John Myers
Stomach ache after the coffee with milk or feeling unwell from the pizza – intolerances and illnesses can spoil our enjoyment of eating and restrict us in everyday life. We give tips on how to best deal with the most common intolerances!
Incompatibilities – what does that mean?
In general, a distinction is made between food intolerances and allergies. In the case of an allergy, the immune system is affected, while an intolerance has other causes. The problem with lactose intolerance, an intolerance to milk sugar, is the lack of an enzyme that normally breaks down and processes lactose. Intolerances rarely describe the complete intolerance of a substance. In the case of fructose intolerance, for example, the body can usually tolerate a certain amount of fructose before problems arise.
An exception is celiac disease. Despite its name, it is neither a classic intolerance nor an allergy. Celiac disease is a chronic inflammation of the intestinal mucosa caused by gluten. The substance is found in many types of grain and can also trigger other forms of gluten intolerance.
How to recognize a food intolerance
Incompatibilities can take many different forms. They are often related to our digestion. They manifest themselves, for example, in abdominal pain, diarrhea, flatulence or constipation. But recurring migraines or rashes can also indicate an intolerance. As a rule, a self-test can give you information about intolerances. Eliminate gluten, lactose, fructose, and histamine from your diet for a while. As you gradually reintroduce the substances, you will find out what your body reacts to negatively. A test by the doctor is also possible in the case of many intolerances.
Treat illnesses properly – and include a change in your diet, too
In addition to intolerances, which you can usually get under control by reducing or eliminating a food, there are also diseases that restrict your diet. An example of this is diabetes, also known as diabetes. But obesity, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or high blood pressure can also lead to a certain diet because a needs-based and adapted special diet can alleviate many symptoms. To treat any of these diseases, you should consult a doctor. This can help you to create a suitable nutrition plan for a healthy diet. Homeopathic treatments and medicines are also often an option to cure or control diseases. Diseases such as type 2 diabetes require a change in diet and medical measures.
