Do you have unexplained physical complaints or other health problems with no apparent cause? Then it may be a good idea to take a closer look at your diet. Vague and misunderstood complaints can indicate that you have a food allergy.
A food allergy is no longer a rare phenomenon, but how do you know if you are struggling with it? Here are five signs that you may be allergic to certain foods:
belching
Complaints such as flatulence, bloating and diarrhea are clear symptoms that your body is resisting something. Belching can also be a sign that you don’t tolerate certain foods or nutrients well. For example, you may be sensitive or allergic to gluten, lactose or glucose. A sensitivity or allergy to other products also causes these complaints. To find out what’s causing it, you can keep a food diary.
An elimination diet can also help to determine the cause of your complaints. Your doctor can also help you with this. So don’t hesitate to contact your doctor if you have any of the above complaints.
Chronic constipation despite adequate fluid and fiber
Constipation is often caused by too little moisture or fiber. Do you suffer from constipation while consuming at least two liters of fluids a day and following a high fiber diet? In that case you can think of a food allergy. To find out what you are sensitive or allergic to, it is best to do an allergy test. It may also help to avoid grains, such as wheat. If your complaints decrease as a result, you know that these products were the cause.
Pain
Pain in your weights or muscles can be a sign that you don’t tolerate a particular food well. Foods can activate certain inflammatory substances in your body, which then lead to pain. We are talking about so-called cytokines. These are substances that are normally released during a healthy response to an infection. If you eat the wrong foods, the same substances can cause pain.
Headaches can also be the result of cytokines in your body. Headaches or migraines can set in a few hours after a meal, or you may not notice them until the next morning. It may even take several days before you get a headache. That is why it is useful to keep a food diary, in which you note what you have eaten that day. A few days later you may have forgotten that. This way you can find out whether your body reacts with a headache to certain foods and additives. As you may know, the following foods can promote migraines:
- Caffeine
- Artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame
- Chocolate
- Alcohol
- Preservatives
- MSG (flavor enhancer)
- Tyramine in pickles and old cheese
By writing down exactly what you eat, you can find out whether you have ingested one or more of these products. Don’t keep walking around with complaints and have an allergy test or stool examination done if you can’t figure it out yourself.
unexplained fatigue
If you suddenly feel tired and start to yawn a few hours after eating carbohydrate-rich foods, your body may be struggling with these products. Your sugar level then suddenly drops quickly and that can cause the following symptoms in addition to fatigue:
- Vibrate
- Dizziness
- Weakness
- To sweat
- drowsiness
- very hungry
- Irritability
- palpitations
- Concentration problems
- Nervousness
The combination of these symptoms after a carbohydrate-rich meal is known as reactive hypoglycemia or postprandial syndrome. The symptoms are the same as those of hypoglycemia, but they are not related to fluctuating blood sugar levels due to insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes.
While you can’t technically call reactive hypoglycemia a food allergy, it is a definite reaction to the foods you eat. The solution is to reduce the amount of carbohydrates and include enough protein and fat with your meal. Think of an egg, avocado or smoked chicken breast.
Bad sleeping
Did you know that poor sleep can be the result of an allergic reaction to certain foods? Although it is more common in children under the age of 4, adults can also suffer from it. If diet is the cause of your poor night’s sleep, you usually also have two or more of the following symptoms:
- Skin rash
- Stomach upset
- Angst
- Excitement
- Irritability
- Daytime sleepiness
- Respiratory complaints
In this case, nuts, eggs, dairy products or gluten may be the culprit. Avoid them for at least a few weeks to see if you sleep better.
Text: health blogger Annemiek van der Krogt | Image: Jason Briscon