Everybody loves food. We eat to live and live to eat.
Our natural cravings for gastronomy have been there since birth and will stay until the end.
The evolution of the food industry and relative awareness of different cuisines have opened up our minds to experimentation.
As our taste buds scan the food spectrum across geographies and varieties, it is pertinent to know what kinds of food works for us and what do not. While many of us do encounter immediate or delayed medical conditions post our food adventures, it is worthwhile to know how to strengthen choices and still enjoy natural foods and culinary delights.
With so much invention around food globally, it is important to have a close look and at times monitor what you consume and its relative effects on the body.
Two of the major conditions that are usually associated with food are intolerance and allergy.
Food intolerance is often a delayed reaction to a food, beverage, food additive or compound found in foods that produces symptoms in one or more body organs and systems, but generally refers to reactions other than food allergy.
Food allergies are immune reactions caused by the release of histamine and non-immune responses which results in an immediate reaction.
Food intolerances can be classified according to their mechanism.
Intolerance can result from the absence of specific chemicals or enzymes needed to digest a food substance and may be a result of an abnormality in the body’s ability to absorb nutrients.
Food intolerance reactions can occur to naturally-occurring chemicals in foods, as in salicylate sensitivity.
Drugs sourced from plants, such as aspirin, can also cause these kinds of reactions.
Common diseases linked to food intolerance are irritable bowel syndrome, asthma and rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, rheumatoid arthritis and celiac diseases.
Allergens vary from person to person and the same food which may be intolerant to an individual can be widely tolerated by others.
Common allergens are milk products, eggs, peanuts, wheat and eggs. Removing the allergen foods for few weeks or months can rectify the condition.
After this, slow reintroduction of allergen food should be done in order to check for any reaction.
The Royal Bahrain Hospital has launched a new package that tests you for 221 food parameters.
Through these tests one can determine the type and extent of his or her intolerance towards foods.
For more information about the test, call 17246800, WhatsApp 32181810 or visit www.royalbahrainhospital.com.
You can now also download the Royal Bahrain Hospital mobile app on iOS and Android devices to book your appointments and more.
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