Food sensitivities are more common than you might think, and are often overlooked by many people.

You might think that the discomfort you feel after eating certain foods is normal, potentially blaming it on eating too much or too late in the day. But this could be a sign of an underlying sensitivity to certain foods, and is something that you should get checked out by a qualified medical professional.

In this article, we explore some of the key signs to look out for that could indicate that you’re suffering from food sensitivity.

Bloating

Excessive bloating is a key symptom of food sensitivity. When your body struggles to digest certain foods, it can lead to excess gas production which often results in bloating. This is because your digestive system is likely unable to break down a component of the food, such as lactose or gluten. 

If you find that your stomach feels tender and almost swollen after eating sometimes, it could be an indication that your body is sensitive to something you’ve eaten.

Headaches after eating

Headaches can be an indicator of many different illnesses and conditions, but did you know they could also be linked to a food sensitivity? Some common foods that tend to cause headaches in some people include chocolate, cheese and processed meats. Some of the compounds found in these foods, such as tyramine and phenylethylamine, can impact blood vessels in our brain which consequently causes headaches.

If headaches are a regular occurrence for you and you’re unable to identify another obvious underlying cause, it could be worth keeping a diary to track whether they occur after consuming certain foods.

Fatigue

If your body is having difficulty breaking down some of the food that you eat, it can lead to inflammation and could even trigger your immune system, which can result in fatigue. Similarly to headaches, fatigue is a challenging symptom that can have many underlying causes, but if you find that you tend to feel especially tired after consuming certain foods, it’s worth investigating.

Diarrhea

When your digestive system reacts negatively to food, it can lead to the food moving through your digestive tract too quickly, resulting in diarrhoea. It’s an uncomfortable symptom and can often be accompanied by stomach pain in cases where it’s caused by food sensitivity.

If you notice a pattern in your diarrhea after consuming certain foods, it could be a key indicator of an underlying sensitivity. A one-off occurrence doesn’t always mean that you have a food sensitivity, but it could warrant further exploration.

Keep an eye on how you feel

Food sensitivity symptoms look different for everyone, but these are some of the most common signs to look out for. You don’t need a medicine degree to start to recognise patterns, so it can be helpful to keep a food diary of your own before you make the trip to your doctor. This way, you’ll be well prepared to answer their questions and can hopefully narrow down the cause of your symptoms more easily.