When you think about food intolerance, you usually imagine the issues that problem foods can have on the digestive system. Bloating, diarrhoea and constipation can all arise when you eat something that doesn’t agree with you.

But many people are unaware that food intolerances can actually manifest in a range of other way within the body.

Food intolerance, defined as an IgG reaction, produces an inflammatory response which can cause a host of unexpected problems, some of which you might never have guessed could be linked to your diet.

Suffer with recurring headaches or migraine? Perhaps you find that ‘brain fog’ means you frequently struggle to concentrate. It’s not uncommon to discover that something in your diet is the cause. If you are careful to stay hydrated and your headaches aren’t the result of another underlying medical condition, it may be worth taking a closer look at your diet.

Our skin doesn’t have a reputation for being sensitive for nothing. The appearance of our skin is a key indicator of our health, telling us externally what’s going on inside. From spots and rashes to eczema and psoriasis, problem foods in our diets can produce a variety of reactions, which vary in severity.

If you experience conditions like this, which are not the result of cosmetics, detergents or a change or introduction of medication, you might like to investigate whether a food intolerance is to blame for your skin condition.

The gut is often referred to as the ‘second brain’ for very good reason. Have you ever noticed that when you’re nervous or anxious, your stomach is affected? The gut, which is a main producer of feel good chemical serotonin, is incredibly sensitive and, when it is unbalanced, your mood can suffer too.

Consuming ingredients that cause you to feel unwell can exacerbate the problem, upsetting the balance in your gut and, in turn, impacting negatively upon mood.

Aches and pains are often attributed to the natural aging process. From swelling in the joints to pain during movement, we often dismiss recurring stiffness and soreness, simply tuning it out as ‘normal’. Typically, it doesn’t occur to us that there could be a link between joint pains and the foods we eat.

Treatment for these kinds of symptoms often focuses on pain relief without tackling the cause of the inflammation. If you find you are struggling with pain or discomfort in the joints and haven’t been able to pinpoint the reason, it might be time to discover whether a food intolerance is the cause of your joint pain.

When it comes to any of these conditions, it’s important to have a chat with your GP if you are concerned but, if you’ve ruled out any serious health conditions, you might want to consider taking a food intolerance test. Around 9 million adults in the UK have food intolerances, causing a range of unexpected problems. With a simple home testing kit from Smartblood, you can pinpoint your problem foods.