4/10/24, 1:44 PM Food Intolerance: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment Options

Food Intolerance

Food intolerances affect your digestive system. People who suffer from an
intolerance, or sensitivity, can’t break down certain foods. They develop gas, diarrhea
and other problems. An intolerance or food sensitivity is inconvenient but not life-
threatening.

Contents Overview Symptoms and Causes Diagnosis and Tests

Management and Treatment Outlook / Prognosis Living With

Overview
What is food intolerance?
When you have a food intolerance, it means your digestive system has a hard time
digesting (breaking down) a food. Another word for food intolerance is food
sensitivity.

Food intolerance means your gut is sensitive to certain foods and can’t tolerate
them. When you eat these foods, you may experience uncomfortable symptoms like
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gas, diarrhea and abdominal pain.

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What’s the difference between food intolerance and food

allergies?
Food intolerance, or food sensitivity, is not the same thing as having a food allergy.

A food intolerance:

Affects your digestive system.

Occurs when your digestive system can’t break down certain foods.

Causes symptoms like an upset stomach that aren’t life-threatening.

Brings on symptoms within a few hours after eating as the food makes its way
through the digestive tract.

May not cause symptoms if you eat just a small amount of a food.
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A food allergy:

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Affects the immune system.

Occurs when your immune system mistakes a protein or other ingredient in food
as a threat. Your immune system releases antibodies (proteins) called
immunoglobulin E (IgE) to fight the threat.

Causes an allergic reaction, such as hives and swelling, shortness of breath or

wheezing.

Brings on symptoms within minutes of consuming even a small amount of an

allergy-inducing food.

May cause a severe, life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis. Without an

epinephrine treatment, this reaction can be fatal.

What are the most common types of food intolerance?

Common food sensitivities include:

Lactose: People who are lactose intolerant don’t make enough lactase enzyme
to break down lactose, a sugar found in milk and dairy products. This food
intolerance is the most common.

Histamine: Histamines are naturally occurring chemicals in foods like cheese,

pineapples, bananas, avocados and chocolate. Red wine and some white wines
also have histamines. People who are histamine intolerant don’t make enough
diamine oxidase enzyme to break down this chemical.

Gluten: Gluten is a protein in wheat, rye and barley. Gluten sensitivity isn’t the
same as having celiac disease, a type of autoimmune disease. When you have
celiac disease, gluten damages the small intestines. If you have a non-celiac
gluten sensitivity, your body has a harder time digesting gluten. Ad

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Symptoms and Causes

What causes food intolerance?
People with food intolerances often don’t make enough of a particular enzyme that
the digestive system needs to break down a certain food or ingredient. Experts
aren’t sure why some people develop food intolerances.

Certain gastrointestinal conditions may make you more prone to food sensitivities.
These conditions include:

Celiac disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative

colitis.

What are the symptoms of a food intolerance?

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Symptoms of a food intolerance include:

Abdominal (belly) pain.

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Diarrhea.

Gas and bloating.

Headaches or migraines.

Heartburn.

Nausea.

Upset stomach.

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Diagnosis and Tests

How is a food intolerance diagnosed?
A hydrogen breath test can detect lactose intolerance. During this test, you drink a
liquid that has lactose. Then you breathe into a balloon-like container every 30
minutes for a few hours. If you’re lactose intolerant, the undigested lactose will Ad

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cause high levels of hydrogen in your breath. You may also develop symptoms from
drinking the lactose solution.

There isn’t a test for gluten sensitivity or histamine intolerance. An allergy test can
detect food allergies but not a food intolerance. Your healthcare provider may ask
you to keep a food diary to track meals and symptoms.

You may also try an elimination diet to remove certain foods from your diet for two
to six weeks. If symptoms go away during this time — and then return when you
start eating the food again — you may have a food intolerance.

Management and Treatment

How is a food intolerance managed or treated?
You may need to change your diet to limit or eliminate problem foods. Many people
with food intolerances find that consuming small amounts of food causes few
symptoms if any. When symptoms occur, over-the-counter medicines like antacids
or antidiarrheals can help.

People who are lactose intolerant can consume lactose-free milk and dairy
products. You can also buy lactase enzymes at drugstores. You can take lactase
pills before consuming dairy products or add lactase drops directly to milk to break
down the lactose.

What are the complications of food intolerance?

People who are lactose intolerant may not get enough calcium and vitamin D if they
completely cut out dairy products. You can take supplements or use over-the- Ad

counter lactase enzymes to consume dairy products without getting an upset

stomach.
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People who cut back on products with gluten may need to eat more fresh
vegetables, fruit and gluten-free whole grains to make sure they get enough fiber and
other nutrients such as B vitamins in their diets, which are important for health.

Care at Cleveland Clinic

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Outlook / Prognosis
What is the prognosis (outlook) for people who have a food
intolerance?
Food intolerances tend to be lifelong. Most people can manage symptoms if they
reduce or cut out foods that cause digestive problems. Food intolerance may be an
inconvenience (and the symptoms unpleasant), but it isn’t a life-threatening problem
like a food allergy.

Living With
When should I call the doctor?
You should call your healthcare provider if you experience:

Extreme abdominal pain or diarrhea. Ad

Severe reaction to a food.

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Unexplained weight loss.

What questions should I ask my doctor?

You may want to ask your healthcare provider:

What type of food intolerance do I have?

What foods or ingredients should I avoid?

Am I at risk for other problems?

Should I look out for signs of complications?

A note from Cleveland Clinic

A food intolerance can cause stomach upset and other digestive problems after you
consume certain foods or drinks. Having a food intolerance isn’t the same as having
a food allergy. Food allergies cause an immune system response that can be life-
threatening. Most people with food intolerances can have small amounts of those
foods without distressing symptoms. A food diary and elimination diet can help
determine if you have a food intolerance.

Medically Reviewed

Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 08/11/2021.

Learn more about our editorial process.

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References

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