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Food intolerance is a condition that affects many people and various reasons have been attributed as the causes. However, health experts conclude that in many cases, these intolerances are caused by physical or emotional stress, or when a person exposes themselves to environmental toxins. This is contrary to what some think, that food intolerances are purely caused by the foods one eats. But there are exceptions, for example when one is sensitive to lactose, or gluten. In the case of lactose, the intolerance may be caused by a deficiency of an enzyme known as lactase, which is crucial for the digestion of the sugar contained in milk. This deficiency is rampant among many people and leads to one having abdominal pains and even diarrhea when one takes milk. Gluten intolerance is as a result of an immune response to proteins in grains like wheat. Nevertheless, the question of which food intolerance test is appropriate is often in many people's minds and different doctors will advice differently, this is because the nature of the food intolerance will also vary among persons. But basically, one approach that can be relied as a food intolerance testing is the avoidance and provocative testing. This simply means that one eliminates a certain diet and then observing to see whether a certain food suspected of triggering off the reaction, is indeed the cause. Doctors and health experts are however quick to warn that one must first be sure and distinguish between an allergy and a food intolerance. Allergies are traditionally tested with tests like RAST blood tests, skin pricks. Anyone who has experienced a food intolerance headache, fatigue, or any other symptoms that could be caused by food intolerance, ought to seek medical attention. Most doctors will usually ask one to keep a kind of record for several weeks, containing all the foods they eat and symptoms observed after eating each. This is an ideal way of narrowing down the list and identifying the foods that are likely to cause any reactions. A food elimination diet, of certain foods can also suffice to help identify what food causes the intolerance. This is a lengthy program, whereby one rotates their diets for some weeks and new ones are also introduced. If any symptoms are associated with certain foods, this is identified as the “challenge” and one is asked to avoid it. Not all food intolerances need one to go to a doctor and one can choose to avoid foods they are sensitive to. This can only be done if the faulty food has been identified and an alternative one is used instead. One then tries to reintroduce the food in small portions, on regular basis. As days go by, one increases their portions and in the long run, one will realize that they can cope with foods that bothered them hitherto. This is an easy to use method of dealing with food intolerances, without any food intolerance testing and the results are almost guaranteed. To make things easier, a report or record of all the foods suspected to cause the intolerance may be ideal, for leading the doctor and helping them make a fast diagnosis of what exact food is responsible. Food intolerance can be diagnosed by certified doctors. However the thin line between this and food allergies must be understood to avoid misdiagnosis.
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