Do you have a food intolerance? Food intolerances are conditions that are shared by millions of people. They can make it seem like you always have a stomach ache after drinking milk. Food intolerances can cause you to be sorry you ate certain foods, as you spend next several hours feeling ill. You may even find that you avoid entire food groups because of the stomach aches. If this sounds like you, you may have a food intolerance.

When the body cannot properly digest a certain food, we call this a food intolerance. Some people are born with intolerances to certain foods, and others may develop intolerances much later in life. Lactose intolerance, a problem handling the sugar in milk, is very common in about 10% of the US population, and it can be congenital or may develop with aging. Some intolerance last for life, while others may occur sporadically.

What are the symptoms of food allergies?There are many but the most common ones are abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, headache, fatigues, gas and throat pain. No two people with the same intolerance experience the same symptoms. These can lead to poor health in the long term if not diagnosed and treated properly.

Don not confuse these symptoms with those caused by food allergies. Allergies can cause all of the aforementioned symptoms, plus itching, skin hives, vomiting, swollen lips and throat, and wheezing. These reactions start immediately after the offending food is consumed, and can be serious or even life-threatening. Call for medical help immediately if you suffer these symptoms after eating.

The difference between intolerance and allergy is a small one, and sometimes they are tough to tell apart. You may want to have allergy testing done by an allergist if you are uncertain, to determine which substances you are allergic to and which ones your body simply cannot tolerate. Managing food intolerance starts by ruling out the effects of allergies.

Once you've figured out that you are sensitive to a certain food, how do you go about managing your intolerance? First of all, remove the offending food from your diet. Be sure to avoid hidden ingredients in processed foods that may trigger your intolerance. After you have completely eliminated the food that makes you ill, you will probably feel much better.

If dairy is the food that causes you pain, you may find it difficult to completely remove it from your diet. The good news is that most people who are lactose intolerant can eat some forms of dairy without feeling sick. Try taking a two-week dairy-free period to let your system heal, and then slowly start trying different dairy products. Most people who can't drink milk can still eat hard cheese or yogurts, so you may be able to keep some dairy in your diet.