People who suffer from a sensitivity can’t break down certain foods. This can be caused by lacking an enzyme needed to digest that food. This results in developing gas, bloating, diarrhea, and other digestive problems. Food intolerance is definitely inconvenient but thankfully, it’s not lifethreatening. If you suspect that you or your keiki has a food intolerance, a helpful tool is a diet journal. Jot down every food eaten and note when digestive problems occur. You may be able to do some sleuthing to track down one offending ingredient, and experiment by eliminating it from your meals. But don’t get discouraged! Reactions sometimes occur days later making it hard to pinpoint what the culprit is. Be sure to discuss your concerns with a doctor or a registered dietician as well. Common foods that may cause intolerance or sensitivities: Milk, gluten, eggs, soy, corn, food colorings and preservatives, sulfites, fructose, beans, cabbage, citrus fruit, fish, groundnuts or peanuts. But, knowing that you or your child has to avoid specific ingredients, especially ones commonly found in everyday foods, may seem more like a curse than a blessing. Fortunately, there are many alternatives to the most common foods that cause intolerance so with some practice, you can learn to not even miss these foods. Food intolerance is common, affecting 15-20% of the population according to some estimates. It’s important to understand that food sensitivities or intolerances are not the same as allergies. While a food allergy results from an immune system reaction to a specific food, food intolerances usually involve just the digestive system, although rashes, hives, fatigue, headaches, or achiness can also occur. When you have a true food allergy, even small amounts of the offending food can immediately trigger a range of symptoms, which can be severe or life-threatening. In contrast, food intolerance causes less serious symptoms that may pop up hours or even days later. “It’s important to understand that food sensitivities or intolerances are not the same as allergies.” 94 HAWAII PARENT July/August 2024 Scan the QR code for Down to Earth’s recipe for dairy and gluten-free lasagna.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTcxMjMwNg==