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"   Question I have suffered from severe constipation for about a year.  A bowel specialist has concluded that I have wheat intolerance. I am trying to eliminate wheat from my diet, ie all flour-modified starch, colouring and so on.  Not only am I finding this hard, but I haven&amp;#039;t got rid of the constipation yet. Could you give me any advice on how to do this properly? Also, once the constipation goes, can I then reintroduce wheat back into my diet?    Answer Food intolerances, unlike true allergies, are fairly common and tend to give rise to symptoms such as constipation or diarrhoea, bloating, fatigue, rashes, and mood swings.  Lactose intolerance (ie to cows&amp;#039; milk) is the most commonly encountered food intolerance, but intolerance to soya, wheat, chicken, fish or egg can all occur. For detailed advice about what foods you need to avoid, you should ask your GP to refer you to a dietician or nutritionist. As you have already found, there are many foods that contain wheat that are not immediately obvious.  It is straightforward to avoid bread, cakes and biscuits, but many processed foods and meat products such as sausages do contain wheat in some form. A dietician will explain the important things to look for, and help you to decipher food labels so you will know whether they are ok for you to eat. In the meantime, you are probably expert in dietary ways to improve constipation, even if they haven&amp;#039;t solved your problem. You are probably doing all the right things, such as getting regular exercise, drinking plenty of fluids and eating fresh fruit and vegetables.  Prunes and apricots are very helpful in treating constipation and are also rich in calcium and iron.  You may be drinking plenty of water already, but it is worth saying that it is wise to avoid coffee and tea because these are actually dehydrating and unhelpful in the treatment of constipation. Some dietary intolerances are transient, so there is a chance that at some point in the future you will be able to return to eating wheat again.  Yours sincerely The NetDoctor Medical Team  Other Qs &amp;amp;amp; As Am I allergic to onions? Can I get a food sensitivity test on the NHS? Do I have to stop eating bread? Does my baby son have a wheat allergy? Egg allergy and MMR vaccination Egg allergy \u2013 what can I do? Food sensitivity tests I&amp;#039;m allergic to nuts. What should I do if I eat some? Is gluten intolerance causing eczema? Is my irritable bowel syndrome due to a food intolerance? Lactose intolerance and blood pressure Nut allergies in children Sensitivity to dairy products \u2013 what do I do? My two-year-old is allergic to peanut oil \u2013 what should I do? Tests for food intolerance  Last updated 01.02.2011 "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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