Various Types of Dietary Restrictions

It is easy for most human beings to make diet plans, eat and digest what they want to. A fully functional gastric and digestive system is truly a blessing. However, there are many conditions that restrict a large chunk of our population from having certain foods to avoid grave consequences. Today, at health Nutrition and Fitness, we will be talking about the many dietary restrictions people are forced into.

Lactose Intolerance 

The most known of these is the inability to digest lactose, the main carbohydrate in all dairy products. This is caused by the system not producing enough of the enzyme lactase, hence causing symptoms like bloating, diarrhea, and cramping. Many people use lactase pills to aid them in consuming dairy, however less fortunate people in Pakistan where lactase pills are scarcely available stick to a dairy free diet.

Celiac Disease

It is a serious autoimmune disease that occurs genetically where the ingestion of gluten leads to damage to the small intestine. To make it simple, for people with this condition, gluten = poison. This condition affects around 1 in 100 people according to celiac.org.

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. It is very difficult to avoid as these 3 elements are widely used in all diets. This disease is hereditary, meaning it runs in families. It can develop at any age.

Long term effects of untreated celiac include coronary artery disease, and a greater risk of bowel cancer. 

Currently, the only way to curb this problem is through a strictly gluten free diet. As the world learns more about this issue, more and more gluten free options are being prepared for markets and even restaurants have started offering gluten free options.

Peanut/Nut Allergies

Another common restriction is a peanut allergy. It is very widespread and usually occurs minutes after exposure. Symptoms include skin reactions, throat flaring up. Other symptoms like stomach cramps and diarrhea happen too. 

This condition is specially dangerous because it can turn life threatening in the worst case scenario called anaphylaxis, which is a whole body response to allergen. 

People with this allergy often carry adrenaline shots or pens with them in case the have an emergency anaphylactic attack.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

It is a very common and confusing disorder that affects the large intestine. Symptoms include cramps, bloating, gas, and diarrhea or constipation or both. 

You might be confused by the or both part of the last paragraph. This is confusing as the chronic condition that needs to be treated long term. There are three main types of IBS.

These include:

IBS-C: Constipation predominant IBS.

IBS-D: Diarrhea predominant IBS.

IBS-E: An IBS where both conditions occur.

IBS is confusing because no treatment exists for all patients. Every case is different from others and hence IBS is very difficult to diagnose. No traces are linked to a specific diet or chemical, and is often diagnosed after nothing is verified from celiac, chron's, lactose, peanut and other dietary tests.

It is managed through medication, avoiding foods that bother you a lot, and stress management as stress is the only verified contributing element scientists have made a link to with the disorder.

Diabetes

It is a disease in which blood glucose or blood sugar levels are too high, so sugar (or glucose intake) has to be managed. Since insulin is scarcely present in these patients, in diabetes type 1 patients they need to take insulin shots.