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When it grumbles in the stomach A food intolerance is often the reason
People who suffer from gastrointestinal diseases are faced with a multitude of possible causes. This includes food intolerances that are initially unperceived by many people affected. "Incompatibility can lead to discomfort up to 72 hours after ingestion," explains Dr. med. Susanne Fink-Tornau, nutritionist and ecotrophologist at the health food manufacturer Natura. But what are the most common triggers and how can the symptoms be alleviated?
fructose
Not only in different types of fruit, but also in soft drinks, light products and barbecue sauces you will find fructose or fructose. Consumers often do not know this, so that inadvertently the ingestion of the monosaccharide occurs. As soon as the sweet substance arrives in the intestine, it begins to transport fructose via a transport protein into the blood. However, if there is a fructose intolerance, responsible transport substances no longer function properly and process the special sugar only slightly or not at all. Consequences: bloating, abdominal pain and diarrhea, as unabsorbed fructose in the large intestine is broken down by bacteria. Why exactly a fructose intolerance arises, researchers could not clarify clearly until today. For most people, however, it can be easily controlled by a special diet. First, a consistent renunciation - as long as no more symptoms occur - in order then to increase the daily dose slightly and sound the individual limit of tolerability.
Abdominal pain can be triggered by intolerances. (Picture: Picture-Factory / fotolia.com) "If you do not want to miss out on sweets, fructose-free sweeteners such as stevia, cereal sweetness or zero-calorie sweetness from the health food store offer a healthy alternative," Dr. Finch Tornau.
lactose
What do milk products, ready meals and various types of bread and sausages have in common? They all contain lactose, also called lactose. Complaints occur when ingested lactose is not processed due to a deficiency in the enzyme lactase. As a result, the sugar enters the colon and causes bloating and diarrhea. In order to avoid future inconvenience, it is advisable to restrict the consumption of appropriate foods - depending on the tolerability.
Complete renunciation is rarely necessary, as most sufferers can tolerate small amounts despite everything. For example, sour natural yoghurts or long-ripened cheeses have very little milk sugar. Alternatives to this are offered by the large number of lactose-free products on the market. In addition, it is possible to use special tablets to supply the body with lactase from the outside, thus ensuring that lactose is completely processed.
histamine
As a messenger for immune defense, histamine fulfills a variety of tasks in the human organism and puts the body on alert, for example in infections and allergic reactions. Certain foods and drinks, such as cheese and red wine, naturally contain histamine. When histamine-intolerant people consume more histamine from their diet than they process, the metabolism of the neurotransmitter suddenly stops. This affects about two percent of the total population in Germany. Finding the cause is difficult, as the wide range of possible symptoms - from facial redness to itching to intestinal discomfort - makes diagnosis difficult.
"Most of the symptoms of this intolerance are only temporary, so that after a 10- to 14-day histamine diet improvements show," says the Natura expert. If they are concerned about intolerance, they should focus on fresh and poorly processed foods, and the stomach will tolerate low levels of histamine, such as cream cheese and white wine.
gluten
This is an adhesive white, which occurs in wheat and related crops such as rye, spelled, greens or barley. People who tolerate gluten do not have to give up this special protein because it does not cause any discomfort. However, if there is an intolerance, also referred to as celiac disease, it is a serious illness. Intake of gluten leads to inflammation of the intestinal mucosa, as the immune system views the protein component of the grain as an enemy and produces antibodies. Especially treacherous: Symptoms appear different for each affected person. There are both direct signs of diarrhea and weight loss as well as indirect indicators such as anemia, constant fatigue and persistent joint pain.
Lifetime waiver of gluten-containing food is the only way to avoid discomfort. Gluten-free products can be found especially in the health food store, such as sweet lupine flour, inulin or guar gum for baking and for the preparation of pasta.
"In general, complaints that indicate intolerance should not be underestimated, nor should they be too much problematized. There are innumerable causes for bowel problems, even without intolerance, "emphasizes Dr. med. Fink-Tornau concluding.