Overview

Food intolerance is a digestive disorder that makes it hard for the body to break down some foods or parts of foods. Food intolerance mostly affects digestion and doesn't usually cause life-threatening reactions, unlike food allergies, which involve the immune system. It happens when the body lacks sufficient levels of certain enzymes or reacts poorly to natural substances in food. Common examples include lactose intolerance and sensitivity to certain food additives. Symptoms usually appear after eating the food that caused them, and they can range from mild to severe. Food intolerance isn't usually dangerous, but if left untreated, it can significantly affect comfort, nutrition, and quality of life.

Symptoms
Food intolerance symptoms usually affect the digestive system and can include gas, bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or nausea after eating certain foods. Some people get headaches, feel tired, or have skin problems. Symptoms usually show up within a few hours of eating the trigger food and get better when the person stays away from it. Severity varies from person to person.

Causes
Food intolerance is often caused by a lack of enzymes, such as lactase, needed to break down lactose. Symptoms can also happen when you are sensitive to food chemicals like caffeine, histamine, or food additives. Infections in the gut, irritable bowel syndrome, and changes in gut bacteria may make you more likely to get sick. Genetic factors and ageing may diminish digestive efficiency.

Diagnosis
A thorough dietary history and recognition of symptom patterns are used to make a diagnosis. Elimination diets, followed by a slow reintroduction of suspected trigger foods, can help confirm their role. Breath tests are used to determine whether someone is lactose intolerant. To rule out other digestive problems, blood tests or stool studies may be done in some cases.

Treatment
The goal of treatment is to avoid or limit trigger foods while still getting enough nutrients. In some cases, enzyme supplements like lactase tablets may help with digestion. Dietary counselling helps people find safe options.
In general, the future looks good for people with food intolerance. Dietary changes and awareness of what triggers symptoms are effective ways to manage them. With the right support, people can get enough nutrition and carry out their daily activities without major long-term problems.