Food intolerance is a reaction that occurs in the digestive system to certain foods. Symptoms include bloating, gas, stomach pain, and diarrhea. Food intolerance is usually diagnosed by elimination diet, which means eliminating predicted symptom-causing foods for a certain period of time, then reintroducing them one by one to monitor symptoms. Here are the 8 most common food intolerances.

1. Dairy Products Most Common Cause of Food Intolerance

Dairy products are one of the causes of food intolerance. The body cannot digest them due to a lack of the enzyme lactase, which is the digestive enzyme needed to digest lactose contained in dairy products. Symptoms include bloating, gas, stomach pain, diarrhea, and nausea. Some examples are milk, cheese, yogurt, butter, ice cream, and other products made from cow and goat milk.

Many people are intolerant to dairy products.

2. Gluten

In addition to dairy products, gluten is also one of the most common causes of food intolerance. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye, and triticale. Some people with gluten sensitivity may experience symptoms including bloating, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Therefore, they need a gluten-free diet. It is important to note some products containing gluten such as bread, pasta, cereal, beer, drinks, candies, biscuits, sauces, spices, and processed meats.

3. Eggs

Usually, we more commonly hear about egg allergies, but some people are unable to tolerate them, especially the egg whites. Eating a little may be safe, but consuming too much can potentially cause discomfort. Symptoms include bloating, nausea, and diarrhea. Pay attention not only to eggs cooked on their own, but also to other dishes prepared with eggs.

Some people cannot tolerate eggs, especially the egg whites.

4. Caffeine

Normally, adults can consume up to 400 mg of caffeine (about 4 cups of coffee) without any side effects. However, some people are more sensitive to this content. Therefore, their consumption may need to be in smaller portions. Symptoms include headaches, anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, nervousness, dehydration, and increased heart rate.

In addition to being cautious about consuming coffee or tea, other foods that also contain caffeine (hidden) include soda drinks, energy drinks, herbal teas, and chocolate, whether served as drinks or in foods processed with these ingredients.

5. Salicylate

Salicylate is a natural chemical found in many types of plants. Symptoms include itching, fever, and sinus inflammation. In plants, salicylate is found in fruits, vegetables, tea, coffee, spices, nuts, and honey. Additionally, it is also found in medications and food preservatives. One of the drugs that should be avoided is aspirin.

6. Legumes

Similar to eggs, we more commonly hear about peanut allergies. However, some people are not allergic, but intolerant to peanuts, although the risk of anaphylaxis is very low. Foods to be wary of are products or preparations made from legumes, such as spreads, candies, or baked goods.

7. Amines

Amines are compounds that appear when proteins in food break down, usually occurring during fermentation, storage, or decay. One type of amine most related to food intolerance is histamine (commonly associated with allergic reactions). However, there are certain people who have difficulty breaking down histamine properly (disorders in diamine oxidase and N-methyltransferase activity), resulting in histamine accumulation in the body and causing intolerance. Symptoms include itching, rash, or redness on the skin, headaches, stomach cramps, diarrhea, and respiratory problems.

Foods containing amines should be noted, such as preserved meat, processed seafood or poultry, aged cheese (blue cheese, parmesan, cheddar, hard cheese), citrus fruits (oranges, strawberries), acidic foods (pickled cabbage, buttermilk), soy fermentation products, and fermented alcoholic beverages.

8. FODMAPs

FODMAPs stands for oligo-, di-, mono-saccharides and polyols that are fermentable. They are fermentable carbohydrates, have osmotic properties, and are poorly absorbed in the small intestine and move to the large intestine. There, bacteria "ferment" them, resulting in gas production, causing bloating and discomfort. High FODMAPs foods include apples, soft cheeses, honey, milk, artichokes, bread, nuts, and beer.

Once again, food intolerance is not the same as food allergy, although their symptoms may overlap. Trigger foods for intolerance need to be detected by elimination diet. Dairy products, gluten, eggs, caffeine, amines, salicylate, legumes, and FODMAPs are the most common causes. Try to pay attention to this list if Ladies experience discomfort reactions after consuming them.

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