Gluten-free, lactose-free, low histamine, etc. - diets without food are a trend in our society. Anyone who frequently feels unwell after eating, suffers from diarrhea or constipation, or complains of unpleasant flatulence, is nowadays easily tempted to make radical dietary changes without medical supervision.
Every day, celebrity role models announce their latest diet slogans on social media. And then good friends also report how fit and symptom-free they have become since they have eliminated … from their diet. So why not try it out for yourself the next time you go shopping and just go straight for it when the numerous special ‘free from’ products tempt you on the supermarket shelves?
No, because perhaps the complaints are due to completely different things. In addition, such self-initiated self-experiments can cause deficiency symptoms.
Risks and side effects of self-diagnosis
In the case of digestive complaints, many people assume a food intolerance or allergy, for example:
- Gluten / wheat intolerance
- Lactose intolerance
- Fructose intolerance
- Histamine intolerance
- Problems with foods such as tomatoes, celery, nuts, seeds, fish, shellfish or apples, among others.
Thus, quite different triggers can be responsible for the above-mentioned similar disease symptoms (partly linked to further, far-reaching mechanisms in the organism). Therefore, extensive medical experience, patience, and professional detective sense are required once a diagnosis is made and personal health and nutrition strategies are developed.
Well-intentioned, radical decisions to give up on one’s own can often do more harm than good to one’s well-being.
For example, when an unbalanced food intake leads to an undersupply of vital nutrients. And even more so if it is not clarified whether a more serious intestinal disease is present (e.g. ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, or even a tumor in the small or large intestine)!
Holistic, systematic search for causes – step by step
Part of my practice philosophy is to take a comprehensive view of my patients. Accordingly, the diagnostic process begins with a profound, confidential conversation in which I ask you precise questions based on my specialist knowledge and many years of experience (including personal lifestyle, eating behavior and family history). This almost detective-like procedure usually succeeds in narrowing down the area of suspicion and determining the necessary and sensible further measures for clarifying the possible food intolerances or allergies. These can be, for example:- Physical examinations
- Keeping a food diary
- Determination of certain blood values
- Stool sample testing
It is also not advisable to use the often overpriced, self-purchased food intolerance tests. Here, it’s more the class than the mass of such investigations. Apart from the fact that some of these tests have a rather low validity value.
Individual nutritional counseling
for food allergies and intolerances
If there is a clear result based on the analysis, a waiver diet may be the result. The example of wheat clearly shows that there can be major differences in this respect, which can have an impact on the quality of life of patients:
- Gluten intolerance (immunological)= Celiac disease: inflammation and destruction of the important intestinal villi - requires permanent and strict renunciation of even the smallest amounts of gluten (wheat, spelt, etc.)
- Wheat allergy I: reaction of the body to certain protein components > avoidance of wheat
- Wheat allergy II: (IGE-RAST test pos. in case of wheat pollen allergy): here a less pronounced avoidance strategy is possible, depending on individual expression
- Wheat sensitivity (often confused with gluten sensitivity): presumed cause is ATIs (amylase-tripsin inhibitors): less strict avoidance strategy, individual expression
