Managing your Food Intolerances during the Holidays

The holiday season is well known for being the time to eat, drink, and be merry - but if you have an intolerance to certain foods, it can be anything but joyful. If you suffer from a food intolerance like lactose or gluten, planning ahead for the festive season can feel like a challenge. Having to inform family members what you can and can’t eat in advance can leave you feeling like the fussy 5-year-old at the dinner table when in reality your needs aren’t your fault and have to be taken seriously! The physical side effects, as well as feelings of embarrassment are very real, and can be hard to handle in a social setting. We want to help you to make this time of year as stress-free as possible. In this article, we’re going to explore some simple and effective ways to navigate the festive season when you suffer from food intolerances. Read on to find out more: 1. Let your hosts know in advance If your hosts don’t know about your food intolerance they may not think to provide for it especially if it’s a small gathering. Don’t feel embarrassed to speak up for your needs, no good host is going to want to see one of their guests go hungry. If you find it awkward talking about your food intolerance in person, you can send the host a quick message beforehand explaining your situation and making some suggestions for dishes that are easily made without the ingredient you are sensitive to. If you don’t know the host personally, make sure you have someone who can act as an advocate for you and let them know in advance. Depending on the kind of gathering you are attending, you could offer to bring a dish yourself! This should lessen some of the anxiety around the food available for both you and the host. As a last resort, if you’re worried about the food at the event, you can eat at home before you go out or bring some small snacks along with you that you know are safe. This might seem rude at first but it’s easily explained should anyone ask. 2. Never feel embarrassed about putting your health first If you suffer from a food intolerance, you’ve probably been in a situation before where you felt awkward, embarrassed, or uncomfortable because of it. It’s important to remember that your health should always be a priority - it’s never worth making yourself ill or suffering discomfort just to be polite. You shouldn’t feel like a burden because of something that is outside of your control. It’s estimated that 65% of the entire world population is unable to digest lactose after infancy and although there have been fewer studies on gluten intolerance, it’s estimated that 0.5-6% of the worldwide population have problems digesting gluten. 3. Know your limits Over-indulging in trigger foods can have painful repercussions that last for hours or even days afterwards, so it’s important to know your limits and try to stick to them. You know your body better than anyone else. If you find you can tolerate small amounts of the food and not suffer from the more uncomfortable symptoms (such as cramping, gas, cramping, bloating, stomach pain, or diarrhoea). If you know your limits, you should feel free to sample some holiday treats. However, it can be tempting to overindulge. You’ll likely know from experience that these moments are rarely worth it in the long-run. 4. Consider taking an enzyme to help with your intolerance One of the best ways to feel in control of your food intolerances during the festive season is to put preventative measures in place to protect yourself before the festivities begin. If you suffer from gluten intolerance or coeliac disease, you’ll know just how hard it is to completely avoid gluten in your everyday life, even on a gluten-free diet. Fortunately, there’s an array of supplements available to aid the body to digest gluten. There are also supplements containing the enzyme lactase which breaks down the sugars in milk (lactose) and prevents the symptoms associated with lactose intolerance. These enzymes really do work wonders as an effective treatment to lessen the symptoms surrounding food intolerances and provide the peace of mind to safely enjoy the festivities. We hope you enjoy the holidays. Get in touch At Supplement Hub, we pride ourselves on offering the very highest quality of supplements available. Don’t just take our word for it - you can see what our customers have to say on our TrustPilot page. If you’d like more information, help or advice, please feel free to reach out. You can contact us via email at info@supplementhub.com or message us on Instagram or Facebook.

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