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhea.

Gluten found in wheat, bread, barley, rye, pasta, and cakes can cause intolerance or an allergic reaction in certain people, particularly those with coeliac disease. The symptoms of gluten intolerance or gluten allergy are stomach pain, bloating, tiredness, skin rash, and a foggy brain.

Eggs, especially whites, can cause an allergic reaction in some people who are allergic to egg whites. The symptoms of egg allergy are upset stomach, skin rashes, and breathing problems.

Nuts, particularly peanuts, commonly cause an allergic reaction, especially in kids. The symptoms of peanut allergy are swelling, breathing problems, hives, and a severe allergic reaction or life-threatening reaction.

Chocolate contains milk, sugar, and caffeine, and all of these can cause an allergic reaction in certain people. The symptoms include stomach upset, headaches, and skin breakouts that can lead to an unpleasant physical reaction.

Food intolerance is when your body finds it difficult to handle or digest certain types of food. When you consume something and your body is unable to react to the food or digest it properly, it's called food intolerance.

For instance, you had a glass of milk, and after that, because your body can't digest it well, you experience tummy pain or bloating, which means you are lactose intolerant. Food intolerance symptoms don’t appear immediately after consuming particular foods, usually after a few hours or longer.

Common symptoms of food intolerance are:

• Bloating (swollen or puffy stomach)

• Cramps of pain in the stomach (stomach discomfort)

• Gas more than usual

• Diarrhea (watery or loose poop)

• Headaches (right after consuming certain foods)

• Fatigue (tired or sluggish feeling)

• Nausea (feels like you will vomit)

• Skin problems (rashes or itchy skin)

Refer to the table below to understand age-specific symptoms of food intolerance:

You can manage food intolerance symptoms at home; however, if your symptoms are severe, you may need to consult your healthcare provider. Here is how you can manage food intolerance symptoms:

You need to carefully observe how you feel after eating certain foods. You can maintain a food diary where you can write down what you ate, when you ate it, and if you have any symptoms after eating something. It can help you recognise the culprit for your symptoms. 

For example, you drank milk and then you felt bloated after a few hours. When you are aware of the cause, you can manage and prevent the associated symptoms.

Quite simple. When you know the causes and triggers of your symptoms, you just need to limit or avoid those foods or drinks. For instance, if milk is causing troubling symptoms, you need to consider dairy-free options. If eating bread is causing symptoms, you need to avoid gluten-containing foods and consider gluten-free foods.

While buying groceries, carefully check the labels on products. Thr trigger of your symptoms may be hidden in snacks or packed meals. Look for wheat, milk, soy, and artificial sweeteners, depending on your particular intolerance.

If you have mild intolerance, eating smaller portions may help avoid symptoms. Although every individual is different, try this carefully.

Stomach pain is a common symptom of food intolerance, food allergy, and food poisoning. However, it might be mild or can be associated with one or more serious medical conditions. If you are experiencing severe symptoms or persistent stomach pain with other symptoms, it's essential to seek your healthcare professional’s advice.

A medical professional can diagnose the exact cause of your abdominal pain and create an efficient treatment plan for your condition. If your stomach pain is associated with a food allergy or blockage in the intestines, it can be life-threatening, so make sure you consider medical attention.

Consult a doctor or healthcare professional if you are experiencing severe or persistent symptoms such as bloating, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or gas. If you have tried management techniques but your symptoms persist, it's time to seek medical help.

Some patients may experience severe stomach pain, vomiting, and a dizzy feeling; these symptoms also necessitate medical attention. Moreover, suppose you are suddenly losing weight for no reason. In that case, if you are experiencing various digestion-related symptoms after every meal, or you are not sure whether your symptoms are because of food intolerance or something else, you need to talk to your healthcare provider.

When your body is not able to handle certain foods properly, or you start feeling bad or uncomfortable after eating certain foods, especially due to difficulty digesting, the condition is referred to as food intolerance. Common food intolerance symptoms are bloating, abdominal pain or cramps, gas, nausea, fatigue, and headaches.

Usually, the symptoms appear after a few hours of eating the problematic food. You can manage food intolerance by recognising the problematic foods, avoiding and limiting those foods. If you are not sure about your symptoms or if your symptoms are severe and persistent, consult your doctor to get the right treatment.