Food intolerances can cause many uncomfortable symptoms, including bloating, gas, stomach pain, and diarrhea, often challenging daily life. If you suspect a food intolerance, a gastroenterologist can help identify and manage the culprit, improving your digestive health and quality of life. Dr. Daniel Alpert in New York, NY, can explain how a gastroenterologist can help diagnose your food intolerances and help you manage those intolerances. 

Diagnosing Your Food Intolerances 

Food intolerances occur when the body has difficulty digesting certain foods, often because of an enzyme deficiency. Unlike food allergies, which involve an immune response and can be life-threatening, food intolerances usually cause uncomfortable digestive symptoms but are not immediately dangerous. Common food intolerances include: 

• Lactose intolerance 
• Gluten intolerance 
• Fructose intolerance 
• Histamine intolerance 

The first step in diagnosing food intolerance is thoroughly reviewing your medical history and symptoms. Your gastroenterologist in New York, NY, will ask questions about your diet, lifestyle, and any symptoms you’ve experienced, including when they occur, how long they last, and whether specific foods seem to trigger them. This information can help your doctor identify potential food triggers and guide the diagnostic process. 

They often ask you to keep a food diary. This involves tracking everything you eat and drink and noting any symptoms you experience after meals. A detailed dietary habits and symptoms record can help pinpoint specific patterns and foods linked to your discomfort. You’ll record each meal or snack, including ingredients and portion sizes, along with any digestive symptoms like bloating, cramps, or changes in bowel movements. 

Your gastroenterologist may recommend an elimination diet based on your food diary and symptom history. This involves removing suspected trigger foods from your diet for a specific period and then gradually reintroducing them one at a time to observe any reactions. Typically, foods like dairy, gluten, or high-FODMAP foods (which can be hard to digest) are eliminated for two to six weeks. After this period, foods are slowly added back, one by one, to determine if symptoms return. 

In cases where a food intolerance is suspected to be linked to an underlying digestive condition, such as celiac disease or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a gastroenterologist may recommend an endoscopy or colonoscopy. These procedures allow your doctor to view the lining of your digestive tract and take tissue samples if needed. 

Contact Our Gastroenterologist Today 

Make sure you aren’t ignoring possible food intolerances. Contact Dr. Daniel Alpert in New York, NY, to learn how a gastroenterologist can determine your issues. Call for more information and to schedule your appointment today at (212) 599-7910.