Food intolerances

[Phillipsson]

For those with a food intolerance, when did you realise you had one and how did you narrow it down?

I have noticed that after eating crap things, I tend to get an upset stomach. By crap, I include anything ordered from a takeaway or eaten out, and alcohol. It’s hard for me to narrow down what it is that as I get an upset stomach intermittently. On those days I feel nauseous for days after.

Tonight we ordered food from an Italian restaurant and I tried a range of food. Lasagna, ricotta pancakes, steamed veg, potatoes, chicken in mushroom sauce. I’m wondering if the cheese might be the culprit. Or if it’s just the fact it’s a takeaway, potentially reheated food. Had wine too, could it be that irritating my stomach etc

The list of things I have a reaction of some kind to grows ever long, although some days I can eat them with less of a reaction. My response tends to be pain, nausea, diarrhoea, bloating, but also reflux, acid indigestion. Culprits tend to be: - cheese, milk, caffeine, alcohol, sugar, potatoes, rice, bread/pasta/baked stuff (gluten?), tomatoes, sometimes eggs especially if scrambled, citrus fruit, rice, green peppers, pineapple - that's probably not all.
I kept a food diary for the GP to narrow down main problems and am currently waiting for coeliac results. I just avoid the things that cause me issues or, most commonly, eat/drink them anyway then complain. There's so much that upsets my system, that it makes things very restricted.

Trial and error really - so in your takeaway example I would start by having cheese and not the other items with normal diet for a few days, then a pizza home cooked, then wine a few days after, leave a bit of a gap between items if you ever react to one

If none affect you when eating home cooked (or a store bought then cooked in oven in case of the pizza) then I would assume based on takeaway items that it could be an excess of oil or you react if you eat a large quantity in one sitting. Many people do react if eating a large amount of oily food but in small doses could eat all the items from within the larger meal

This is a good start. https://www.fedup.com.au/introduction-to-food-intolerance and look further into the website.

This isn’t something to be left to guesswork. Do not try to do it yourself. https://www.bda.uk.com/. To do it properly you need a dietitian to be sure you get the proper nutrition and support. Look for one with an interest in food intolerance and has experience in elimination diets, preferably one familiar with the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Allergy Unit Elimination Diet as it’s the best in the world. https://www.slhd.nsw.gov.au/rpa/allergy/. Some dietitians in Australia do Skype around the world if you need it.

For further support, try https://www.facebook.com/groups/380347182034474 and https://www.facebook.com/groups/128458328536 but get yourself a dietitian first. Once you work your way through the investigation protocols, which can take a while as it has to be slow and steady, then you work on reintroducing things and working in your tolerance levels.

You may have IBS? I can't drink alcohol anymore due to what it does to my stomach 🤢. I find it a restaurant uses too much oil or garlic, that affects it too. And I've learnt not to overeat 😂

As others have said it's trial and error really.
Generally I find most takeaways aggravate my digestive system and ready meals (sling and ding) are a no no.
Interestingly most breakfast cereals really upset my stomach too 😫. I'm not sure why but I just avoid those.