Food intolerance affects between 15-30% of the European population and mainly affects adults. It should not be confused with food allergy, which affects a much smaller proportion of people, only a few percent of the world’s population. In HR-Pharma’s laboratory in Szeged, a simple blood test can show which foods are not tolerated by the body and therefore not recommended to if you want to avoid after-meal unpleasant symptoms.
While the symptoms of food intolerance are caused by improper functioning of the digestive system (i.e. our body does not digest or process food properly), food allergy is our immune system’s response to allergens in food. While an allergic reaction can be severe and fatal, food intolerance is usually associated with abdominal discomfort, but is not usually a life-threatening condition.
Beyond peas and beans
According to statistical data, up to one in three people may experience an adverse response to the food they eat in their lifetime, which may include stomach pain, bloating, flatulence, intestinal gas, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, but in some cases also headaches, migraines, joint pain, hay fever or even a permanent weight problem. Furthermore, acne or eczema may also develop as a reaction to foods that are less digestible for the body. Of course, there are vegetables in our diets – peas, beans, lentils, cabbage, kohlrabi, etc. – that can increase the production of intestinal gases in anyone. However, if you have frequent diarrhea or digestive problems, or if you can associate them with the consumption of a particular food, you may suspect that your body is not able to process it properly. This may be due to a reduction in the amount of enzymes that break down the food, or because there are additives or chemicals in the food that are subject to such a reaction.
Targeted tests can help you know what not to eat.
Food intolerance is relatively difficult to diagnose because it produces many of the symptoms that are common to other diseases. To find out exactly which foods are causing you discomfort, it is worth carrying out targeted tests to find out exactly what is causing your problems. HR-Pharma laboratory service provider in Szeged offers a range of food intolerance profile kits, which test the response to the most common food triggers. With the results, you can later consciously avoid the foods that previously caused these unpleasant symptoms.