Do you suffer from food intolerance? Find out what are the most common causes and what to do about them.
It seems that almost everybody has some form of intolerance these days, particularly food intolerances have caused a lot of discomfort for many people. And whether it is your gut health or a different cause, it’s important to understand that if there is slight bloating or brain fog after certain meals, the root cause could be down to an intolerance. Here are some of the most common causes.
Genetics
One significant factor that can contribute to food intolerances is, very simply, genealogy. Individuals who have a family history of intolerance to specific foods could be predisposed to developing similar sensitivities. It’s important to recognise if perhaps a parent of yours is constantly bloated after eating wheat or if they tend to sleep a bit more than normal every now and again. Thankfully, there’s one simple way to understand if we have a food intolerance; a food intolerance test can instantly provide us with an understanding of perhaps where the one type of food is causing a lot of our issues. Being armed with the information and understanding whether a family member is potentially experiencing the same intolerances as you can guide yourself towards more informed dietary choices and lifestyles.
Inefficient Digestive Enzymes
One of the causes of food intolerances is in how our body struggles to digest certain components of food. A food intolerance usually arises from a deficiency in certain enzymes that are necessary to break down specific substances. For example, lactose intolerance stems from the absence of the lactase enzyme, which is crucial for digesting the lactose found in milk and dairy products. These days, there are a number of solutions to help digest lactose, for example, lactase supplements, but you can also purchase milk from the shops that have already had the lactase enzyme added to it. Understanding the role of enzymes is critical to ensure that you can have a better understanding of your specific food intolerances.
An Imbalanced Gut Microbiome
An imbalanced microbiome can contribute to a lot of food intolerances. The gut is home to trillions of microorganisms that are essential for digestion and overall health, and any disruptions can result in problems processing certain foods, which results in reactions and symptoms commonly associated with an intolerance. This is where solutions like probiotics and prebiotics can restore and maintain a healthy gut microbiome. There’s a lot more research being conducted on the gut microbiome, especially in relation to the immune system, and it seems that the vast majority of our immunity can stem from the gut. Therefore, using probiotics to increase your gut microbiota and prebiotics to feed them can be an excellent solution.
The Processed Food Problem
It’s something we can’t escape from, and it’s something that we all know we should reduce in our lives. The body can struggle to recognise or process synthetic substances, and by opting for whole and natural foods, we can work at alleviating intolerance symptoms.
As you can see, there are a few reasons why we can develop intolerances, especially later in life. However, the solutions are many, and once we understand why we are experiencing issues, we can then work by eliminating the foods in question and making those proactive steps towards a healthier and happier life.
This is a collaborative post.
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