So, you don’t get hives or wheezy when you eat certain foods, but you don’t feel well after eating them. What’s going on? You may have a food intolerance, which is difficulty digesting certain foods and having an unpleasant physical reaction to them. Common symptoms include bloating, stomach pain, diarrhea, skin rashes, and itching usually a few hours after eating the food.

Is there a food intolerance test? Unfortunately, there are no validated tests for food intolerances.  And please don’t be fooled into paying the low, low price of $500-1000 for ANY test that claims otherwise. Seeking advice from your doctor or an allergist can help guide you whether there you need further labs or imaging to rule out other diagnoses that present similarly, such as celiac disease. However, the only way to prove if you have a food intolerance is to monitor your symptoms and the food you eat. Food diaries are invaluable and you should note: what foods you eat, do you have any symptoms after eating, and when do the symptoms come on. Then you can try cutting out the suspected food from your diet for four to six weeks and see if your symptoms improve. The true test is how you feel after reintroduction. If you need further guidance and management for food intolerances, we are happy to help at Windom Allergy.