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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Symptoms of food sensitivity or intolerance

• 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.

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 chained 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.

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 the 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 is 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.