Examples Of Food Intolerances : Lactose and Gluten

This week we will review 2 very common food intolerances, Lactose and Gluten intolerance… there are millions of people suffering from these, so what are they exactly ? :

Lactose Intolerance – The most common form of food intolerance, lactose intolerance is the manifestation of the inability to digest dairy products. Lactose, the main sugar in diary products, is broken down in the small intestine by the enzyme lactase. Many older children and adults lack adequate lactase, resulting in incomplete digestion of ingested milk sugar. Colonic bacteria then ferment the sugar into carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), hydrogen (H2) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S), resulting in the unpleasant gastrointestinal effects associated with food intolerance.

Gluten Intolerance – The inability to properly absorb gluten is probably underreported in the medical literature. In mild form, the typical symptoms result when the affected individual ingests certain grains which contain gluten – wheat, barley and rye. In severe form, the condition is known as celiac disease. Undigested gluten provokes an autoimmune response, which damages the small finger-like projections (villi) that line the small intestine. When damaged and inflamed, the villi are unable to absorb water and nutrients such as vitamins, folic acid, iron and calcium. This causes suffers of celiac to be susceptible to a variety of other conditions related to malabsorption.

Suffering from food intolerances ? There is only 1 real way to know for sure, and thats by getting tested, not by “avoiding” the food. Check out this food intolerance test, its the best !