What is Food Intolerance?

Food intolerance is a negative reaction to a specific food that is consumed. It does not involve an immediate immune response like food allergies, but rather an abnormal reaction that may develop gradually over time.

Some food-related reactions may occur due to enzyme deficiencies or chemical sensitivities, while others are linked to an inappropriate immune response. Scientific studies have shown a connection between immune-related food intolerance and certain foods, where the presence of IgG antibodies against specific food components has been observed. The production of these antibodies is one of the ways the immune system responds to substances that negatively affect the body.

What Causes Food Intolerances ?

The causes of food intolerance are complex and not yet fully understood. However, research suggests that damage to the intestinal barrier may play a key role. This damage allows undigested food proteins to enter the bloodstream, potentially triggering a chronic immune response.

Factors that may contribute to the development of food intolerance include:

  • Poor digestive efficiency
  • Imbalance in gut microbiota
  • Presence of parasites or bacterial gut infections
  • Poor or unbalanced nutrition
  • Use of certain medications, such as antibiotics

What are the symptoms of food intolerance?

Food intolerance is associated with a wide range of symptoms and may affect multiple systems in the body, including:

  • Digestive system – Bloating,Abdominal cramps, Excessive gas, Constipation or diarrhea, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s disease
  • Muscular system – Joint pain, Muscle pain, Fibromyalgia
  • Skin conditions – Rashes, Itchy skin, Eczema, Acne, Rosacea
  • Nervous and psychological symptoms – Headaches or migraines, Poor concentration, Mood or behavioral changes, Anxiety, Chronic fatigue, Hyperactivity

It is estimated that up to 45% of the population may suffer from one or more symptoms related to food intolerance.

Food intolerance is not life-threatening, but it can significantly affect the patient’s quality of life.

It is often misdiagnosed, as symptoms may be varied and not clearly linked to specific foods.

Once the trigger foods are identified—using specialized tests—and eliminated from the diet, many patients report significant improvement in their symptoms.

Measuring food-specific IgG antibodies from a blood sample is the most reliable way to identify foods that may be causing unexplained chronic symptoms.

FOX (Food Xplorer), the Food Intolerance test from MADx is the first step in identifying which foods may be causing an inappropriate immune response from a simple blood test.

For more information on the FOX test and a list of the foods analyzed, click here to download brochure

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