Unverträglichkeitsrisiko

Unverträglichkeit is a German word that translates to intolerance or incompatibility. In common usage, it often refers to dietary intolerances, where a person's body has difficulty digesting or processing certain foods or food components. This can lead to a range of uncomfortable symptoms.

Common examples of dietary intolerances include lactose intolerance, which is the inability to fully digest lactose, a sugar found in milk and dairy products. Another frequent intolerance is to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. Symptoms of food intolerances can vary greatly depending on the individual and the specific intolerance, but may include bloating, gas, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, and headaches.

It's important to distinguish food intolerances from food allergies. While allergies involve an immune system response that can be severe and even life-threatening, intolerances are typically digestive in nature and cause discomfort rather than a systemic reaction. Diagnosis of an intolerance often involves an elimination diet, where suspected foods are removed from the diet and then reintroduced to observe the body's reaction. Management usually involves avoiding or reducing the intake of the offending food or ingredient. The term "Unverträglichkeit" can also be used in broader contexts to describe incompatibility between substances or even in social situations, but its most prevalent use relates to food.