Food Intolerance and Food Allergy

Food intolerance and food allergy are pathological responses of the body to specific foods. Allergy is an immune reaction (antibodies are produced) and often presents acutely. Intolerance is a non-immune reaction linked to digestion and microbiota features, more often presenting chronically and non-specifically — with skin manifestations, GI symptoms, respiratory manifestations, persistent irritability, and poor sleep. In children with ASD, food intolerance occurs significantly more often than average and sustains irritability, sleep disturbances, and behavioral issues through the gut-brain axis.

At H&B Neurolife International Rehabilitation Center (Shangrao), the approach to food intolerance is comprehensive and grounded in the center's strong biomedical focus. Gut microbiota regulation is built on precision microbiota testing, after which personalized probiotics and individualized dietary therapy are selected — this is substantially more effective than "universal" elimination diets and over-the-counter probiotics. In parallel, nutritional support addresses deficiencies of vitamins, microelements, and essential fatty acids, and restores the gut barrier. TCM methods — pediatric Tui Na massage (which in TCM logic strengthens the spleen and stomach), acupuncture, and Chinese herbal medicine — complement the program. For pronounced allergy, the program is coordinated with an allergist.

What matters for parents

Often, when microbiota is balanced and food triggers are removed, the child improves not only in food reactions but also in overall state, sleep, emotions, behavior, and therapy-session tolerance. That is why working with food intolerance in children with ASD is not a "separate task" but a core part of the overall program. For adult patients with microbiota disorders, see our network partner site — microbiota-lab.com.