Are you gluten or dairy intolerant?

When people suspect they have a food intolerance to wheat for example, they may go to their GP for a blood test.  This test can confirm if you have celiac disease, which is an ‘allergy’ to gluten.  They don’t test the IgG antibodies which look for food ‘intolerances’.

I find the best way to identify a food intolerance is to remove that food for 2 weeks and then reintroduce it, monitoring any changes.  Food intolerances can show as:

• Loose stools or constipation
• Bloating
• Rashes or itching
• Lethargy, tiredness, brain fog
• Joint pain
• Low mood
• Feeling ‘high’

Some people assume that just having a little bit, during their elimination phase won’t matter, but it does skew the trial.

Often people are confused about what to remove and what to replace it with it.  Some ending up buying lots of Free From products which are often high in sugar, or high in oats, which can be an additional intolerance for some people.

To help work through this process properly, it is helpful to work with a Nutritionist who can give you a meal plan, and monitor the reintroduction process carefully.

sam@whatseatingyou.co.uk