What is harmful about gluten? –

• “In people with celiac disease, IBD & IBS, gluten in the bloodstream triggers an immune response that damages the lining of the small intestine. This can interfere with the absorption of nutrients from food, cause a host of symptoms, and lead to other problems like osteoporosis, infertility, nerve damage, and seizures.”

What is Lactose intolerance? –

• “Lactose intolerance is where you cannot properly digest lactose, a type of sugar found in milk and dairy products.”

• “It’s possible to become lactose intolerant all of a sudden if another medical condition – such as gastroenteritis – or prolonged abstinence from dairy triggers the body. It is normal to lose tolerance for lactose as you age.”

So, why does my body now react to gluten & dairy?

Medically there is no exact answer, which is why it is so frustrating. Although, the following have been known to cause/worsen symptoms –

Gluten (causes):

• genetics
• illness
• poor mental health
• stress
• pregnancy
• severe trauma
  • however they are still researching what actually causes a gluten sensitivity

Symptoms include –

• bloating
• tiredness
• abdominal pain
• diarrhea
• nausea
• constipation
• a general feeling of being unwell
• anxiety
• headaches
• brain fog
• confusion
• numbness
• joint or muscle pain
• a skin rash

• too little of an enzyme produced in your small intestine (lactase)
• primary lactase deficiency –
  • genetic
• secondary lactase deficiency –
  • gastroenteritis – an infection of the stomach and intestines
  • coeliac disease – a bowel condition caused by an adverse reaction to a protein called gluten
  • Crohn’s disease – a long-term condition that causes inflammation of the lining of the digestive system
  • ulcerative colitis – a long-term condition that affects the large intestine
  • chemotherapy – a cancer treatment
  • long courses of antibiotics
• congenital lactase deficiency –
  • a rare condition that runs in families and is found in newborn babies.
• developmental lactase deficiency –
  • Some babies born prematurely (before the 37th week of pregnancy) have a temporary lactose intolerance because their small intestine was not fully developed by the time they were born. (usually improves as the baby gets older)

Symptoms include –

• farting
• diarrhoea
• a bloated stomach
• stomach cramps and pains
• stomach rumbling
• feeling sick

So now i’ve explained the medical symptoms, im going to share a few personal symptoms i have had/still have, when it comes to having a sensitivity to certain foods –

• mental health – anxiety, panic attacks, body dysmorphia (this is a huge one), stress
• social isolation
• i’ve gained a fear of eating out at restaurants (unhealthy relationship with food).
  • 9 times out of 10 i end up going home feeling so unwell whilst looking 6 months pregnant and in so much pain. Yet i still avoid gluten and dairy when dining?? It doesn’t make sense 😦
• feeling nauseous when eating
• stomach pains, to the point of not being able to leave my house
• severe bloatinggg!
• farting
• constipation
• illness
• fatigue/tiredness
• eczema

When you do have an intolerance or disease, i’ve learnt that its so important to have a full understanding of what exactly it is and how it affects your body.

I know so many people who also have some sort of intolerance but have no intentions of cutting out those foods. And i get it, it took me a while to cut these foods out too. However, these people may not realise what exactly is going on in their bodies and what the damage can cause if they continue to eat these foods.

So, my advice to you is to listen to your body. If you think you may have an intolerance, get tested, speak to your doctor and i can tell you now, you will feel so much better for it!