Food Intolerance

AdryAnne Davis

Nursing 1050

June 22, 2011

Deutsch, R. (2010). Food intolerance causes obesity and premature aging. Townsend Letter,

318 (4), 74-77. January 2010, from CINAHL

This article, Food Intolerance Causes Obesity and Premature Aging, was very interesting to read. The article focused on explaining the differences between food intolerances and food allergies. According to the article, food intolerance symptoms are usually chronic and delayed. They often appear within several hours from eating the particular food, or in some cases even days (Deutsch, 2010, p. 74). In food allergies, the symptoms are almost immediate, and some food allergies are known to cause sudden death. The article proceeds to explain how food intolerance, due to a metabolic syndrome called “syndrome X”, is causing a dramatic rise in rates of morbidity and mortality. It has also formed some disturbances among physicians debating its causes concerning degenerative diseases worldwide. Lately, food intolerance has been linked to the most significant underlying cause of the excessive generation of toxic free radicals that eats away at: cell membranes, protein structures, and DNA. Food intolerance also is the major causative factor in excessive production of immune chemicals that interfere with normal metabolism, and as previously noted, degenerative diseases.

As I prepare to finish my nursing journey to becoming an RN, I am constantly learning how important it is to educate patients on diseases, preventions, treatments, medical equipment, medication, and other types of medical concerns. With this being said, many people do not know the difference between food allergies and food intolerances. This could be life threatening or even fatal. As medical professionals, medical students, and nursing students, I believe it is our responsibility to educate our patients. In order to do so we need to have more seminars, pamphlets, fliers, billboards, television commercials,...