Surprisingly, many people’s food can quickly turn into their nightmare, which is all thanks to food intolerance. Many people struggle with this and it is not just about stomach aches. It’s about missing out on foods that you really love because your body can’t handle them. It could be dairy products, glutinous products, or food containing certain sugars, which makes eating feel like a constant battle.
If you’ve ever dealt with or are dealing with something like this, one of the thoughts you’ve probably had would be, “is it really possible to adjust or even outgrow food intolerance? Or are you stuck with it forever?” In this article, we are going to be looking into whether there is a way to manage or improve your symptoms.
Know Your Symptoms
When it comes to adjusting for food intolerance, the first step you need to consider is recognizing the symptoms of food intolerance. Food intolerance usually comes with a feeling of bloatedness, gassiness, or in the form of an upset stomach after eating certain foods. Sometimes it’s not just your stomach. It could also show up on your skin as rashes or eczema or even affect your breathing by causing congestion. Other signs of food intolerance include headaches and migraines.
So the big question is how do you figure out what’s causing your issues? One way to do so is by keeping a food diary. A food diary is a book where you write down what you eat and any symptoms you experience after you’ve eaten the food. Over time, you might start to see patterns and identify specific foods that can trigger your discomfort. This is usually very helpful when talking to a doctor or a nutritionist who can help with a proper diagnosis. They might recommend you do some blood tests, allergy tests, or breath tests to pinpoint exactly what’s going on with you.
Adjusting Your Diet
After it has been confirmed that you have food intolerance through proper diagnosis by a doctor or a nutritionist, it is time for you to adjust your diet. One way to start is with an elimination diet. This means temporarily cutting out foods you suspect might be causing your symptoms, such as dairy products or gluten products. After a while, you will slowly reintroduce these foods one after another to see which of them is causing your trigger reactions. That way, you’ll be able to figure out what your body can and cannot handle.
Secondly, you need to start reading food labels carefully if that’s something you previously didn’t do. You need to know what’s in your foods to avoid hidden allergies. Some ingredients might sound fine, but could cause some reactions.
Another thing you have to be cautious of is cross-contamination. Sometimes foods can be processed in some places as allergens, even though they are not listed on the labels.
Thirdly, you need to find suitable substitutes for foods you can’t handle. For example, if you can’t have dairy products, there are plenty of milk alternatives like almond, soy, oat, or even coconut milk. For gluten intolerance, you can try gluten-free grains like quinoa, rice, or buckwheat. Then if you have histamine intolerance, you need to go for fresh fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins. Lastly, for fructose malabsorption, you need to go for fruits like berries and citrus; they are your best bet.
The Bottom Line
Food intolerance doesn’t have to take the fun out of eating. Once you figure out what’s causing your symptoms, keep track of your meals, and make a few smart changes, you can still enjoy food without feeling sick afterward.
