Having a food intolerance can be no fun. Besides causing uncomfortable symptoms, it can make meal and snack time a challenge. However, if you don’t know you have , it can be even more difficult to get through the day. This is because you may be feeling pain and discomfort without knowing the cause.

And if you don’t know the cause, then it’s nearly impossible to find effective treatment. Therefore, take this food intolerance symptoms quiz to see if you think you may have a food intolerance. And if you do, be sure to visit your qualified healthcare provider like a registered dietitian or gut health specialist to help you.

Do you have a food intolerance?

1. Do you feel bloated and gassy often after eating?
   1. Yes
   2. Sometimes
   3. No
   4. Not sure; haven’t paid attention to it

2. After eating certain foods, do you notice headaches within 48 hours?
   1. Yes
   2. Sometimes
   3. No
   4. Not sure; haven’t paid attention to it

3. Have you been suffering with hives or other skin rashes without a change in diet?
   1. Yes
   2. Sometimes
   3. No
   4. Not sure; haven’t paid attention to it

4. Do you feel stabbing or dull pain in your abdomen within a few to 48 hours of eating certain foods?
   1. Yes
   2. Sometimes
   3. No
   4. Not sure; haven’t paid attention to it

5. Do you have frequent bouts of diarrhea?
   1. Yes
   2. Sometimes
   3. No
   4. Not sure; haven’t paid attention to it

6. How often do you feel nausea?
   1. Every day
   2. Sometimes
   3. Not at all
   4. Not sure; haven’t paid attention to it

7. How often do you involuntarily vomit (outside of having sicknesses like the flu)?
   1. Every day
   2. Sometimes
   3. Not at all
   4. Not sure; haven’t paid attention to it

8. Do you consume any of the following foods on a regular basis? Select all that apply.
   1. Milk
   2. Wheat bread
   3. Wheat pasta
   4. Coffee
   5. Cola
   6. Tea
   7. Mushrooms
   8. Pickles
   9. Food or drinks containing sugar alcohols or other artificial sweeteners
   10. Processed artificially flavored or colored foods
   11. Processed meats like deli meat, hot dogs, or sausage

9. Have you received a diagnosis of any of the following conditions? Select all that apply; if none, then choose (f.)
   1. Irritable bowel syndrome
   2. Celiac disease
   3. Heartburn
   4. Inflammatory bowel disease
   5. Anxiety disorder
   6. Food allergy
   7. None of the above

Interpreting your quiz

If you answered a or b for most of questions 1-7, then it’s likely that you have a food intolerance. However, if you answered a or b for just a few of the questions 1-7, then you may have a food intolerance. Finally, if you answered a or b for none of questions 1-7, then it’s highly unlikely you have a food intolerance.

If you think you may have a food intolerance and you chose some of the foods in question 8, then these foods may be contributing to your symptoms. Also, if you selected any of the conditions listed in a through f in question 9, then you may have a condition that has similar symptoms to that of a food intolerance.

How will I know if I have a food intolerance?

The only way to really know if a certain food or foods are causing your symptoms, then it may be necessary to take some of the following steps.

• See a gut health specialist for labs and testing. This could be a gastroenterologist, registered dietitian, or a naturopath that could prescribe or recommend certain labs or tests that could help identify if you have a food intolerance.
• Start a food-symptom diary. A food-symptom diary involves writing down everything you eat or drink, what time you consume it, and the time of day you experience any symptoms. This type of diary can help you connect the dots between any symptoms and certain foods or drinks you consumed within 48 hours before experiencing that symptom or symptoms.
• Try an elimination diet. This type of diet would be done once you have identified any symptoms trigger foods after keeping a food-symptom diary and/or seeing a gut health specialist. This diet would eliminate any trigger foods for at least two weeks, and then would slowly add in one food at a time every three days to help narrow down which foods may be the main culprits of your digestive symptoms. This diet is best done under the supervision of a gut health specialist to help you best identify trigger foods.

Take home message

A food intolerance can take the fun out of eating. It can cause severe discomfort and make it hard to choose foods that are safe to eat, especially if you don’t know what food(s) are causing your symptoms. However, if you suspect you may have a food intolerance, be sure to visit a qualified health provider that specializes in gut health to help you identify if you may have a food intolerance and to offer treatment options. For more information on gut health issues, be sure to visit the Casa de Sante website for information and other resources.