Subtle yet alarming effect of food intolerance

Ever wonder why you always feel bloated? Lethargic despite the fact that you just slept for several hours? Or get occasional outbreaks of swollen, pale red bumps on skin? You may be suffering from food intolerance.

But while it’s easy to take food intolerance for granted—its effect is not life-threatening and in most cases, takes some time to manifest—it should never be underestimated.

Dr. Julien Kirby, Global Lab Systems Support manager for Omega Diagnostics Group in the United Kingdom, said its impact on sufferers can be significant, severely affecting a person’s ability to live a normal healthy life.

“Food intolerance is associated with a wide range of unpleasant symptoms and many chronic health issues. People can develop intolerance to any number of foods and or drinks,’’ Kirby explained.

While signs and symptoms sometimes overlap with that of having food allergy, the discomforts brought about by food intolerance generally develops several hours or even days after ingesting a particular food or several groups of foods.

Must be tested first

Kirby, who is responsible for all education and support activities in the use of food intolerance microarray instrument platform and diagnostic assay, explained that until one is tested, food intolerance will remain hidden but may already be causing a range of slow-onset symptoms that are seemingly unconnected to specific foods.

“Many people are oblivious to food intolerance until they have a comprehensive (food intolerance) test. After dealing with these foods, they usually end up feeling much better after several days even wondering why they haven’t undergone the test much earlier,’’ Kirby said.

While test is not readily available here, Global Medical Technologies Manila (GMTM) recently announced its tie-up with UK’s Cambridge Nutritional Science that specializes in the immunodiagnostics field and offers to both healthcare professionals and the public a wide range of “CE Marked’’ tests for food intolerance and other conditions.

Comprehensive

“If other laboratories that provide food intolerance tests would only provide results or furnish you with a list of food items that you cannot eat or must consume in moderation, the one that CNS provides (initially through Lifescience Center For Wellness & Preventive Medicine at the Bonifacio Global City) is more comprehensive,” explained Mitch Genato, GMTM managing director.

He explained that a small blood sample will be taken and then processed. The result will show which food items the person is most (and should be avoided) or moderately intolerant to.

“Once identified, these “trigger foods” may be eliminated from your diet. But what differentiates us though is that we also provide alternative food items that are equally nutritious and palatable,” said Genato, who added that to make this possible, they partnered with food stores, restaurants, suppliers and even chefs.

Kirby reminded the public that food sensitivities vary considerably from one person to another and many have no idea that they are sensitive to certain foods because they eat them all the time. “But there are solutions and availing the food intolerance is the beginning.