For any number of reasons, some people need to follow a special diet.
This is usually because they have a health condition, such as an intolerance or an allergy, or because they’ve chosen to cut out meat and/or dairy products to follow a vegetarian or vegan diet.
Whatever the reason, it’s important that they make an effort to include other foods to make up for the nutrients they are missing from their diet.
Food allergies & intolerances
Allergies and intolerance still only affect a small number of the population, but nevertheless life can be inconvenient and uncomfortable for sufferers.
The most common conditions are:
Coeliac disease. An intolerance or sensitivity to gluten, a protein found in wheat and a number of other cereals, including rye and barley.
If you or anyone in your family has a gluten intolerance, it’s important to understand that ‘wheat free’ products are not the same as ‘gluten free’ as other gluten-containing cereals may be used, so check the labels on products you buy very carefully.
For more information on coeliac disease visit www.coeliacuk.org.uk .
Nut allergy. Triggered most commonly by peanuts, nut allergy can cause severe symptoms including swelling of the mouth and throat, breathing difficulties and, in severe cases, can be fatal.
Even very tiny amounts of peanut can trigger a reaction in some people. So it is important that people who are allergic check labels for nuts as ingredients and foods that could contain traces of nuts.
For more information on allergies, visit www.anaphylaxis.org.uk.
Lactose intolerance
Lactose intolerance is an inability to digest lactose – found in milk and other dairy products
Around 5% of the UK population is lactose intolerant, although most of those who suffer can still cope with modest amounts of dairy produce as part of a meal.
Vegetarian & vegan diets
Provided it is well balanced, a vegetarian diet can provide all of the nutrients needed by the body throughout life. For more information on following a vegetarian diet, visit www.vegsoc.org.
Those following a strict vegan diet, which excludes all animal products, may find it necessary to take supplements of important vitamins like B12 or include a higher than average amount of B12 rich foods in their meals.
For more information on Vegan nutrition, visit www.eatwell.gov.uk/healthydiet/vegaveg.
