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It is thought that nearly half the population of the UK suffer with food intolerance. Although having food intolerance is not life threatening (so not to be confused with food allergies) it can contribute to a breadth of symptoms that can make day to day living for a lot of people quite difficult. However many of us can go through life unaware that some symptoms can be down to a simple thing like their diet. So how do you know whenever it is worth testing yourself for food intolerance? The following are 5 signs that you may have food intolerance. Note: it is advised that you seek the help of a doctor if you are worried about any of the symptoms listed. Lack of Energy This is one of the most common symptoms of food intolerance. We all feel tired now and then; it’s difficult to be alert all the time. However if you are constantly feeling tired and lack motivation then it may be down to what you eat. When you eat something that you are possibly intolerant to it causes your body to use more energy to process the food therefore not supplying you with enough energy elsewhere. Although there could be much more serious reasons for your tiredness - in which case you should seek the advice of a doctor - if there is found to be no serious underlying reason then it is worth testing for food intolerance. Headaches & Migraines This is one of the most vexing symptoms of food intolerance. Certain food groups like yeast, dairy, and gluten can bring about headaches and migraines and if you happen to suffer with either you will know all too well how much it affects your day to day life. So if you get frequent headaches then it is well worth testing yourself. Skin Problems Food intolerance can bring about various skin related problems including eczema and hives to even acne. Although this is predominantly brought about through food allergies, sensitivity to foods can also cause skin flare ups even through it is not causing your immune system to kick in. If you have found that you are not allergic to any foods but keep getting itchy skin problems then it may very well be due to food intolerance, so get yourself tested! Digestive Problems This is another common symptom that food intolerance can contribute to. Digestive problems can mean a variety of problems including IBS, bloating, and diarrhoea, all of which can cause major issues for people in their daily lives. If you are finding that you are frequently suffering with the symptoms mentioned and over a long period of time then sensitivity to food may be the problem. Aching Joints A symptom that many people would not necessarily consider the result of diet is aching joints. This happens due to your body’s difficulty to fully digest certain foods and as a result causes your immune system to kick in which causes discomfort in joints in particular in your legs and back. So if you are finding that your joints are aching when you feel they shouldn’t (i.e. not after exercise etc.) then it may be down to your diet. Rhinitis, Sinusitis &Other Respiratory Problems Another selection of symptoms that many of us would not have thought could be brought about through food sensitivity is respiratory problems. Problems including breathing difficulties, constant runny nose, ear pain, and a stuffy nose can all be down to your diet and so finding out what the problematic foods are can help reduce these symptoms. So that wraps up the 6 signs. If you do feel you have food intolerance there are plenty of food intolerance tests on the market that can help you determine the specific foods your body is sensitive to. However as a last bit of advice it is recommended that you seek the help from companies who offer food intolerance tests as part of an on-going programme. By doing this you can get nutritional advice which is much better than going at it alone as making drastic dietary changes can do you more harm than good.
Article Source: http://www.articledestination.com
Dr. Gillian Hart is Scientific Director for YorkTest Laboratories who specialise in allergy testing and food intolerance testing which helps people to identify food sensitivities such as gluten, yeast, dairy, and wheat intolerance. For more information visit YorkTest.com or call 0800 074 6185.
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