Understanding Food Intolerance and Its Connection with Food Microbes

Food allergy is an unfavorable health effect that results from a response to certain immunity that occurs due to exposure to certain food. Some of the common food allergens are milk, soy, peanuts, eggs, shellfish, and seafood. About 220 million people globally suffer from one or many issues of food allergy. Food intolerance can affect one or many organs in the body such as the gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, skin, respiratory, and nervous systems. The effects of food allergy can range from mild to severe such as inflammation of the airway passage, vomiting, and urticarial.

Gut Microbiome

The gut microbiome plays a very vital role in health and disease. Its influence on the developing and causing complicated food allergies is of concern. It is very much responsible for maintaining the immune system as 75% of the body’s immunity cells are contained in the guts. It not only affects the digestive system but also regulates the immunity system.

Food Intolerance 

Food sensitivity happens due to an imbalance of the gut microbiota. It has been examined that lifestyle and environmental factors destroy the gut microbiomes and hamper immunity which is why there is an increase in the tendency of food sensitivity among individuals. When certain food or ingredients are difficult to digest and it makes the person unwell, it is said that the person is intolerant to that food.

Intolerance towards certain food items affects the digestive system as it cannot synthesize certain foods. This results in the formation of diarrhea, gas, constipation, abdominal pain, and other problems related to the gastrointestinal tract. Celiac and inflammatory bowel disease are certain gastrointestinal conditions that cause food sensitivity.

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The Link Between Gut Microbes and Food Sensitivity

The gut microbiome is of central importance in digestion, immunity, and health overall. Trillions of bacteria, fungi, and other microbes, which contribute to the breaking down of foodstuffs and nutrients, make the gut environment as well as keeping the immune response in check, are contained here. 

A burgeoning body of literature suggests that food sensitivities and intolerances have a root in an imbalance in gut microbes referred to as dysbiosis. Understanding this relationship between the gut microbes and food sensitivity allows one to really control his symptomatology and increase the overall good health of digestion.

How Gut Microbes Influence Food Sensitivity

Regulation of Immune Responses: The gut microbiome is also closely associated with the immune system, since up to 70% of the immune cells reside in the gut. The good bacteria are believed to control and modulate immune responses to the food proteins that enter the gut, preventing unwarranted inflammation. When this balance is upset, the immune system overreacts to food, resulting in food sensitivities, allergies, and chronic inflammation.

Breakdown of Food Components: Some gut bacteria help break down complex carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. The body might not process food components well when the good microbes are scanty or their hostile counterparts are more dominant. This makes several people experience bloating, gas, diarrhea, or other similar digestive discomforts generally attributed to food sensitivity.

Gut barrier integrity and leaky gut syndrome: The healthy gut microbiome has the lining integrity of the digestive system against blood. But once the imbalance arises, intestinal permeability can cause leaky gut syndrome, when undigested food particles, toxins leak to the bloodstream leading to a cause of an immune reaction, also increasing the individual's sensitivity toward certain food sources.

Synthesis of Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs): Short-chain fatty acids that the friendly gut bacteria produce include butyrate, acetate, and propionate. These have the ability to inhibit inflammation and keep the gut well. The individual will experience more gut inflammation, making him prone to food sensitivity symptoms without these SCFA-producing bacteria.

Read More: Differences Between Food Intolerance and Food Allergies

Symptoms of Food Sensitivity or Intolerance

Common signs of food sensitivity and intolerance are:

• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Upset stomach
• Abdominal pain
• Migraine or headache
• Heartburn
• Bloating or gas

How Does Gut Dysbiosis Affect Food Sensitivity?

When the number of harmful microorganisms is more than that of good microorganisms in the body, there is an imbalance in the gut flora which can change immunity to certain food antigens. Dysbiosis leads to increased sensitivity to immunity and develop rapid responses to allergies.  

There is a high development of common food allergies among babies because they have less gut microbial density. The good bacteria in the gut are destroyed when one consumes an increased amount of processed food, saturated fat, and sugar. Healthy microbes can survive in the guts only when there is a high intake of fiber so that there is enough nourishment to maintain the strength of the gut lining.

Factors that Affect Gut Health

Some of the factors that affect gut health and thus lead to dysbiosis which influences food sensitivity are:

• Leaky gut syndrome

• Dietary choices

• Unnecessary intake of antibiotics

• Environmental toxins such as pollutants, pesticides

• Lifestyle factors such as lack of physical activities, consumption of alcohol, etc.

Symptoms of Common Food Allergy

Food allergy affects 4% of adults and 8% of children under 5 years of age. Some of the signs or symptoms of common food allergies are:

• Fainting

• Dizziness

• Itching in the mouth

• Itching or hives

• Belly pain

• Vomiting

• Nausea

• Swelling of the tongue, throat, lips,

• Nasal congestion

• Breathing problem

Allergies Related to Gut Microbes

Specific food allergies are caused due to modifications in the microbial community as well as the immunity system. Some of the common allergies due to gut microbes are:

• Food allergies

• Eczema

• Hay fever

• Asthma

Food allergy is one of the common allergies that develop due to an imbalance in the gut microbiota. The gut allergy axis draws the connection between the bacteria in the gut and how the body responds to allergies. This explains how the microorganism in the gut affects the immune system and how it reacts to things that cause allergies.

Also Read: How to Maintain Good Gut Health by Balancing Your Gut Microbiome

Food Allergies Related to Gut Microbes

When the immune system starts responding negatively to certain food products, it causes the body to show some symptoms by releasing chemicals. Risks of food allergies develop because of the Intestinal flora. Short chain fatty acids are produced by the gut bacteria along with some foods which reduces inflammation and benefits gut health. Some of such foods with health benefits are:

• Functional carbohydrates

• Fermented foods

• Polyphenols

Foods such as cow’s milk, shellfish, seafood, soy, fish, peanuts, tree nuts, soybeans, wheat, and eggs are some of the foods that cause allergic reactions. Food allergy results due to reaction of the immune system over certain foods. 

Difference Between Food Sensitivity and Food Allergy

Difference Between Food Allergies and Common Allergies

Food allergies and common allergies differ in their triggers and symptoms. Food allergies occur when the immune system reacts abnormally to certain foods, like peanuts or shellfish, often causing symptoms like hives, swelling, difficulty breathing, or anaphylaxis, a severe, life-threatening reaction. Common allergies, such as those to pollen, dust mites, or pet dander, typically result in symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, or skin rashes. While both involve the immune system, food allergies tend to be more severe and require strict avoidance of the trigger, whereas common allergies can often be managed with medications or lifestyle adjustments.

The Role of Genomic DNA Sequencing in Understanding Food Allergies

Genomic DNA sequencing revolutionized the understanding of food allergies. It brings insights into the genetic factors contributing to these conditions. The traditional methods of diagnosing food allergies were through clinical history, evaluation of symptoms, and mainly traditional methods. Genomic DNA sequencing is an ideal approach for a deeper understanding of the molecular machinery for how the human immune system responds to food antigens. 

The analysis of individual DNA would facilitate the detection, by researchers as well as clinicians, of very specific genetic differences that would imply a greater liability to react or have an allergy. Such changes in the genotype could affect various genes related to the immune function, hence diagnosing possible propensities in developing food allergy.

Also Read: Debunking Common Myths About Gut Health

Customized Solutions for Food Sensitivity

To address food sensitivity properly, a one-size-fits-all approach may not be implemented because every human body reacts to different foods uniquely. Sova Health provides an individualized remedy to address food intolerance at the source rather than masking the problem. The initiation process involves examining your medical background, lifestyle and diet, as well as testing your gut for health.

Some of the most potent tools in modulating these remedies include the test kits for the gut microbiome. The analysis would help evaluate the gut microbiota and understand its diversity as well. One of the causes of food sensitivities is significantly due to gut microbiome disorders. It's only through determination of which type of strain contributes to the damage in your system that the exact remedy can be customized. 

Genomic DNA sequencing also tends to reveal potential genetic predispositions that may dictate how your body processes certain food items, allowing for more detailed dietary recommendations.

Conclusion

Among several types of allergies, food allergy is the worst kind. Thus it is very important to identify the connection of the gut and the allergies in order to treat effectively. Look out for the symptoms that indicate an imbalance in gut health. Some of the notable symptoms include digestive issues such as gas, bloating ,diarrhea and a tendency of being uncomfortably full after eating. 

During the onset and development of food allergies in the body, there is a distinguishable gut flora  within the individuals. Genomic DNA sequencing technologies have contributed in deriving information about the function and composition of gut microbiota in food allergies.

Food sensitivity and food allergy are different concepts. Food sensitivity or intolerance is a condition that happens as a result of the lack of digestive enzymes which makes it difficult for the food to digest. Some of the foods that cause intolerance are dairy, histamine (cheese, banana, chocolate), gluten, and other foods such as alcohol, caffeine, MSG, tomatoes, etc.  

Sova Health provides a solution to food sensitivity and food insensitivity. Through our gut microbiome test kit, you can easily identify strains of bacteria that are responsible for the issue of food insensitivity, consultation with experts,  customized dietary plan, and advice to balance digestive microbiota. We work with a team of experts to give solutions to your health issues that are related to your microbes. Your health is a major concern to us and we try to come to your rescue when it comes to health conditions. To book a consultation, reach out to us today.