THE MAIN KINDS OF SYMPTOMS OF FOOD INTOLERANCE

Dr Brostoff records that the main kinds of symptoms of food intolerance are:

Headache

Migraine

Fatigue

Depression/Anxiety Hyperactivity in children

Recurrent mouth ulcers

Aching muscles

Vomiting Nausea

Stomach ulcers Duodenal ulcers

Diarrhoea

Irritable bowel syndrome Constipation Wind, bloating Crohn’s disease

Joint pain

Rheumatoid arthritis

Oedema (water retention)

Many individuals who have sorted out their diets and eliminated trigger foods also report that other vague symptoms (such as earache, vaginal discharge and insomnia) clear up as well as their main presenting symptoms.

The results of scientific trials to identify the pattern of disease have been variable. Some trials have been flawed in their design; others have been better designed and have shown positive responses which have contradicted even the expectations of neutral or sceptical researchers. Clearly, much more work is needed before the mechanisms and causes of food sensitivity can be known.

Estimates from doctors in the field are that up to between 10 and 25 per cent of the population may have food sensitivity of this type; and that usually they are sensitive to more than one common food. Most are sensitive to between one and five foods.

Among the possible causes of food sensitivity of this kind are included the following:

• some involvement of immune system mechanisms, probably limited

• viral infections

• chemicals naturally occurring in foods producing opiates in the body

• enzyme defects causing a failure to metabolise foods

• disturbance of the natural balance of the gut following infection or use of antibiotics

• overload of the system due to chemical exposure, use of antibiotics, decline in breastfeeding and other changes in modern life