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What are some common misconceptions about food intolerances?

Dorene Kinton

Hey guys, have you ever heard of food intolerances? It's basically when your body doesn't digest certain foods properly, causing discomfort and sometimes even more serious reactions. Unfortunately, there are some common misconceptions about food intolerances out there that I want to clear up. So let's dish about it!

Misconception #1: Food intolerances and allergies are the same thing.

Nope, not at all! While they both involve an adverse reaction to certain foods, food intolerances and allergies are two different things. Allergies are caused by an immune system reaction to a specific food and can be life-threatening. Food intolerances, on the other hand, don't involve the immune system and are generally not as severe.

Misconception #2: You can't have a food intolerance to something you've eaten before.

This one is a doozy. Just because you've eaten something before and didn't experience any problems doesn't mean you can't develop a food intolerance to it later on. Food intolerances can develop at any time, so always be on the lookout for any changes in how your body reacts to certain foods.

Misconception #3: A little bit won't hurt you.

Wrong again! Even a small amount of a food that you're intolerant to can cause unpleasant symptoms. Trust me, I've learned this one the hard way. It's best to avoid any foods that you know you can't tolerate, no matter how tempting they may be.

Misconception #4: Food intolerances are just a made-up trend.

Uh, excuse me? Food intolerances are a real thing that can affect people's quality of life. Just because it's trendy right now to avoid gluten or dairy doesn't mean that people who have these intolerances are just jumping on the bandwagon. It's important to respect people's dietary restrictions and not dismiss them as a trend.

Misconception #5: You can diagnose a food intolerance on your own.

While it's great to be aware of what foods make you feel your best, it's not a good idea to self-diagnose a food intolerance. If you suspect that you have a food intolerance, it's important to see a doctor or a registered dietitian who can help you figure out what's causing your symptoms and come up with a plan to manage them.

There you have it, folks. I hope this cleared up some of the confusion around food intolerances. Remember to always listen to your body and take care of yourself!