Food Intolerances

More about Food Intolerance:

Food intolerance occurs when the digestive system struggles to break down certain foods, often due to enzyme insufficiency or sensitivities to naturally occurring chemicals or additives.

This can lead to symptoms such as bloating, diarrhea, headaches, or fatigue.

Intolerance or Allergy?

Unlike allergies, food intolerances typically do not involve the immune system and are not life-threatening, though they can be uncomfortable.

For example, lactose intolerance results from a deficiency in lactase, the enzyme needed to digest lactose, the sugar in milk.

Similarly, fructose intolerance may stem from enzyme deficiencies or heightened gut sensitivity, as seen in conditions like IBS.

Histamine intolerance arises when the body cannot effectively break down histamine found in various foods, leading to symptoms like hives, headaches, or nasal congestion.

Coeliac or Sensitivity?

Wheat contains several components that can cause digestive symptoms in some people.

Coeliac disease is a serious autoimmune condition triggered by gluten.

Non-coeliac gluten sensitivity(NCGS) is a type of food intolerance where people experience gut symptoms after gluten intake but do not have coeliac disease.

NCGS may also involve extraintestinal symptoms like fatigue, brain fog or joint pain.

How our dietitians can help you

• Minimising unnecessary restrictions: Our goal is to help you manage symptoms while preserving diet variety, enjoyment, and balance.
• Guided elimination and reintroduction: When suitable, we use targeted elimination diets based on your diet history and symptom profile to support you through a structured elimination diet, followed by careful reintroduction to determine your personal symptom threshold.
• Personalised long-term planning: We will design a sustainable dietary approach with you, helping you maintain symptom control while meeting your health and lifestyle goals.