{"id":7657,"date":"2024-05-01T06:37:00","date_gmt":"2024-04-30T20:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastover55\/?p=7657"},"modified":"2024-04-03T23:38:41","modified_gmt":"2024-04-03T12:38:41","slug":"central-coast-food-sensitivities-dietitian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastover55\/central-coast-food-sensitivities-dietitian\/","title":{"rendered":"Food Reactions? Understanding Common Food Sensitivities & Intolerances"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Carin Clegg, Accredited Practising Dietitian<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These days it seems common for people to get various symptoms from the foods they eat and to be cutting out foods. However, foods are complex and many contain similar components. It is important to have a diagnosis as dietary management differs. Let\u2019s understand what the most common food\u2013related conditions are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coeliac Disease<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coeliac disease is an autoimmune condition, often presenting as gut symptoms such as bloating, diarrhoea or nutrient malabsorption, such as iron deficiency with associated symptoms (poor concentration, fatigue, poor sleep).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, barley and the protein avenin in oats, causes damage to the small bowel. If coeliac disease is suspected, tests must be done with adequate amounts of gluten in the diet to confirm or rule it out. The management of coeliac disease is a strict gluten\u2013free diet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More information can be found at www.coeliac.org.au<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

food allergy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The word \u2018allergy\u2019 gets thrown around a lot, usually in substitution for the word \u2018reaction.\u2019 However, not all reactions are allergies. A food allergy is usually an immediate reaction to a specific protein in the food where the IgE antibodies in one\u2019s immune system overreact to something that would usually be considered safe. Reactions can range from mild to life\u2013threatening (anaphylaxis requiring adrenalin treatment).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skin prick tests or RAST blood tests can indicate the likelihood of allergy. An immunologist is usually required to interpret the results with knowledge of a detailed history, then provide a diagnosis and guide dietary management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more information see www.allergy.org.au<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

food intolerance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the case of food intolerance, food components a person is intolerant to can be consumed without symptoms depending on their tolerance level, how much is eaten and how often it is eaten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Food chemical intolerance
<\/strong>Usually occurs when there is a delayed reaction to one or more natural or artificial food chemicals or components common to many different foods. Symptoms can change throughout life, and tolerance levels can be affected by stress, hormone changes, infection and inflammation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Food chemical intolerance can affect more than one body system. Some symptoms of food chemical intolerance include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n