Do not confuse this with a food allergy
Food intolerance should not be confused with food allergy. Food allergy occurs in few people and can result in effects ranging up to death within a short time. For example, people with food allergies to hazelnuts or seafood can go into anaphylactic shock in less than an hour, to the point where they are unable to breathe.
In food intolerance, however, the negative effect of the foods we eat begins to appear anywhere between 3 minutes and 72 hours later. Because a person eating a normal diet consumes many foods within this time, even if they know their problem is caused by food, it is very difficult to determine which food is the cause.
For example, someone who eats chocolate in the morning and then has 2 more meals until night cannot connect an intestinal problem that appears before going to bed at night to the milk in the chocolate they ate in the morning. Having a food intolerance means that your body will have an adverse reaction to certain food components. This condition is not related to the immune system. In this respect, it is very different from a food allergy.
AT WHAT AGE DO SYMPTOMS APPEAR
Food intolerance and allergy can occur at any age. If food intolerance is not diagnosed early, it can cause serious problems later on. For example, while lactose intolerance causes colitis in children, it can lead to Crohn's disease in adulthood.
Food intolerance is a more common condition than assumed.
According to the World Health Organization, half of the world's population has a food intolerance. 1 billion people have a diagnosed food intolerance, and the WHO predicted that this figure would reach 2.5 billion by 2015. (WHO, June 2006)
Food intolerance can lead to many conditions such as obesity, inability to lose weight, migraine, acne, edema of unknown cause, gas, bloating, chronic fatigue, constipation, skin problems (e.g. acne, itchy neurodermatitis, chronic eczema, etc.), rheumatic diseases, asthma, diarrhea, stomach cramps, depression, sleep disorders, headache, respiratory diseases, chronic pharyngitis, frequent colds, mouth sores, epigastric pain, Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome, frequent flu, chronic runny nose, ASD (autism spectrum disorder), psoriasis, neurodermatitis, urticaria...
Scientific research conducted in the 21st century has shown that food intolerance, developing as a result of disrupted gut flora, underlies many conditions whose cause and treatment were previously unknown.
A study conducted in Germany in 2008 clearly reveals the link between the foods we eat and chronic conditions. The new findings have given hope for diagnosed conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, rheumatism, and psoriasis, which affect 50% of the population.
THE RESULTS WERE VERY SURPRISING
Recovery rates: First, people's gut flora status and food sensitivities were examined. This was done in two ways: a stool analysis, and IgG and IgE testing on blood. While these tests were performed on 4,000 people, 3,800 people also had their food sensitivities and gut flora examined using the Electroacupuncture (Vegatest) method. In addition, the same patients were also examined using ProQuant and AK (Applied Kinesiology) tests in 3,500 people. These results were found to show similar parallels. Following this, patients were made to avoid the problematic foods for 2 months, while at the same time their gut flora was regulated in parallel and enzyme supplements were given. Within these groups, 1,800 people were made to avoid only the problematic foods for 3 months. The results were very surprising. Results were significantly therapeutic among those whose gut flora was regulated.
The improvement rates for some of the conditions were as follows:
Gas and bloating complaints (96%)
Stomach problems (90%)
General aches and pains (82%)
Colitis (81%)
Chronic fatigue (79%)
Urticaria, itching (82%)
Rheumatism (67%)
These statistics clearly reveal the fact that a food we eat and assume to be innocent may have caused us great discomfort for years.