Food intolerance is a lot more common than people think, and frequently leads to unpleasant symptoms that aren’t easily associated with what you’re eating. The most common signs you have a food intolerance occur in the digestive system, but there are several that can develop cerebrally.

For once, it really is all in your head…

Migraines and Headaches…

While there are a lot of factors that can cause migraines and headaches, food intolerance is one trigger that is frequently ignored. Many people may associate cheese and red wine with bringing on both headaches and migraines, but few realise that there are a number of other foods that can act as triggers if you have an intolerance.

Research into the relationship between food, migraines, and headaches, has shown that grains and dairy can give you a bad head. In addition to these broad groups, eggs, corn, sugar, wheat, yeast, and citrus have all been found to cause painful heads. The noxious concoction of additives, preservatives, and artificial sweeteners, not to mention flavouring, colouring, and stabilisers, found in processed food, is also a notorious trigger for both headaches and migraines.

If you’re suffering with a bad head, an appointment with us may help you pin down which foods are triggering the incidents. Once you know what they are, you can avoid them, preventing any more food-induced headaches!

Brain Fog…

Confusion, forgetfulness, and difficulty in thinking clearly?

You have brain fog.

Brain fog can lead to you feeling detached, as if you’re walking through a thick cloud of smog, and you can’t see or think clearly. A disconcerting and frustrating phenomena, brain frog is frequently caused by food intolerance (though it can also be caused by nutritional deficiencies, mineral toxicity, and a number of other things).

Common culprits where food is concerned are gluten, other grains, and dairy. But your trigger could be anything, and without testing, it could be difficult to work out.

Anxiety and Depression…

There is a key connection between the gastrointestinal system and the brain, called the gut-brain axis. 90% of your serotonin is produced in the gut, rather than the brain. This is the feel-good chemical that causes havoc when it’s in short supply. Too little serotonin causes anxiety, depression and a number of other mental health conditions.

Serotonin is associated with mood – it is critically important for keeping your moods level, but it also affects your sleep, appetite, and ability to learn. Serotonin is also linked to memory, which won’t help with the brain fog!

That’s a lot to fall out of whack, simply because you’re not producing enough serotonin. If your gut is in poor health, your brain is quickly going to complain. There is scientific research supporting the connection between gastrointestinal inflammation and depression.

Food intolerance frequently causes gastrointestinal inflammation; it’s not just your physical health at risk from food intolerance, it’s also your mental health.

Insomnia…

Insomnia is characterised by the inability to fall asleep at night, even when you’re exhausted, as well as restlessness once you are asleep. If you’re frequently waking up during the night, for no apparent reason, the persistent inflammation caused by food intolerances may well be the cause.

Fatigue…

Likewise, if you’re dragging yourself out of bed each morning, suffering an energy crash from the middle of the afternoon onwards, and in particular right after eating, a food intolerance may be the issue. A great many things can cause fatigue, but if the doctor has already eliminated the usual suspects (diabetes, anaemia, hypothyroidism, sleep apnea etc.), it may be worth looking into your diet and determining if a particular food is triggering your fatigue.

Food intolerances are a hidden but persistent form of stress for your adrenal gland. This can lead to adrenal burnout, which in turn leads to fatigue. For more information on Adrenal Fatigue, check out my recent blog post: 4 Ways Adrenal Fatigue Is Sabotaging Your Energy…

Troublesome Skin…

Just as the health of your gut affects your mental health and brain function, so too can it affect your skin. It may seem incongruous to suppose a food intolerance could be the cause of persistent and troubling skin conditions, like eczema, acne, and psoriasis, but if you’re eating something that is regularly causing inflammation in your gut, the problem can manifest as an (apparently unconnected) skin complaint.

Other Symptoms Of Food Intolerance…

For more information on the other signs and symptoms of food intolerance, check out my posts on the digestive signs of food intolerance, as well as autoimmune issues that can be caused by food intolerance.

What To Do About Signs You Have A Food Intolerance…

The first step in identifying food intolerances is to keep a detailed food diary. Make a note of everything you eat each day, and add any digestive symptoms you experience throughout the day. If you have a food intolerance you will soon begin to see a pattern of certain symptoms after eating a particular food, or food group (like gluten or dairy).

If your food diary isn’t revealing any likely food intolerances then it’s time to start testing – our clinics offer bioresonance testing for 150 items that could be possible triggers for just £95 (including results). You can book online at our London clinic now…