12) Food intolerance
Food intolerance is the existence of adverse reactions in the body as a direct result of ingesting certain foods. Food intolerance can occur due to poor digestion, metabolization, or assimilation of food. Food intolerance can be hereditary; it can occur at any age and can be characterized by a gradually increasing severity. Food intolerance carries a special relationship to Irritable Bowel Syndrome because they cause similar symptomatology. For example, patients with food intolerance suffer from constant and excessive flatulence, chronic diarrhea, constipation, nausea, gastroesophageal reflux, bloating, and abdominal pain.
