Having a food intolerance is not the same as having a food allergy. If you have a food allergy, your body identifies problem food as a "toxic invader" and goes into anaphylactic shock when it is ingested.

Food intolerance is also linked to your body's sensitivity to certain foods however it is not immune mediated. Food intolerance is sometimes caused by intestinal lining damage. In a perfectly healthy person, the intestinal lining which contains small holes, acts as a filter by preventing undigested particles of food and toxins from entering the bloodstream and allowing nutrients through.

However, if these small holes become enlarged then the intestinal lining's ability to act as an effective filter is reduced. This is called "Leaky Gut" and it can cause a number of food intolerances. Recent research has shown that Leaky Gut can cause eczema and asthma.

However, there are plenty of other food intolerances that are not caused by Leaky Gut and are instead just to do with the fact that your body finds it difficult to cope with certain types of food.

Food Intolerance Testing

If you find that you suffer regularly from migraines, bloating and abdominal pains or any other on going physical complaint, then you might have a food intolerance.

The only way to identify this is through food intolerance testing. There are a number of ways to conduct food intolerance testing. We recommend the food intolerance indicator test as a first step. This is a simple blood test that identifies whether or not you actually have a food intolerance. If the result comes back positive, then you can arrange to have further in-depth food intolerance testing to find out exactly which foods are causing you problems. Since the second test is more expensive than the first, it is better to start off with the food intolerance indicator test. That way, if you don't have a food intolerance you won't have wasted money on the second test.

Food intolerance testing is a simple, quick and affordable way to getting on the path to good health and a sense of well being.