Think You Have a Food Intolerance? Read This First

Gut Check: It’s estimated that up to 17% of Americans have a food intolerance diagnosed by a medical professional. But experts say many more are self-diagnosing, often based on social media advice or at-home testing kits. The important distinction: A food intolerance is not the same as a food allergy. Intolerances typically involve the digestive system, while allergies involve the immune system and can be life-threatening.

How to Do It: Food intolerances often cause GI symptoms like bloating, gas, diarrhea, or stomach pain. But symptoms can also show up as brain fog, headaches, or fatigue, and symptoms may take hours — or even days — to appear. A food journal can help identify patterns, especially when paired with guidance from a clinician or registered dietitian. Elimination diets are commonly used to pinpoint triggers, but they should be done carefully so you’re not cutting out foods unnecessarily. At-home test kits, meanwhile, aren’t reliable diagnostic tools and can produce false positives. Depending on the intolerance, digestive enzymes or other over-the-counter options may help manage symptoms.

The Benefits: Getting an accurate diagnosis can improve gut symptoms, quality of life, and your overall relationship with food. It can also help uncover whether something else is driving your symptoms.