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The Science Behind Food Intolerance Tests: How do They Work?

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Food intolerance tests aim to identify specific foods or ingredients that may cause reactions in individuals. Food intolerances are thought to affect 15-20% of us. An intolerance affects the digestive system and is not life-threatening, unlike an allergy. Let’s look at the science behind food intolerance tests and how they work.

 

What Is a Food Intolerance?

A food intolerance is an adverse reaction to certain foods or ingredients. It means that the body can’t properly digest the food that is eaten, or that a particular food might irritate the digestive system. Food intolerance can cause many symptoms like acne, bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, headaches, and nausea.

 

How Do At-Home Food Intolerance Tests Work?

At-home intolerance kits usually require a person to submit a sample, this could be anything from a mouth swab to strands of hair. Most tests require the person to then send this sample off to a lab for testing. Many kits test for levels of antigens such as IgG that may alter after exposure to certain foods. The results will then be sent over within a few days, this includes a full report of everything you’re sensitive to and what you’re not sensitive to.

 

Why Choose a Food Intolerance Test?

People often choose this form of test because it’s quick, convenient, and painless. Individuals across the US believe a test has helped them to gain a greater insight into which foods may be a problem for them. It’s usually recommended to take part in an elimination diet after testing to confirm the results.

 

What Is an Elimination Diet?

Most health professionals will ask you to do the elimination diet to help identify trigger foods or ingredients. This diet involves removing suspected trigger foods from your diet for up to two weeks whilst monitoring your symptoms and what you’re eating. After this time, you will then need to reintroduce the foods back into your diet slowly. It’s essential that you monitor how you feel after eating the suspected trigger foods so that you can be certain of your intolerance. Reintroducing the foods will allow you to learn how much of the suspected food you can tolerate.

 

Will Your Food Intolerance Go Away?

A food intolerance going away depends on why you are experiencing symptoms. For example, a lactose intolerance is unlikely to go away, but there are ways you can successfully manage your intolerance. Other intolerances that are not caused by the lack of an enzyme may improve over time. As previously mentioned, the best way to assess this is to do an elimination diet or take a food intolerance test to get a head start.

 

Summary

It’s important to note that the science behind food intolerance tests is a topic of controversy as there isn’t enough research yet to back them up. However, many people across the US have found food intolerance tests to be a fundamental step in discovering and managing their food intolerance.

 

Living with Food Sensitivity: How to Modify Your Diet and Lifestyle for Better Health

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When you first find out you have a food sensitivity, your first thought may well be, ‘what can I eat now?’ Finding out that a certain ingredient is off limits is a big deal, especially if it’s something you enjoy and eat on a regular basis. Though it’s not easy learning about dietary changes you need to make, it doesn’t have to mean an end to your social life or eating out. In fact, food intolerance tests can help you to embrace a new diet that will not only improve your health but provide a better understanding of your body and the fuel it needs to function properly. Here’s how you can modify your diet and lifestyle for better health, as we help you adapt to living with food sensitivity.

Research your food sensitivity – knowledge is power

There is much information online about food sensitivities and what products can be used as substitutes in baking and cooking. So, use it to your advantage. From blogs to cookbooks, websites, and magazines, chances are someone has already spent time writing about their own food sensitivity, and their wisdom will be at your fingertips. Start by researching recipes catering to your dietary needs to find what substitute items you could use. For example, if you’re baking a cake but need to consider an egg intolerance, avocados can make a good alternative, and the outcome is equally delicious. Taking the time to learn about the biological aspect of a food intolerance can also be helpful because once you understand why your body reacts the way it does, the prospect of a new diet can seem much more logical. Knowing why you are struggling can help you to live with food sensitivity.

Re-learn your grocery store

At first, you might feel discouraged at the thought of cutting a certain item out of your meals. But food intolerances are increasingly common, and brands are wising up to this. The result is that plenty of alternative products are on offer at the grocery store that won’t trigger a reaction in your body. If you find out you’re lactose intolerant, you should find plenty of other choices on the shelves, such as oat, almond or soya milk. It might be a case of trial and error until you find one that suits your taste buds, but plenty of products are designed for those with food sensitivity. We often purchase the same items because it’s a habit we get into, but re-learning your grocery store can open your eyes to new things and encourage you to find foods that are more compatible with your digestive system.

Plan ahead if you’re eating out

Because food intolerances are on the rise, restaurants are becoming more accommodating regarding their menus. This is good news to the ears of anyone living with food sensitivity. However, if you’re going out for a meal, it’s always a good idea to plan ahead so you’re not faced with an empty plate or something uninspiring while everyone else tucks in. Check out their online menu before you go, or phone up and ask if there’s the possibility they can prepare something that suits your dietary needs. You won’t be their first customer with food intolerance, and you won’t be their last, so they should be able to help with any requirements you have. Similarly, if you’re going on vacation, look into the local restaurants close to your accommodation so you know where to head for a meal that won’t kick-start your sensitivity symptoms.

Talk to people

If you’re concerned about your food sensitivity and how it will affect your social plans, the best thing to do is talk about it. Most people have heard of food sensitivity but may not understand the full extent of the implications until you’ve explained them. If you have dinner plans at someone’s home, or going to spend the holidays with them, have a chat in advance so they can prepare food that’s suitable, and you’ll enjoy. You could even offer to take a dish with you so you know there will be something for you to eat that other people could also try. Your host will want you to feel at ease when you join them for food, and they’ll only be able to help if they understand the lifestyle and dietary changes you’re making.

Shop your food sensitivity test from US Food Intolerance

If you have any questions about living with food sensitivity and how it can affect your lifestyle, please email [email protected] and we’ll do our best to help. You can also fill out the contact form on our website, and we’ll aim to get back to you within two hours of a working day. Please remember that you should speak to a dietician or medical professional if you have any concerns about your health or diet.

Dealing with food intolerances abroad | Tips to follow

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Travelling solo can be very daunting for many people across the country; this post is here to help you travel solo easily and give you some useful tips. Whilst it is about dealing with food intolerances abroad, there are many other tips you could be able to use which would benefit you, as well as watching what you eat. If you’re going on holiday any time soon – read this article. Let us know how we can help you, whether it is providing advice or offering a food intolerance test. We’ll be able to help.

Why should you travel solo?

One of the best reasons to travel on your own is that you get to travel on your own terms, with nothing holding you back. You get to decide who to speak to and who to avoid, which excursions to go on and which ones you wouldn’t mind missing out on. Solo travelling can be a healing experience that helps you gain confidence and grow as a person in ways you thought you couldn’t.

It’s always best to do your research

You have to remember that you’re travelling to a new place, you are unaware of the population’s culture and normalised behaviours. I would recommend doing as much research as possible on the place you’re going to; you can do this by simply researching online, talking to others who have been and looking on social media platforms such as ‘TikTok’.

Plan out the kind of trip you want

When planning your trip, you must ensure you incorporate everything you want to do into your plan. For example, if you know you will need some downtime but are travelling to explore, all you need to do is keep a couple of days free from exploring to relax. A happy mind means a healthy life and that’s what matters when you’re on holiday. You are on holiday from work. Please do ensure that you relax and think about looking after your health.

Don’t over-plan your trip

Even though you need to plan what you want to do and where you want to go, sometimes it’s a great idea to keep some days free of excursions for any last-minute plans. For example, you may have booked an excursion that you’re not really interested in anymore but have been recommended to go somewhere else; having free time allows for this to happen.

Local cuisine – Dealing with food intolerances whilst abroad

One of the best things to do when you’re exploring a new place is to try the local cuisine. There will be a lot of dishes that you more than likely haven’t heard of before, soak in all of the cultures. It’s also best to be careful trying new foods when you’re alone in case you have a reaction to anything you’ve eaten; you don’t have anyone there to look after you, so it’s best to keep this in mind. For example, if you ever travel to the popular province of Indonesia, Bali, the food and water can make you very sick if you’re not from there; this can result in a case of ‘Bali Belly’, which may result in you needing to see the doctor. This can be avoided by not drinking any of the water, not having ice in any drinks unless this is government regulated, and ensuring that all food you eat is not contaminated with bacteria. Having said all of that, indulge in as much of the local cuisine as you can whilst being cautious; you may never get to try it again!

Put yourself out there!

Learn to chat with strangers, find people with the same interests, and engage in conversations you would never normally engage in. When travelling solo, the best way to meet new people is by simply putting yourself out there and showing interest in other people’s stories. If anyone makes you feel unsafe, do not let them know you feel unsafe, swiftly move away and speak with someone else. You will meet many different kinds of people with different personalities and learn to love learning about new people.

What If?

There is always a chance that you may not enjoy solo travelling, but you will never know unless you try. Give yourself the chance to see the world on your own terms, it’s not for everyone, but I hope you learn to love it.

What’s the difference between weight gain and bloating?

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When defining weight gain and bloating, sometimes it can be hard to tell whether you have gained a few pounds or are just bloated. There are many factors that can cause you to feel bloated and uncomfortable, which is why it can be hard to distinguish between the two. Both can make us feel sensitive about the way we look and can also cause pain. But there is a difference, as we explore below. There are also different ways of dealing and coping with bloating compared to weight gain. Read on to find out more information from US Food Intolerance.

Can you describe Bloating?

Bloating is where your abdominal region feels full; it could feel tight and hard and appear swollen. Bloating can occur after eating food such as bread or after drinking alcohol. However, these aren’t the only things that contribute to being bloated. We’ve written plenty of articles where we describe which foods are more likely cause to bloating and why watching your diet and eating healthily is more important than ever. If you consume a lot of wheat and dairy, it’s worth taking a food sensitivity test. It can feel different for everybody and ranges from mild to severe.

How do you define Weight Gain?

Fat doesn’t appear overnight in the way that bloating can. Fat is a build-up that develops over time and is more challenging to get rid of; fat accumulates beneath the skin in your abdominal area. This can be caused by a poor diet and a lack of exercise; moving your body at least 3 times per week is essential to keep yourself active.

What is the difference between bloating and weight gain?

The main difference between bloating and weight gain is the speed in which it takes over your body. Weight gain is a more gradual process, and it will take you longer to notice that you have gained weight. Whereas bloating is seen much quicker as it could be caused by something in your diet, bloating happens almost immediately after eating, whereas weight gain takes a lot of calories daily.

What causes bloating?

There isn’t just one thing that could be causing your bloating; there are numerous factors that can have an impact on your body. The first is that you could have developed a food intolerance; if you think this is the case, it’s best to get an intolerance test or go to see the doctor.

Alcohol can also cause bloating; if you have too many fizzy alcoholic drinks, you may have some discomfort in your stomach the following morning. Eating too quickly causes bloating; you should slow down when eating your meals. When you slow down, you’re also more likely to listen to cues telling you you are full. There could be more severe causes for bloating in your stomach; if you think this is the case, we recommend seeing your GP as soon as possible to determine the reason for this pain.

What causes fat to accumulate?

Eating too many calories consistently will cause you to gain weight; mix this with a lack of exercise, and it may happen more quickly. Certain foods can contribute to weight gain, such as alcohol., foods high in fat and sugary drinks. Try and reduce your intake of these things to prevent weight gain.

What should you do next about your bloated stomach?

Once you have distinguished the problem, you can help your body. If you have gained weight, try and do some exercise 3 days a week, this will make a huge difference and is as simple as just taking a walk. If you are bloated, try and eat foods that do not trigger your symptoms, such as bread or alcohol, to ease your pain. If you are not sure which foods are triggering your bloat, then we would always recommend a food sensitivity test which should aid you.