Food responses to ageing body

If you’re finding as you age that your body won’t let you eat what you used to, you may not be alone.

Changes in our body’s responses to foods consumed can be both physical and mental, according to head of Clinical Immunology at the Royal Adelaide Hospital IMVS and SA Pathology, Associate Professor Bob Heddle. However, he claims that solid proof exists which proves many people can start to reject their once favourite foods over time.

“It’s quite clear from objective studies that the frequency of reported food intolerance is higher than the food intolerance that can be documented when you scientifically challenge the people, but it is also true that there are changes that can occur through life,” Professor Heddle says.

Mild lactose intolerance

If you once were able to enjoy a cool milkshake, but now find it would leave you painfully bloated, it may be due to biochemical changes in the guts. As our bodies’ age, milky products can leave some people with an inability to process large amounts of dairy products.

Fructose malabsorption

In some people’s diets, a simple apple may provide enough fructose to upset a normally stable stomach.

The naturally found sugars in some fruits, such as pears and apples, can unbalance the small intestine and provide discomfort.

Allergic to ageing

As we slow down our digestive and immune systems may do the same.

“Most functions do decline with age and it would be very surprising if there wasn’t some change in the ability to handle large amounts of protein or starch or fibre,” Professor Heddle says.

If the item covered large food groups, such as wheatbased items or all dairy, it was worth checking with a doctor to investigate possible underlying problems, food substitutes or dietary supplements.

“If it doesn’t get better when you exclude the foods that you think are doing it, I think from middle years on it is probably important to go to the doctor.”