Food intolerance is an adverse reaction to some sort of food or ingredient that occurs every time the food is eaten, but particularly if larger quantities are consumed. It occurs when the body is unable to deal with a certain type of foodstuff. It can be unpleasant, it's rarely dangerous. Food intolerance isn't the same as a food allergy, because the immune system isn't activated. Food intolerance doesn't include psychological reactions to food. Individuals who have genuine food allergies, however, need to know which foods to avoid, how to recognize the symptoms of an allergic attack, and how to take steps to prevent or short-circuit a severe allergic reaction.

The symptoms of food intolerance can be many and varied, here are some of them:

• Abdominal pains, bloating, constipation, diarrhea
• Obesity
• Stomach cramps
• Rashes, eczema, dry skin
• Migraine, headaches, dizziness
• Fluid retention
• Rhinitis
• Lethargy
• Tension
• Throat pain, cough