Question

Prashant began vomiting after lunch at school. He was promptly taken to a nearby doctor, who diagnosed him with food intolerance. Outline three types of food intolerance.

Hint:

Always remember the difference: A food allergy is an immediate immune response (IgE antibodies) that can be life-threatening, while a food intolerance is a digestive problem caused by missing enzymes or poor absorption.

Answer 1

Step 1: Understanding Food Intolerance:
Food intolerance is a non-immunological digestive system response that occurs when the body struggles to break down certain foods, components, or chemical compounds. Unlike food allergies, it does not involve the immune system.

Step 2: Outlining Three Common Types of Food Intolerance:

• Lactose Intolerance:
This is the most common carbohydrate-based intolerance. It happens when the small intestine does not produce enough of the enzyme lactase. Without lactase, the body cannot split the milk sugar lactose into glucose and galactose, leading to fermentation in the colon that causes bloating, gas, cramps, and diarrhea.
• Gluten Intolerance (Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity):
This occurs when individuals experience adverse digestive or systemic symptoms after eating foods containing gluten—a protein structural complex found in wheat, barley, and rye. Symptoms include abdominal pain, severe bloating, chronic nausea, and systemic fatigue, without the autoimmune gut damage seen in Celiac disease.
• Fructose Intolerance:
Fructose is a simple sugar naturally found in fruits, juices, and sweeteners. Fructose intolerance happens when the carrier cells in the digestive tract cannot absorb it properly. The unabsorbed fructose travels to the large intestine, causing bacterial fermentation, fluid retention, cramping, and vomiting.