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Which Foods Cause Itching?

Posted on by Kate Young

There are many health problems that can result in itchy skin. One among them is a food allergy. Some foods cause skin itching when consumed, whether in large amounts or trace amounts. Food allergies result from exposure to specific proteins in foods that the immune system mistakes for harmful substances. In turn, the immune system triggers the production of antibodies to fight this “harmful” substance which results in allergy symptoms.

Food allergies to common allergenic foods can cause itching, including even triggering dermatitis. Some people have severe reactions to certain foods that even touching them triggers skin reactions. When your skin is affected due to allergies, it may result in redness, swelling, a rash, or itchiness. Skin reactions like itchiness can take a few hours to days to appear.

Milk

Many children are allergic to milk. It could be cow’s milk, goat milk, or even breast milk. Whey and casein are the most common proteins found in milk and are the culprits that cause this allergic reaction. Milk allergy is quite different from lactose intolerance. That’s because lactose intolerance doesn’t trigger the immune system like a milk allergy, but causes digestive problems instead. A milk allergy is caused by an allergy to the proteins in milk, whereas lactose intolerance is your body’s inability to process the sugar lactose.

The most common milk allergy symptoms include digestive problems, hives, and wheezing. Some symptoms may take longer to manifest in babies, like loose stool, colic, and abdominal cramps. Many children outgrow milk allergy later in life, but not all do. Milk being a common allergen, it affects about 0.5%-3% of children in developed countries by age 1.

Soy

Even though soy allergy is most common in children and infants, it can also affect adults. Soy allergies affect around 0.5% of the population. Soy is used in baby formula, and other processed foods like edamame, tofu, tempeh, and miso contain soy. Soy allergy is a result of the protein found in this legume.

Of the several allergy symptoms soy allergy can cause, atopic dermatitis is one. It has side effects like itching and inflammation of the skin. You can also experience small raised red bumps on the skin that can be very itchy. If your child has a soy allergy, they’ll probably outgrow them, but not all do.

Tree nuts

Tree nuts are any nuts that grow on a tree, including pecans, almonds, cashews, pistachios, hazelnut, Brazil nuts, and walnuts. It is common to suffer from tree nut allergy as it affects approximately 4.9% of the world’s population {1}. Tree nuts are one of the many food allergies that can easily result in life-threatening anaphylaxis. Other severe reactions to tree nuts include eczema, asthma, and hay fever.

Itchy skin is among the most common symptoms of an allergic reaction in tree nut allergies. The most common proteins in tree nuts that cause an allergic reaction include 2S albumins, legumin, oleosins, and legumin. One can be allergic to some types of tree nuts but not all, but most of the time, due to cross-contamination, it is better to avoid all the tree nuts to be safe.

Eggs

Since egg allergies are common in children, 70% of them are known to outgrow this allergy. An egg allergy is an immune system reaction to certain proteins present in egg whites and egg yolks. The most common egg allergy symptom is hives which cause red, itchy, and swollen skin. People with eczema also report an itchy skin condition after consuming eggs.

While some people may be allergic to chicken eggs only, others need to avoid all types of eggs. It is also necessary to note that certain vaccines may cause problems if you have egg allergies as they contain small amounts of egg proteins. It is necessary to consult your doctor about your egg allergy before getting any vaccines.

Fish and Shellfish

Unlike most allergies, fish allergy develops when one is in adulthood. Up to 40% of people with fish allergy report only suffering from it after they have grown up. An allergy to finned fish like tuna or salmon is quite different to that of shellfish. The main cause of fish allergy is parvalbumins. Some people may be allergic to certain kinds of fish, but not others, but Doctors advise keeping away from all types of fish due to the risk of cross-contamination.

Shellfish are fish with hard shells like lobsters, squids, shrimps, oysters, and crabs. The main cause of shellfish allergy is a protein known as tropomyosin {2}. In most cases, people with fish and shellfish allergies experience symptoms like hives, itchiness, and skin rashes. But in severe cases, others experience anaphylaxis which can be life-threatening.

Wheat

Wheat is among the most cultivated crops worldwide. It is a common ingredient in most baked goods, desserts, and unsuspecting food items like soy sauce and hotdogs. A wheat allergy varies from gluten allergy and celiac disease. In wheat allergy, the reactions one gets are due to the proteins found in wheat. People with asthma and eczema are more prone to developing a wheat allergy.

As an allergen, wheat allergy affects about 1% of children and adults. When you’re suffering from wheat allergy, it is necessary to read labels carefully since wheat is an ingredient in most unsuspecting processed items like soups, salad dressing, and processed meats. Wheat allergy can cause problems like itching, hives, digestive problems, and respiratory issues.

Peanuts

Peanut allergy is the most common and most dangerous food allergy. Specific proteins in peanuts can trigger peanut allergies in various people. According to research, having asthma increases your chances of having severe allergic reactions to peanuts if you have a peanut allergy. Sometimes people with peanut allergies can consume highly processed peanut oil, but not cold-pressed ones. Otherwise, it is wise to avoid all forms of peanuts so as not to get any symptoms.

Peanut allergy symptoms include skin rashes, wheezing, swelling under the skin, digestive issues and shortness of breath. However, in severe cases, peanut allergy can cause anaphylaxis, a life-threatening symptom. Besides getting peanut allergy symptoms from eating peanuts, the same reaction can happen from inhaling peanut dust, peanut oil or cross-contamination from other foods.

Sesame

Sesame seeds are the ninth most common cause of food allergy. The symptoms of sesame allergy can range from mild skin rashes to severe anaphylaxis. Sesame is used in oils, cosmetics, food, medicine, and pet food. Check food labels closely to spot sesame as an ingredient.

Tomatoes

If you’re sensitive to Balsam of Peru, it’s most likely that tomatoes will trigger contact dermatitis. Tomato allergies cause itching and hives. Sometimes they cause these symptoms because of oral allergy syndrome (OAS). If you get an itchy mouth and skin after eating tomatoes, you’re probably suffering from OAS, which is a cross-reactivity of allergens found in some plants and pollen. If you are allergic to tomatoes because of the Balsam of Peru, then you’ll also have the same reaction to spices like cinnamon, cloves, and vanilla.

Citrus fruits

Citrus allergies mostly affect the mouth, tongue and lips, causing them to itch. If you are allergic to citrus fruits, it’s due to cross-reacting allergens like in tomatoes leading to OAS. If you’re also allergic to Balsam of Peru, you should also avoid citrus fruits. It causes dermatitis flare-ups as it comes second after tomatoes which tend to cause the most flare-ups.

Foods with nickel

Even though we know nickel to be in jewellery, you can also find it in foods like beans, peas, lentils, soya beans, whole wheat bread, oats, and some canned foods. The most prevalent symptom of nickel allergy is a skin rash on the hands.

Spices

Even though it might come as an uninvited shock to many, spices can also cause itchiness. Spice allergies can result in skin rashes and itching. They can also cause itching in the mouth, primarily due to OAS.

Treatment for itchiness caused by foods

basic-allergy-test-front
Our Basic Allergy Test Kit

First off, you need to determine the real cause of your itchiness. If it’s because of a certain food, you can take an Allergy Test to prove your theory further. Before you take an allergy test, it is best to consult with your doctor to rule other culprits out.. There could be other underlying illnesses causing the same itchiness symptoms you’re getting. But once everything’s out on the table, take your test and prove which foods you need to eliminate from your diet.

Final thoughts on foods causing itchiness

Itchiness is a common symptom of food allergy. After consuming certain foods, you might need to take an Allergy Test if you get these symptoms. If your symptoms seem to overlap with those of food intolerance, you can also take an Allergy and Intolerance Test that checks for both. You won’t regret getting this knowledge. Sometimes food allergies can be severe, putting your life at risk. Knowing which foods you eliminate from your diet is best before it gets too complicated.

References

  1. Geiselhart, S., Hoffmann-Sommergruber, K., & Bublin, M. (2018). Tree nut allergens. Molecular immunology, 100, 71–81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molimm.2018.03.011
  2. Pedrosa, M., Boyano-Martínez, T., García-Ara, C., & Quirce, S. (2015). Shellfish Allergy: a Comprehensive Review. Clinical reviews in allergy & immunology, 49(2), 203–216. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12016-014-8429-8

Casein Intolerance Guide

Posted on by Kate Young

Dairy consumption is high worldwide, in that up to 36% of people drink two to three glasses of milk daily. Dairy is recommended as part of a healthy diet because of how nutritious and beneficial it can be. However, dairy can have negative side effects on you, especially if you’re casein intolerant. Casein is a protein present in milk and other dairy products that contain high amounts of protein. The most common type of intolerance we link to dairy milk is lactose intolerance which has similar symptoms to casein intolerance. Casein intolerance tends to result in gastrointestinal symptoms {1}.

Causes of casein intolerance

Most food intolerances result from the body reacting to the proteins present in those foods or the body lacking the enzymes to break down certain proteins. The main cause for casein intolerance symptoms is the body’s reaction to casein protein. You will find casein in dairy foods containing high proteins like cheese, kefir, ice cream, and yoghurt. But when it comes to dairy products like butter and ghee, people with casein intolerance can still tolerate these products.

But if you’re allergic to casein, you should stay away from aunty foods that contain even trace amounts of this protein. Casein intolerance is the body’s reaction to casein protein by releasing IgG antibodies. The symptoms of casein intolerance tend to get delayed for up to 72 hours sometimes, whereas allergy symptoms always show up almost immediately. People have casein intolerance because casein accounts for 80% of proteins in cow’s milk, in contrast with 40% in human milk. So, humans can’t tolerate high levels of casein.

What are the symptoms of casein intolerance?

Casein intolerance symptoms vary in severity from one person to the next. Because our bodies take a while to digest casein, the symptoms can delay for up to a few days, which makes it difficult to figure out what you’re intolerant to. But the most common symptoms of casein intolerance you’ll observe include:

  • Diarrhoea, gas, and constipation 
  • Stomach ache, bloating, and cramps
  • Hives, eczema, and rashes
  • Joint pain and fatigue
  • Behavioural changes

Casein intolerance vs lactose intolerance

These two relate to each other because they both stem from consuming dairy products. Lactose is a carbohydrate (milk sugar) found in milk, while casein is a protein found in milk. The two vary because of the way the intolerance symptoms show up. Even though the symptoms are similar, the body reactivity isn’t the same. Casein intolerance occurs because the body finds it difficult to break down the protein, thus causing an inflammatory response by reeling IgG antibodies.

But in the case of lactose intolerance, the symptoms occur because the body lacks the necessary enzyme (lactase) to break down lactose sugar {2}. So, even though these two conditions stem from dairy products and have similar symptoms, the body reacts differently to the casein and lactose, leading to lactose or casein intolerance.

Foods to avoid with casein intolerance

Casein intolerance symptoms aren’t life-threatening, but they can be super uncomfortable and make your life difficult. Once you’ve realized that you have casein intolerance, you should avoid foods like:

  • Whey
  • Protein powder
  • Powdered milk
  • Dairy cream
  • Custard
  • Dairy cheese
  • Artificial butter flavour
  • Artificial cheese flavour
  • Cow’s milk
  • Yoghurt
  • Protein powder
  • Kefir

Foods alternatives for casein intolerance

Most, but not all, dairy products contain casein. For example, the above list contains dairy products that are rich in casein. However, some dairy products like cream and butter contain very little amounts of casein, and people who aren’t severely tolerant to this protein can tolerate it. Even though one can consume these two in small amounts and not get casein intolerance symptoms, it is not advisable for those with severe symptoms to consume them.

Another dairy product that you can consume is ghee. Ghee is clarified butter and doesn’t contain casein, making it safe for those with casein intolerance to consume it. If you need dairy-free milk, you can always purchase nut milk like:

  • Almond milk
  • Soy milk
  • Hemp milk
  • Rice milk
  • Coconut milk
  • Oat milk

When you eliminate casein from your diet, you will also eliminate some of the foods with the highest calcium level, like milk, yoghurt, and cheese. So, it will be best if you find other calcium-rich foods to replace them. You can try:

  • Soy products
  • Green leafy vegetables
  • Dried fruits
  • Homemade bone broth (with fresh bones and a splash of vinegar to leach minerals from the bone).

Even though it will be hard at first to consume dairy-free meals, you will get used to it after a couple of days, especially since those casein intolerance symptoms pass and you feel much better. You can always prepare your favourite meals like lasagna and cheese but without cheese or using vegan cheese. Vegan cheese doesn’t contain any dairy. You can also still have your favourite ice cream, but take the vegan version, which is in plenty in the market these days.

Casein intolerance test

complete-intolerance-front
Our Complete Intolerance Test Kit

If you get casein intolerance symptoms after consuming any dairy products frequently, you will need to take an Intolerance Test to determine the verdict. Since lactose and casein have similar symptoms, it will be nice to get a test so you can know exactly what you should look out for when reading food labels. An intolerance test is easy to purchase online, and all that’s required on your part is to collect the sample and send it back to the labs for the testing to occur. The test will check for casein and other common intolerances that you could come across in your food and environment.

Once you get your results and you have casein intolerance, you’ll need to eliminate dairy products from your diet for a couple of weeks, and if you want to try introducing them back to your diet in order to build tolerance, talk to your doctor so that they can help with this process. Otherwise, you can choose to keep away from casein, and the symptoms won’t reappear.

Casein intolerance treatment

Just like any other intolerance, you can build a tolerance for casein with your doctor, although the best way to keep the symptoms away for good is by avoiding anything with casein. If you consume casein accidentally, it is advisable to take over-the-counter antihistamines or antacids to help relieve the symptoms. Otherwise, you should be very careful when grocery shopping to ensure that you don’t purchase items containing this milk protein.

When eating out or at a friend’s place, you need to explain your intolerance to them to get casein-free food options. This may seem like too much work, but it will keep you from suffering casein intolerance symptoms which are problematic and can interfere with the quality of your life. You won’t want to go back after you’ve stayed for a while without any casein intolerance symptoms because of how great you’ll feel.

Final thoughts on casein intolerance

Since it’s difficult to narrow down your symptoms to casein intolerance, it is advisable to get yourself an Intolerance Test, which will help you determine whether you’re suffering from this intolerance. Once you confirm your results to be positive, you can start eliminating this milk protein from your diet to relieve your symptoms. After you’ve adopted a casein-free or dairy-free diet, you will feel so much better, and the quality of your life will improve. These days, it’s easy adopting a casein-free diet because you will find alternatives to all the dairy products you love, which won’t result in negative side effects.

References

  1. Pal, S., Woodford, K., Kukuljan, S., & Ho, S. (2015). Milk intolerance, beta-casein and lactose. Nutrients, 7(9), 7285-7297. Source: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/7/9/5339
  2. Swagerty Jr, D. L., Walling, A., & Klein, R. M. (2002). Lactose intolerance. American family physician, 65(9), 1845. Source: https://www.aafp.org/afp/2002/0501/p1845.html?ref=Guzels.TV

Where To Get An Intolerance Testing Kit

Posted on by Donna Mastriani

Bloating, nausea, fatigue – there are all kinds of symptoms you might experience if you’re living with an intolerance. Not only can these sensations be incredibly uncomfortable, but they can also be dangerous if your intolerance is severe.

Unidentified intolerances can lead to conditions such as nutrient deficiencies and even an irritated gut. That means it’s crucial to get an intolerance testing kit as soon as you can, if you’re experiencing symptoms. But where can you find one that’s quick, easy and reliable?

At Lifelab Testing, we offer intolerance testing kits that contain everything you need to take a small blood sample in the comfort of your home. Learn more about our simple test kits below.

Basic intolerance testing kit

Do you suspect you know what’s to blame for your symptoms? If you’ve noticed that you consistently feel discomfort a couple of hours after eating a potential allergen (for example, gluten, dairy or milk), our basic intolerance testing kit is for you.

The basic kit can test for 40 common food and drink intolerances, is easy-to-use and delivered direct to your door. All you need to do is follow the instructions to take a quick skin-prick blood test at home, before sending it back to our scientists using the prepaid packaging provided.

Our team will analyse your sample, searching for an antibody known as IgG4. This is produced by your immune system every time you eat something that sparks your intolerance. A high presence of IgG4 will help us identify the substance that’s causing your problems.

Complete intolerance testing kit

Alternatively, you may have no idea what’s causing your symptoms. Almost anything can spark a food intolerance, so don’t give up if you’ve ruled out the common antigens such as gluten and lactose.

Our complete intolerance testing kit can identify 160 key food and drink intolerances in just one sample. This makes it a lot quicker and easier than other methods of diagnosis, such as the elimination method. Imagine trying to cut out 160 different foods in turn!

Once you’ve taken your test and received your results, our complete test also gives you access to a free 30-minute consultation with a qualified nutritionist. They will be able to guide you through the results of your test and advise you on any dietary steps to take in the future.

Order your intolerance testing kit

If you suspect you have a food intolerance, it’s important to find out for sure to prevent the problem from getting worse. Our certified team promise 100% accurate results or your money back. So what are you waiting for? Order your intolerance test from Lifelab Testing today.

Do You Have Gluten Intolerance?

Posted on by Kate Young

With whole aisles dedicated to “Free-From” foods, it’s become apparent that people are looking to understand their body’s more fully. Over the last decade, a movement has been quietly taking place where people are taking allergy and intolerance tests to identify foods that are adversely affecting their health. Gluten intolerance is one of the most common, with many people realising that foods containing gluten cause them a lot of problems. But how do you know if you have a gluten intolerance? When is it time to take an intolerance test?

What Is Gluten?

Gluten is a group of proteins that is found exclusively in grains and is the primary component in flour that makes it sticky when water is added. It works to bind dough and give it the elastic texture before baking. It also helps with rising and contributes to the texture of the final baked product.

What’s The Problem With Gluten?

There are a growing number of scientists who think that gluten may actually be a problematic food for the MAJORITY of the population. However, currently, the generally accepted rule is that most people can tolerate gluten just fine. The problems come where there is gluten intolerance or coeliac disease.

Gluten Intolerance

Gluten intolerance is less severe than coeliac disease but can still have a significant adverse effect on your day-to-day life. Symptoms of gluten intolerance include diarrhoea, stomach pain, tiredness, and bloating. To identify a gluten intolerance, you can take an intolerance test.

Coeliac Disease

Believed to affect 0.7-1% of the population, Coeliac Disease is a lifelong condition which manifests in several life-affecting symptoms. These include tissue damage within the small intestines, severe weight loss, diarrhoea, constant fatigue and anaemia. Coeliac has to be managed sufficiently to avoid increased risk of many diseases, including diabetes.

Gluten Foods & Gluten-Free Alternatives

Aisles are now dedicated to gluten-free foods

Unfortunately for those with gluten intolerance and coeliac disease, some of the most popular foods contain gluten. Pizza, bread, beer, cakes & pasta are just some of the foods that are rich in gluten. The increasing awareness of the prevalence of gluten intolerance has led to many of the big food manufacturers producing gluten-free versions of your favourite foods. From pizza to beer, pretty much every food containing gluten has been given a gluten-free makeover.

Identifying A Gluten Intolerance

The best way to identify a gluten intolerance when you realise you’re experiencing the above symptoms when eating gluten-based foods is via an intolerance test. By taking an intolerance test, you can confirm your suspicions or discover whether it is another food that is causing you problems.

What is the Low FODMAP Diet?

Posted on by Kate Young

What is the Low FODMAP Diet?

The low FODMAP diet is a particular kind of diet that eliminates what are referred to as ’High FODMAP’ foods. It is known to be especially effective at helping sufferers of IBS control their symptoms.

The term ‘FODMAP’ is an acronym that stands for Fermentable Oligo-, Di-, Mono-saccharides, and Polyols. These are a specific group of carbohydrates that tend to be poorly absorbed by the body. FODMAPs can produce diarrhoea or constipation, bloating, wind and abdominal pain in those with gastrointestinal symptoms.

Fodmap Foods to Avoid

The major FODMAPs are; fructose, fructans, GOS, lactose and polyols. Below are a few examples of foods containing these FODMAPs.

Fructose – Honey, low-calorie yoghurt, various fruits, high fructose corn syrup, agave and figs.

Fructans – Wheat, rye, onions, watermelon, dried fruit, nectarine and garlic

GOS – Legumes, cabbage, cashews and pistachios

Lactose – Many dairy items, some bread and baked goods, salad dressings, deli meats and margarine.

Polyols – Found in a lot of marketed ‘health foods’, such as protein bars, to minimise the sugar content. Also found in cauliflower, apples, apricots, mushrooms and several sugar alcohol additives.

Low FODMAP foods

Now, it’s important to note that this diet isn’t all black and white. For starters, the low FODMAP diet is just that, Low in FODMAPs. It’s okay to consume foods with small amounts of these. So long as you avoid those high FODMAP foods, you’re good to go.

Hence, foods that are low in FODMAPs, such as polyols and fructose, but still contain them can be consumed. Here’s a short list of Low FODMAP foods;

Fruit

Banana, blueberry, grapes, honeydew, melon, lemon, raspberry, strawberry, rhubarb and lime

Vegetables

Broccoli, carrots, celery, ginger, green beans, lettuce, olives, parsnip, potato, pumpkin, spinach, swede, sweet potato, tomato and turnip

Grains

100% spelt bread, rice, oats, polenta and quinoa

Milk Products

Hard cheeses, brie and camembert, gelati and sorbet

Other

Artificial sweeteners (not ending in ‘-ol’), molasses and treacle. Also sugar, golden syrup and maple syrup in small quantities.

Please note that this list isn’t exhaustive and there are likely many other foods which the Low FODMAP diet permits, this is just a good starting point.

Tailoring Your FODMAP Diet

The low FODMAP diet isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s most useful when fine-tuned to the individual. This is because not all FODMAPs will be a trigger for you, and once you’ve tailored the diet to your specific triggers, it becomes quite easy to follow.

Also, you should never completely eliminate FODMAP foods for an extended time.

See, FODMAPs are prebiotics, and they encourage the growth of good bacteria in your gut. They are essential for long term gut health. Studies have shown a strict low FODMAP diet can harm gut bacteria.

You can effectively tailor your FODMAP diet through the use of food intolerance testing. A food intolerance test can highlight which High FODMAP foods are likely to be the primary cause of your symptoms. After this, you can exclude them altogether, or use an elimination diet, and slowly reintegrate them back into your diet after 4-8 weeks of elimination.

Intolerance testing is an excellent way of keeping non-offending high FODMAP foods in your diet while ensuring your gut health stays optimal.

Alternatively, you could completely eliminate all FODMAPs for a short period and bring them back into your diet again after a while. Although, this may take longer to complete, as some foods reintroduced may cause digestive symptoms again when reintroduced. It’s far more efficient to narrow down the list of potential offenders.

Can an Elimination Diet Cause Nausea?

Posted on by Kate Young

Elimination diets aren’t a walk in the park, especially if one of the foods you’re eliminating is something you were previously eating daily. But they’re a pretty important step following a food intolerance test.

The good news is that an elimination diet doesn’t cause nausea in and of itself. But it could indirectly be causing you nausea. There are a few ways this can happen. Let’s explore them.

Missing Essential Nutrients in Your Diet

A nutrient deficiency could cause your nausea. Beginning an elimination diet without making sure you replace the vitamins and minerals that are in the food you’re scrapping can cause various adverse reactions in your body.

Nausea is a common symptom of vitamin B12, magnesium and vitamin D deficiencies. You can essentially become deficient in these nutrients if you’ve suddenly excluded the only primary source of it from your diet. We recommend looking at the nutrients stored in the foods you’ve eliminated and seek to substitute them with foods of a similar vitamin and mineral contents.

Caffeine Withdrawal

If you’ve abruptly withdrawn from drinking coffee or consuming caffeine as part of your elimination diet, it could be a withdrawal symptom.

As caffeine is quite an addictive substance, many people can experience withdrawal effects if they suddenly stop consuming it. Symptoms include irritability, nausea, fatigue, low energy and poor concentration.

Experts recommend that those who experience these symptoms wean themselves off of caffeine, instead of quitting cold turkey. Try cutting down one cup at a time. Weakening your coffee could also help to reduce your intake. 

You’re Genuinely Under the Weather

It could just be that you’re under the weather with a cold, or feeling run down. Stress, smoking, drinking alcohol and several other factors can all contribute to lowering your immune system and make you more susceptible to catching a travelling cold.

Diabetes and other immune system disorders can also severely impact your immune system. It may just be a coincidence that feeling unwell has followed you starting an elimination diet.

Don’t let this tempt you to break your elimination diet streak. You’re much better off following through, provided you maintain nutrient balance than going back to experiencing daily frustrations and symptoms of which you can’t narrow down the cause.

To make your elimination diet even more effective, consider getting an intolerance test, to indicate which foods you’re intolerant to so that you only eliminate what’s necessary.

What They Don’t Tell You About The Gluten-Free Diet

Posted on by Kate Young

With estimates of 1 in 100 people worldwide living with celiac disease and many more suffering some form of gluten intolerance, the gluten-free diet is becoming increasingly popular as a health optimisation tool. However, it is also gaining traction as a weight loss diet.

Here we look at how getting this diet wrong can actually lead to weight gain.

Gluten Intolerance

A lot is still unknown about gluten intolerance or sensitivity, but anecdotal reports have shown many people experiencing an improvement in negative symptoms. Symptoms associated with gluten intolerance include:

  • Bloating
  • Diarrhoea
  • Abdominal Pain
  • Fatigue

In the quest for relief of these life-altering symptoms, many have turned to gluten as a potential causing factor. You can assess your tolerance for gluten with one of our tests and, if you discover you do have sensitivities, we offer full support in undertaking an elimination diet.

Going Gluten-Free

Given that gluten intolerance restricts your access to foods traditionally considered unhealthy; breads, processed foods and starchy carbohydrates, you’d expect that a welcome side effect of your condition would be weight loss.

But this isn’t necessarily always the case. The rapid growth of the gluten-free market has led manufacturers to replace all of your favourite foods with gluten-free alternatives. In their quest to achieve foods that taste just as good as the originals, some have turned to sugars and fats in excessive quantities.

Gluten-free Pizza -a cheesy, stringy godsend

There are also considerations to be made about the gluten-free ingredients that are used in baking and cooking. White rice flour, whilst gluten-free, can induce a dramatic rise in blood sugar and contain very little nutritional value.

So, gluten-free foods aren’t as they seem right? Well, no.

Doing Gluten-Free Right

Going gluten-free should be seen as an opportunity to move to a whole foods led diet. Fresh fruit and vegetables are all gluten-free and contain a lot of the vitamins and minerals required to maintain a healthy lifestyle. It’s important to note, however, that processed fruits are not necessarily gluten intolerance friendly.

Fresh meats are also suitable for those living with a gluten intolerance. A fantastic source of protein, the building blocks of muscle, they’re also incredibly satiating and help you to avoid the temptation of the foods that aggravate your gluten intolerance. Be careful of processed meats, however, as they are likely NOT gluten-free.

Whole fruit and vegetables – gluten-free so fill your boots.

Going gluten-free can lead to a total lifestyle revolution. It affords you the opportunity to explore a wealth of foods and also learn or develop cooking skills and even create your own recipes.

To discover whether you have gluten intolerance and would benefit from a shift to a gluten-free lifestyle, take one of our tests. Following your results, we offer full support in completing an elimination diet to optimise your health moving forward.

How Do I Know If I Have Lactose Intolerance?

Posted on by Donna Mastriani

Between 30 and 50 million adults have Lactose Intolerance making it quite common. The question is, are you lactose intolerant?

Several different symptoms come with a lactose intolerance, and they usually occur within a few hours of consumption. Below are a few symptoms that may indicate an issue if they coincide with eating products that contain lactose.

Diarrhoea

It makes sense that consuming foods you’re intolerant to would disrupt your digestive system and lactose can have a real impact on your bathroom trips. Diarrhoea after lactose is an indicator of an issue and can lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance.

Stomach Cramps and Pains

As well as diarrhoea, people with lactose intolerance will often experience extreme stomach cramps. The gases produced by the stomach fermentation process cause this pain. The pain and bloating experience is not related to the amount of lactose imbibed, but the level of intolerance the individual has.

pile of cheese causes lactose intolerance

Constipation

If you’re passing infrequent, hard stools or are having to strain excessively, you are likely experiencing constipation. Bacteria ferment the undigested lactose in the stomach, which produces methane gas and this gas is thought to slow down the movement of food through the gut. Constipation is less likely than diarrhoea but is still a potential symptom.

Other potential symptoms

Other symptoms that have possible ties to lactose intolerance include:

  • Extreme Fatigue
  • Headaches
  • Brain Fog
  • Eczema
  • Joint Pain

Though they have not been proven as established symptoms, they have been reported frequently in case studies.

Other intolerances or allergies cause all of the above symptoms. To establish what might be causing the above symptoms for you, you should take an intolerance test.

How Intolerance Testing Positively Impacts Your Diet

Posted on by Donna Mastriani

We all want to lead a healthy and happy life and are primarily responsible for our own health (except for that which we can’t control like the spread of diseases). A major factor in how healthy we are is our diet. One of the biggest challenges with a healthy diet is working around what responds badly to and tailoring towards foods that your body uses optimally. An effective starting point for this is intolerance testing.

How can intolerance testing impact my health?

Finding out that you have a food intolerance might make you feel as though your whole lifestyle and relationship with food has to change. You’ll indeed be best to make some changes, but they don’t have to be changes for the worse. You may even find that working with your body instead of against proves to be more liberating than restricting. 

You learn what your “healthy” is: Each of us will have a different version of healthy, as it relates to how our body responds to certain foods, as well as keeping ourselves nourished and free from disease. Most of us would consider two scoops of ice cream for dessert to be healthier than a giant chocolate brownie (complete with a drizzling of chocolate sauce) bur if you happen to be intolerant to lactose or dairy, the latter may cause you less misery (though it’s certainly not the best option). The same could be said for choosing whole-grain toast for breakfast- ideal for some, but certainly not for coeliacs’ or those who are wheat intolerant.

  • Understanding helps you become healthier: If you don’t know where you’re going, how will you get there? Using your body as a guide, listening to what it’s telling you and which foods it’s finding trouble with can help you become healthier overall, as you’ll be able to mediate what were once mysterious symptoms. The less trouble you give your body, the more it can work on keeping you at optimal health, instead of fending against trigger foods. 
  • You can enjoy your meals again: Another solid impact intolerance testing can have on your health is that you can get back to enjoying food again. Once you know where the problem is, you’re free to experiment with new recipes and meals (without those ingredients that were responsible for your symptoms) and enjoy the freedom of eating quality food again. This all equates to a happy and healthy body.

How your Diet is impacted by Food Intolerances

A common misconception is that having a food intolerance flips your diet upside down, in a bad way, but this isn’t the case. In fact, your diet can become far more varied once you understand what foods you’re intolerant to. You can use this new insight to enjoy a diverse, delicious and healthy diet in a way that you just weren’t able to before the food intolerance results.

When you understand what your body needs to take care of itself, you are equipping yourself to enjoy a healthy and happy life, one meal at a time. Food intolerance testing is often the key to unlocking a healthy diet, and it can be yours within the week. Are you ready to unlock a healthy future?

Heal your Gut

Posted on by Kate Young

Here at Lifelab Testing, we’re dedicated to helping teach our readers how they can best improve their health. The gut has a major impact on one’s health, since it determines what nutrients your body absorbs, and which toxins, allergens, and microbes are kept out. It heavily impacts the health of your entire body. Many factors affect gut health, such as diet, food intolerances, lifestyle, hormones, sleep, and medications. These all affect how your gut digests and manages what you consume. We’ve put together a few tips to help you heal your gut.

Probiotics

Consuming probiotics is an excellent way to reintroduce healthy bacteria into your digestive tract. Remember that probiotics are the good bacteria that are essential to proper gut health.

You can consume probiotics by taking a probiotic supplement or adding fermented foods to your diet. We’d recommend starting with the latter, rather than running to the supplement aisle right away (unless your doctor recommends you do so).

Probiotic-containing foods include;

  • Fermented vegetables
  • Yoghurt
  • Kimchi
  • Kefir
  • Sauerkraut
  • Tempeh
  • Kombucha
  • Miso

Prebiotics

Prebiotics are how you can nourish those healthy bacteria, so they stick around and keep helping your gut. Think of it as feeding the good guys.

Probiotics eat prebiotics, which are natural soluble fibres, and then produce short-chain fatty acids, inhibiting the growth of pathogens and prevent disease. Ultimately, this helps maintain your intestinal and overall health.

Here’s a list of prebiotic foods you can add to your diet;

  • Bananas
  • Jerusalem Artichoke
  • Onions
  • Asparagus
  • Chicory
  • Whole Grains
  • Garlic

Ginger

Ginger has various health benefits, from blood-thinning (great for preventing blood clots) to relaxing muscles. One gut-helping example is the smooth muscle of the intestines. This is a godsend for those who suffer from gas or cramping. As if that wasn’t enough, ginger can also stimulate saliva, bile and gastric enzymes, making it an all-around supporter in your digestion.

Limit FODMAPs

FODMAPs (Fermentable Oligo-, Di-, Mono-saccharides And Polyols) are short-chain carbohydrates found in certain types of food, such as wheat and beans. Studies show a strong link between FODMAPs and digestive symptoms like stomach pain, bloating, gas, diarrhoea and constipation. Low-FODMAP diets are shown to provide exceptional benefits for many people with common digestive issues.

Here are of a few high FODMAP foods to avoid;

  • Beer
  • Fortified wines
  • Soymilk
  • Milk (from cows, goats and sheep) and other dairy products
  • Fruits
  • Beans and Lentils
  • Barley
  • Rye
  • Fructose
  • Wheat 

It might feel overwhelming to start with, but we can help you on your path to a healthier gut. Purchase an intolerance test today, to quickly find out which foods that are currently a problem and shorten your initial elimination phase.