Food Intolerance: Could food be making you ill?

A chef from Leeds who suffered terrible migraines discovered that he was allergic to omelettes, and a 29-year-old from York had to cut out bread and wine from her diet after suffering Irritable Bowel Syndrome for seven years.

These are just some extreme examples of people suffering from food intolerances, although symptoms can be far less severe. Some people may feel tired. Others will experience bloating or a lack of energy.

According to charity Allergy UK, such common-sounding problems affect some 12 million people across the UK. And these symptoms, as well as others, could all be related to food intolerance.

"It's always been underestimated just how much food has an influence on health," says GP Dr Hilary Jones ahead of Food Allergy and Intolerance Awareness Week, which runs from January 25-29.

There's a big difference between having a food intolerance and being allergic to certain foods.

Food allergies affect the body's immune system and, in some situations, can be life-threatening. Food intolerances tend to cause more everyday health problems such as fluid retention, nausea, IBS

and migraines.

Many people are intolerant to substances such as lactose, while other are allergic to peanuts and cereals containing gluten.

Reasons vary and depend entirely on the person and their genetic make-up – meaning that diagnosis and treatment can be very difficult indeed, according

to Lindsey McManus of Allergy UK.

"The variation in the cause of food intolerance from person to person means that there is no one test to identify all types of food intolerance, however, there are now tests available that may help identify some of the major causes of symptoms," she says.

Symptoms of food intolerances tend to be less specific, obvious and severe than allergies. Dr Jones says: "As opposed to severe symptoms like respiratory distress, one could suffer from headaches, aching joints, bloating, irritable bowel or sinusitis – all fairly non-specific symptoms."

Migraines are one of the most debilitating problems, he adds, as they cause acute headaches, vomiting and visual disturbances.

It is thought that 12 per cent of the British population suffer from migraines, but just how much of that is due to food intolerance is unknown. Food intolerance sufferers often react to more than one food, which means that identifying the problem can be a long process.

Usually, sufferers keep a food diary, which is assessed by an expert to establish

a pattern.

Home IgG tests, like the YorkTest which is backed by Allergy UK, are now available.

Blood samples taken from finger-prick tests can be sent away and the IgG (Immunoglobulin G) antibodies analysed against 113 different food antigens.

Advice, recipes and more information: www.food intoleranceawareness.org

The YorkTest food intolerance service is available from 9.99. Log on to www.yorktest.com or phone 0800 074 6185.