What Food Allergies Cause Stomach Bloating

Severity: How Much Of The Offending Food Can You Tolerate

With a food allergy, eating, touching, or even inhaling a microscopic amount of the offending food has the potential to cause a severe or even life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis. An anaphylactic reaction occurs within minutes and is defined by difficulty breathing, swelling of the tongue, tightness in the throat, wheezing or coughing, persistent dizziness, or loss of consciousness.

With food intolerance, people can tolerate different amounts of the offending food. For example, you may be able to eat small amounts of the offending food without experiencing any symptoms, while a large amount will result in more severe food allergy symptoms. Its even possible to prevent the reaction with medication. For example, people with lactose intolerance may be able to safely drink milk by taking lactase enzyme pills to aid digestion.

What Is A Food Allergy

A food allergy is an immune system response. It is caused when the body mistakes an ingredient in food usually a protein as harmful and creates a defense system to fight it. An allergic reaction occurs when the antibodies are battling an “invading” food protein. The most common food allergies are shellfish, nuts, fish, eggs, peanuts, and milk.

Food Allergy And Food Intolerance

Food intolerances are different to food allergies. An allergy elicits an acute, almost immediate reaction the worst of which is anaphylaxis. Food intolerance is less severe and notoriously difficult to test. Intolerance is usually because the body is lacking an enzyme that is needed to properly digest and eliminate a food or substance. Symptoms may be delayed and might include bloating, headaches or skin rashes. Skin prick testing and laboratory blood tests are available but the most effective, accepted and accurate way of identifying problem foods is via an elimination diet.

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What Foods Cause Bloating

It is reported that there are some foods which are known to produce more gas than others. Foods that can cause bloating are:

• Beans
• Garlic
• Lentils

It is important to note that as individuals our reactions to foods and drinks we consume varies a great deal. An ingredient which may cause problems for one person could be completely acceptable for another. At yorktest, we like to refer to this as our personal food fingerprint.

Did you know that a food intolerance test can help to eliminate the guesswork on finding what foods you are reacting to in your current diet? Our simple home test analyses your reactions to the foods outlined above, as well as 203 other food and drink ingredients, such as cows milk, gluten, cauliflower and apples.

The 8 Most Common Food Intolerances

Unlike some allergies, food intolerances arent life-threatening. However, they can be very problematic for those affected.

Food intolerances and sensitivities are extremely common and seem to be on the rise .

In fact, its estimated that up to 20% of the worlds population may have a food intolerance .

Food intolerances and sensitivities can be hard to diagnose due to their wide range of symptoms.

This article reviews the most common types of food sensitivities and intolerances, their related symptoms and foods to avoid.

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Dont Eat Too Much At A Time

Being stuffed can feel like being bloated, but the problem is that you simply ate too much.

If youre eating big meals and tend to feel uncomfortable afterward, then try smaller portions. Add another daily meal if necessary.

A subset of people who experience bloating dont really have an enlarged stomach or increased pressure in the abdomen. The issue is mostly sensory .

A person with a tendency to be bloated will experience discomfort from a smaller amount of food than a person who rarely feels bloated.

For this reason, simply eating smaller meals can be incredibly useful.

Chewing your food better can have a two-fold effect. It reduces the amount of air you swallow with the food , and it also makes you eat slower, which is linked to reduced food intake and smaller portions .

Summary

People who experience bloating often have increased sensitivity to food in the stomach. Therefore, eating smaller meals can be very useful.

Small Intestinal Bowel Overgrowth

Symptoms

• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain

Small intestinal bowel overgrowth is when theres an abnormal increase in the bacteria that live in your small intestine, such as E. coli or Klebsiella.

Several things can lead to SIBO. Surgery of the intestines that changes your anatomy can cause it. Decreased motility of the small intestine caused by IBS, diabetes, or opioid drugs can also cause SIBO. And people who have a weakened immune system have a higher risk of SIBO.

SIBO can interfere with your bodys ability to absorb nutrients from your food, which can lead to vitamin deficiencies.

SIBO can be diagnosed using a non-invasive carbohydrate breath test. Your doctor may also recommend an endoscopy and colonoscopy to rule out other diseases.

Treatment may include dietary changes, nutritional supplements, and antibiotics to control bacterial overgrowth.

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Use Apple Cider Vinegar To Get Rid Of Belly Bloat

Apple cider vinegar is one item that must be in every household because its benefits are endless.

To beat bloating using ACV, dilute a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water and take it before a meal once a day or whenever you feel bloated.

You could also take ACV pills if drinking it straight grosses you out.

So there you have it. The best way to beat belly bloat is by learning what is causing you to be bloated. Once you have ruled out the culprit, you will be able to get rid of belly bloat forever.

Be Mindful Of Your Fiber Intake

Foods rich in fiber like beans and whole grains are among the foods that cause gas. But on the other hand, not eating enough fiber can cause constipation and bloating. There are two types of fibersoluble and insoluble. Our bodies need both and a balance of both types is important for proper digestion. Try to eat equal amounts of soluble and insoluble fiber. Below is a breakdown of the differences between soluble fiber and insoluble fiber:

Soluble Fiber

• Slows down digestion
• Dissolves in the water in the large intestine and creates a gel that coats the digestive tract
• Helps lower cholesterol levels
• Improves glycemic index in diabetes patients

Examples of foods high in soluble fiber

• Oat

• Does not dissolve in the water
• Increases the movement of waste
• Associated with decreased cardiovascular risk
• Prevents constipation

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Is It Wheat Intolerance Or Sensitivity

If your symptoms return, it confirms you’re sensitive to wheat and will also show you which foods are especially troublesome. Some people may only have problems with pasta, for example, while others are fine until they eat bread.

If you are sensitive to wheat, or you have trouble digesting it, the main way to relieve your symptoms is to embark on a wheat-free or partially wheat-free diet.

How To Go On A Wheat

Cutting out bread and other foods containing wheat should not harm your health, if you do it properly.

Wheat is one of our staple foods, and lots of wheat products, such as breakfast cereals, are fortified with vitamins and minerals.

In the past, there was a danger of running short of essential nutrients like B vitamins and iron if you cut out wheat. But there’s now a good range of widely available wheat-free alternatives that will not compromise a balanced diet.

Read more about vitamins and minerals.

“There are great wheat substitutes you can buy off the supermarket shelf now. Go for gluten-free bread, and try other types of grains, such as quinoa, corn and rice,” says Dr Skypala. “Just make sure you substitute other equally nutritious foods for the wheat-based ones you’re cutting out.”

Be sure to cut out all wheat from your diet. Some sources of wheat are obvious, such as bread, but others are less so, such as soy sauce.

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If Youre Experiencing Symptoms Get Tested

If you consistently have reactions to certain foods, or feel regularly bloated, gassy, and fatigued, and suffer irregular bowels, consult with our office. You should have a full workup to ensure you dont have an allergy, celiac disease, or inflammatory bowel disease, which require specific treatments and monitoring.

If an intolerance is suspected, Dr. Pothuri may recommend an elimination diet that removes most commonly offensive foods from your diet to resolve symptoms, and then adds them back gradually to see what causes a reaction. This dietary approach is methodical, and its effective in helping relieve gastrointestinal symptoms.

At GastroDoxs, we know that gut health is critical to your overall well-being. If youre in the Houston, Texas, area and want to have your gastrointestinal symptoms assessed, .

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When Is It Serious

Most of the time, you can manage bloating on your own. But if you also feel weak or lose your appetite, or have diarrhea, weight loss, fever, belly pain, or blood in your stool, talk to your doctor. To find out whatâs going on, they may take a stool sample or an X-ray of your small intestine, or test you for lactose intolerance or celiac disease.

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When Does Ibs Occur

IBS will occur most likely if you have eaten a food that you are intolerant to. In order to track which foods it might be, you need a food diary. This is because intolerance symptoms can occur up to 72 hours later. Symptoms of food allergies will appear straight away. Hence, it is very unlikely your symptoms ill be caused by an allergy. These food intolerance symptoms may also come and go. They will not always occur just because you eat that food. Intolerance testing can help with these, certainly.

Food intolerances are a common symptom of IBS, but are not the only one. Other causes include stress and a diet change. Stress causes a range of symptoms including headaches and diarrhea. If you are suffering from most of these symptoms at one time it is likely there is something strange at play. There are remedies and cures to help you relieve yourself if you are struggling with constipation. There are also other medications which help shore thing sup in your stomach.

How Can You Tell The Difference Between An Allergy And Intolerance To Food

Food allergies can be triggered by even a small amount of the food and occur every time the food is consumed. People with food allergies are generally advised to avoid the offending foods completely. On the other hand, food intolerances often are dose related people with food intolerance may not have symptoms unless they eat a large portion of the food or eat the food frequently. For example, a person with lactose intolerance may be able to drink milk in coffee or a single glass of milk, but becomes sick if he or she drinks several glasses of milk. Food allergies and intolerances also are different from food poisoning, which generally results from spoiled or tainted food and affects more than one person eating the food. Your health care provider can help determine if you have an allergy or intolerance, and establish a plan to help control symptoms.

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What Causes A Food Intolerance

It is often unclear why a person is sensitive to certain foods.

If your symptoms happen after eating dairy products, it’s possible you may have lactose intolerance. This means your body cannot digest lactose, a natural sugar found in milk, yoghurt and soft cheeses. A GP can usually diagnose lactose intolerance by looking at your symptoms and medical history.

Some people have trouble digesting wheat and experience bloating, wind, diarrhoea, being sick and stomach pain after eating bread. Read more about wheat intolerance .

Otherwise, the culprit may be a food additive, chemical or contaminant, such as:

• monosodium glutamate
• histamine
• toxins, viruses, bacteria or parasites that have contaminated food
• artificial food colours, preservatives or flavour enhancers

Can Food Allergy Cause Bloating The Stomach

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Prevalence Of Stomach Bloating

While there are no hard international statistics we can be informed by careful scientific studies. A recent study survey published in June 2008* found:

• 67% of American adults suffered stomach bloating

In addition we know bloating interrupts daily activities – with missed work or school – and reduced productivity. Most sufferers do consult a doctor – with mixed results.

Stomach bloating causes are almost always foods – specifically those which contain toxins, milk and plant proteins.

Foods That Can Cause Bloating

Wheat

Eating wheat products might trigger bloatingâeven if you donât have celiac disease . Thatâs because gluten might cause symptoms in people who donât test positive for celiac disease, but who do have non-celiac gluten sensitivity . Though this condition is not fully understood, other intestinal symptoms of non-celiac gluten sensitivity may include abdominal pain and diarrhea.

Fortunately, if you have non-celiac gluten sensitivity, you can still enjoy delicious mealsâwhether youâre into pasta, bread, cookies, or other foods that traditionally have gluten-containing ingredients. Just shop around for gluten-free versions of foods like these youâll probably find plenty of tasty options that may also help limit your abdominal discomfort.

Rye and barley

Like wheat, both rye and barley also contain glutenâso people with non-celiac gluten sensitivity may experience symptoms like abdominal bloating after eating these foods.

Thereâs good news here, though: if you have a gluten sensitivity, avoiding foods like rye and barley can reduce bloating and potentially other symptoms you might experience. Plus, there are healthy foods you can include in your diet to replace rye and barleyâlike rice , amaranth, millet, quinoa, and buckwheat, which contain no gluten.

Artificial sweeteners

Dairy

If youâre lactose intolerant, then youâre probably familiar with the digestive problems that come with consuming dairy products.

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Prevention Is The Key

Whether you have a food allergy, food intolerance, or sensitivity, the key to long-term food intolerance pain relief is avoidance. Once you have identified the culprit of your pain or undesirable food allergy symptoms, take measures to avoid the trigger.

Always read labels and ask whats in your food before indulging. In the case of a food allergy, make sure everyone around you is made aware, just in case an emergency happens. Lastly, always have an anaphylaxis plan in place. Though the severity of some food allergies can lessen over time, its best to avoid testing the waters with even the slightest amount of potentially dangerous food.

References

Kylene Bogden

Kylene Bogden is one of the most well respected Functional Sports Dietitians in the United States. As a high school and collegiate sprinter, she experienced recurrent injury and fatigue. After years of constant struggle, she eventually learned that an abundance of processed foods and poor fueling strategies were the root of her performance issues. Kylene’s personal journey as an athlete fueled her passion for finding a more progressive approach to sports nutrition. Since then, she has helped thousands of individuals dramatically improve overall health and athletic performance by taking a whole food approach. To learn more about Kylene’s story and how a functional nutrition approach can help you to achieve your goals, simply click on the contact us link in the upper right-hand corner today!

Journaling Food Intake To Determine Sensitivity

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Food Allergies And Intolerances

Guidelines published by the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases conclude that neither standard blood nor skin tests are sufficient for making a diagnosis of food allergies. However, some healthcare providers have found that combining the results of these standard allergy tests with an elimination diet has helped those with interstitial cystitis develop individualized diet plans that can help control IC pain and bladder flares.

Urologist John Hubbard, MD and allergist/immunologist C. Steven Smith, MD, from Louisville, Kentucky, are studying the link between allergies and IC. In addition to seasonal allergies, the team is finding that food allergies are also common in IC patients.

Dr. Smith estimates that 35 to 40 percent of IC patients he sees have genuine food allergies, based on the results of their skin-prick tests and elimination diets. He found that their IC symptoms decreased when they removed those foods from their diets.