Yes, there is, although an intolerance does not always necessarily cause constipation. If you have suffered badly from constipation but have not identified what is causing these issues, then you may have a food intolerance.

Food Intolerances and allergies are a lot more common than most people realise, as there are many people around the world and in the Ireland not knowing that they are living with food intolerance. Once you have identified your intolerances, however, there are ways to manage them, and if you successfully avoid the offending food item, your constipation may disappear.

What is constipation?

Constipation can be extremely uncomfortable, dangerous and frustrating. It is extremely common and is a symptom of food intolerance, as well as many other health conditions. The polar opposite of diarrhoea, constipation has often been confused as having difficulty during defecation and can present the sensation of incomplete bowel evacuation.

What causes it?

There are many causes of constipation, including food intolerance, lack of water consumption and having a diet that is lacking in fibre. Sometimes, constipation can be caused by psychological factors and it is essential that you find out the root cause.

If you are struggling to identify the cause of your constipation, then you should consult your GP immediately.

Is it painful?

It can be painful as well as being harmful to the body. The slow passage of stool through to the large intestine can lead to prolonged absorption of water. This then results in stools that are painful, and are often dry, hard and painful or uncomfortable to pass.

Frequent symptoms

If you suspect you have a food intolerance or are suffering from a food-related allergy, then you’ll want to understand how it is caused, what it’s doing to your body and whether your symptoms are related to an allergy or intolerance.

There are some symptoms that are very common to food allergies and/or intolerances, and some which can be a sign of many different conditions — making it all the more important to truly identify the root cause or causes.

To find out more about specific symptoms, click the images below.