Date published: 01.09.08 - not release date

Illness on the increase thanks to curry

From YORKTEST.com

Food Intolerance week (21st – 25th Jan)

23rd Jan 2008

Big rise in curry lovers who can’t stomach Indian food

Chicken tikka masala may have overtaken fish & chips as the UK’s favourite dish, but for an increasing number of curry fans, spicy Indian cuisine is most definitely ‘off the menu’. Over the last five years, the number of people with positive food intolerance to the basic ingredient of curry – chilli pepper – has risen by 350%.

The findings come from food intolerance experts, YorkTest.com, who reveal that more people are suffering ill health from the effects of eating this widely used spice. The results cover a period from 2002 to 2007 and feature patients who took a 113 foodSCAN food intolerance tests to help overcome symptoms such as bloating, fatigue and migraine. In 2002, just 2% of patients who took the food test came up positive to chilli pepper, yet that figure rose to 7% by 2005 (a increase of over 250%). By 2007 it had risen to 9% - an increase of 350% on its 2002 figure. Chilli pepper, which is also used in Mexican, Chinese and Thai cooking, is now the 18th most common food to which people have an adverse reaction.

Consumption has increased in the UK and the introduction of this relatively ‘new’ food is one of the reasons why it has become so potent – the western diet is not used to it. In 1960 there were just 500 Indian restaurants in the UK. Today, this has increased to just under 10,000. More and more people are eating chilli pepper compared to ten years ago with 2.5 million UK citizens each week tucking into a curry and it is now a business is worth over £3 billion a year and accounting for two-thirds of all eating out.

Patrick Holford, expert nutritionist and best selling author on health and food related matters says:
“One man’s food really is another man’s poison. Whilst chillies are good for many people, some people do have intolerances. Anyone who has persistent health problems including bloating, fatigue, and headaches should be tested for potential food intolerances.”

Les Rowley from YorkTest says:

“Chilli is following in the footsteps of foods like kiwi and coffee where it is not indigenous to the UK and so a relatively new food which we consume. It is also being eaten in more quantities and eating too much of the same type of food can lead to some of the health problems. If in doubt, take a first step food intolerance test.”

End

Notes for editors:

•Tests start from £20.

•The first step to discovering if food is possibly the reason why you aren't feeling 100% is to take a first step food intolerance indicator. This gives you a yes/no verdict and for just £20.

•The benefit is that it is value for money and can undeniably confirm whether food is the possible cause of your ill health. If you come back a ‘no’ after being tested, only £20 has been lost and you can pursue a remedy through no food related methods.

•If you register a ‘yes’ and you have a food intolerance, then it would be best to find out exactly which food or foods they are and eliminate them with the aid of a test which tests for 113 of the most common foods in your diet with nutrition one-to-one consultations and 80 pages of literature support.

•The only food intolerance testing company to offer a first-step test.

YORKTEST ARE EUROPE’S LEADING AND MOST QUALIFIED COMPANY DEALING IN FOOD INTOLERANCE TESTING. THE COMPANY RUNS A SERIES OF TESTS WHICH IDENTIFY FOODS CAUSING OVER 40 ILLNESSES FROM MIGRAINE TO IBS.

ALL STARTING WITH A SMALL SAMPLE OF BLOOD SUPPLIED BY THE PATIENT, YORKTEST RUN THE SAMPLE OVER 113 FOOD TYPES TO IDENTIFY IGg ANTIBODY REACTION. FOOD ELIMINATION FOLLOWS AND A DIET WITHOUT THE OFFENDING FOOD PUT IN PLACE TO TREAT THE CONDITION WHICH IS PROVEN TO WORK IN 3 OUT OF 4 CASES.

For further info:

Les Rowley, PR Manager, YORKTEST,
Tel: 01904 428 557/ (M) 07976-746-777 e-mail les.rowley@yorktest.com.

For food test enquiries call YORKTEST on 0800 074 6185