Millions of people in the UK have self-diagnosed a food intolerance and may be avoiding key foods as a result, a poll by a testing firm suggests.
Millions of people in the UK have self-diagnosed a food intolerance and may be avoiding key foods as a result, a poll by a testing firm suggests.
Less than a quarter of the 12m people who claim to be food intolerant have had their condition formally diagnosed.
Less than a quarter of the 12m people who claim to be food intolerant have had their condition formally diagnosed.
While many of the nine million who also claim to be intolerant may well be so, it is suggested they may just be fussy.
While many of the nine million who also claim to be intolerant may well be so, it is suggested they may just be fussy.
Nearly 40% of the 1,500 people polled by Yorktest thought it trendy to be intolerant and many blamed celebrities.
Nearly 40% of the 1,500 people polled by Yorktest thought it trendy to be intolerant and many blamed celebrities.
Actress Rachel Weisz for instance has a well-publicised wheat intolerance, TV presenter Carol Vorderman a gluten one, and Rod Stewart's former wife, Rachel Hunter, a lactose intolerance.
Actress Rachel Weisz for instance has a well-publicised wheat intolerance, TV presenter Carol Vorderman a gluten one, and Rod Stewart's former wife, Rachel Hunter, a lactose intolerance.
Vague symptoms
Vague symptoms
The range of foods people declared themselves intolerant of was diverse, but grapefruit and sushi were declared by those polled to be key culprits.
The range of foods people declared themselves intolerant of was diverse, but grapefruit and sushi were declared by those polled to be key culprits.
You may be cutting out something you don't need to which might be putting your nutritional health and your longer term health at risk Tanya HaffnerNutritionist
You may be cutting out something you don't need to which might be putting your nutritional health and your longer term health at risk Tanya HaffnerNutritionist
Food intolerances are not as severe as food allergies, which in severe cases can prevent people from breathing properly.
Food intolerances are not as severe as food allergies, which in severe cases can prevent people from breathing properly.
But symptoms can nonetheless be uncomfortable, ranging from a stuffy nose to aching joints and nausea.
But symptoms can nonetheless be uncomfortable, ranging from a stuffy nose to aching joints and nausea.
However the wide variety of complaints which people pin on food intolerances could be related to a number of other conditions.
However the wide variety of complaints which people pin on food intolerances could be related to a number of other conditions.
Nutritionist Tanya Haffner said it was important to seek the advice of a qualified medical practitioner.
Nutritionist Tanya Haffner said it was important to seek the advice of a qualified medical practitioner.
"You may be cutting out something you don't need to which might be putting your nutritional health and your longer term health at risk," she says.
"You may be cutting out something you don't need to which might be putting your nutritional health and your longer term health at risk," she says.
Have you self diagnosed a food intolerance? What lead you to do so? Has it worked for you? or are you now concerned that you may be missing out on key foods?
