Can food intolerance be cured?

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Extract from the article: La distinction n’est pas facile à faire entre l’allergie et l’intolérance alimentaire. Dans le premier cas, le système immunitaire est en cause, mais dans le second, le mécanisme est plus mystérieux. Une élimination, puis une réintroduction de l’alim

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It's not easy to distinguish between food allergy and food intolerance. In the former, the immune system is involved, but in the latter, the mechanism is more mysterious. The food can often be eliminated and then reintroduced.

When you can't tolerate a food, the problem usually manifests itself in the form of hay fever, headaches, joint pain, itching, hives or intestinal problems. But can we overcome these unpleasant symptoms, and desensitize ourselves to this digestive difficulty? Probably.

Some intolerances are well understood. The presence of tyramine in chocolate and cheese, for example, can trigger migraines in some people. Similarly, histamine in certain fish can cause nausea, vomiting and hot flushes. But the cause of most other intolerances remains unknown. Food intolerances, unlike allergies, tend to disappear on their own.

Ongoing reintroduction

Allergies, on the other hand, involve an immune system reaction. That's why they don't go away so easily. But how can you tell the difference? It's hard to distinguish between food intolerances and food allergies. The symptoms are very similar. Some foods can cause both intolerance and allergy. Cow's milk is a good example.

If you know you're suffering from a food intolerance and not an allergy, a diet of eliminating the offending food can give initial results, and help confirm the diagnosis. The second step is to reintroduce the food gradually. But the complexity and potential pitfalls of diagnosing and treating food intolerance should prompt caution: consult a specialist, usually an allergist or gastroenterologist, for advice on the best way to proceed.

William O.

Article validated by Dr Essoreke Tchaou, Nutritionist-Dietician, Lomé