Food intolerance has been a topic of interest over the years as more people are suffering from it. More people suffer from food intolerance than from food allergies. Food intolerance symptoms are less severe than food allergies, but they still cause symptoms that can affect your life’s quality.
Food intolerance or sensitivity occurs when your digestive system has difficulty breaking down food. The causes for these can be various, including the body’s lack of sufficient enzymes to break down some proteins in food.
Some of the trends in food intolerance over the years include:
Increased awareness
There has been growing awareness of food intolerance. More people have been willing to understand food intolerances and even take Intolerance Tests to see which food intolerances they may be suffering from.
Most people have also learned about food intolerance symptoms. As more people realize they may have gluten or lactose intolerance, they have learned to watch out for symptoms and determine whether it is a food intolerance or food allergy.
A rise in gluten-free diets
Gluten, a protein in rye, barley, and wheat, affects people with celiac disease and those with gluten intolerance. In the past, before doctors could put the finger on gluten intolerance and celiac disease, many people suffered immensely. Celiac disease is more intense than gluten intolerance as it damages the lining of the intestines.
Because of the rise of these two conditions related to gluten, there has been a rise in gluten-free diets. Companies have made gluten-free items to favor those avoiding this protein.
Many people have adopted a gluten-free diet. While some do so because of celiac disease or gluten intolerance, others embrace it because they assume it’s healthier. The growth of gluten-free diets in the market has been of great help to those choosing this type of diet.
Dairy-free alternatives
The demand for dairy-free products has risen, and most companies have met it. Many people have chosen to take up dairy-free alternatives either due to lactose intolerance, dairy allergy, or veganism. Those with a dairy intolerance always find it hard to consume dairy products. However, lactose-free dairy products can be an alternative for them.
However, for people on a vegan diet and those with dairy allergies, the only way to go is to take dairy-free alternatives. These days, you can easily find dairy-free options for items like milk, cheese, and butter. This makes the lives of those partaking in the dairy-free diet easy. Plant milk options like almonds, soy, and oats have become more available worldwide.
FODMAP awareness
There has been a growing recognition of a low-FODMAP diet to help people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome. An irritable bowel syndrome is a group of symptoms that flare up when one consumes certain foods, is under stress, or suffers from other factors.
People with these digestive issues often suffer from gut symptoms that can range from mild to intense. These days, more people understand that managing one’s diet can help alleviate these symptoms. A low-FODMAP diet is one of the ways that people with IBS tend to remain symptom-free. However, each person’s preference for food varies.
Rise in food allergies
There has been a rise in the number of people suffering from food allergies. Common food allergies like peanuts, tree nuts, and shellfish have seen an increase. This increase has led to more rules about food labeling to avoid accidental allergen consumption.
Also, more restaurants have learned to prepare food without cross-contamination to avoid symptoms. The increase in this allergy awareness has made it easier for most people to dine in some restaurants comfortably and even shop for food without worrying about allergens due to the clear labeling of the items.
An increase in allergies has also led to more people learning what to do when one is suffering from an extreme allergic reaction like anaphylaxis. More people in public spaces can use an EpiPen on a patient, which will help relieve them of food allergy symptoms and potentially save their lives.
Processed foods and additives
While overeating processed food isn’t good for one’s health, more people have learned that it may also cause digestive distress. Some people can’t properly digest the preservatives and additives present in processed foods, and this causes them to suffer from digestive symptoms. This is a type of food intolerance.
As more people understand this knowledge, they will consume healthy whole foods and limit their consumption of processed foods. Doing so results in better gut health and keeps intolerance symptoms away as long you don’t consume other intolerant foods.
Personalized Nutrition
Nowadays, more people only indulge in diets tailored to their needs. Instead of getting into a diet mindlessly, more people are asking for professional help to change their diet and indulge in one that supports their health and well-being.
When partaking in these diets, the professional considers an individual’s food intolerances, allergies, and preferences. Therefore, one ends up consuming a nutrient-rich diet that supports one’s health and enjoys it.
Technology and food tracking
Apps and wearable devices that have been made possible by technology have been of great help to a lot of people. These devices can help one track one’s dietary habits. This enables you to know what you ate when you ate it, and when you suffer from symptoms, you can easily track down the food causing it.
Identifying food triggers with these apps has been helpful to many people. It has helped many people manage their diest efficiently.
Functional foods
There is more knowledge on functional foods that provide health benefits than essential nutrition. These foods, also known as superfoods, are well-researched, and more people are learning to add these to their diets to boost health and well-being.
Such foods also include ones advertised as boosting the gut, helping digestion, and adding specific dietary and health needs. These help most people choose functional foods to aid with their health. For example, prebiotics and probiotics help boost gut microbiome and digestive health.
Final thoughts
The trends of food intolerance over the years have truly helped many know about the symptoms of witnessing how to differentiate food intolerance from allergy. There has also been a rise in the popularity of Intolerance Tests. The rise in various diets that eliminate the trigger food has helped those going on these diets due to allergies and intolerance have access to these alternatives to prevent them from feeling left out or lacking sufficient nutrients.