Nutritionist says 'healthy' food can cause bloating and headaches in 'gym' alert

Nutritionist says 'healthy' food can cause bloating and headaches in 'gym' alert Many people who work out or go to the gym will often eat these types of foods, but they could cause issues for some A nutritionist has shared a trending supermarket food he would never eat because of additives that he says could cause headaches and bloating. Prioritising protein is a dietary trend that many people may consider 'healthy', since protein is an important daily nutrient that provides various health benefits, especially for gym-goers. Those who work out or go to the gym regularly include protein in their diet because it provides essential amino acids that help heal the microscopic tears in muscle fibres caused by exercise. This healing process is what enables muscles to increase in size and strength. However, Oliver Goble, deputy head of nutrition at food intolerance testing company Supply Life, says that some 'shortcut' foods with added ingredients to increase protein may cause adverse reactions in some people. He says there are better ways to increase protein intake. He said: "I'm not so keen on protein wraps and bagels. If you're buying wraps, you're buying for carbs, not for protein. The ingredients list on the packages is often filled with things you don’t recognise. "I'd always say, if you want more protein and you're having chicken wraps, just have more chicken instead of buying high protein wraps. It makes more sense. We always advise to focus on single ingredient foods and look at the back of packaging to see what’s in there." Among the ingredients that often feature in protein baked goods are wheat gluten, soy protein isolate, pea protein and whey protein. Pea protein is a common intolerance that many people may not realise they could have, and it features heavily in some high-protein food options. Pea protein can lead to bloating, although it is typically mild and temporary. This issue is most often seen in those who are new to plant-based powders or have sensitive digestive systems. Bloating occurs due to the fermentation of leftover plant fibers by gut bacteria, or because the powder includes sugar alcohols (like sorbitol) or artificial sweeteners. Oliver said: "So often in these protein bagels or protein wraps, they use pea protein in there. It's a vegan alternative so it appeals to a wider market, I suppose. "I will always try to go for single or very minimal ingredients, just have the actual food itself, or have the protein through an actual protein source. And even protein yoghurts have loads of additives and preservatives in there, whereas, a natural Greek yogurt does the same thing, but there's one ingredient in there." A food intolerance is often confused with an allergy, but the two work very differently in the body. While an allergy involves the immune system and can trigger immediate and sometimes severe reactions such as swelling, hives or breathing difficulties, an intolerance tends to be slower and more subtle. Symptoms are often digestive, including bloating, stomach pain, headaches or fatigue and can appear hours after eating. This is why many people may not immediately connect everyday foods with how they feel later. "With intolerances, because it’s not an allergy, you don’t have to worry as much if it does slip into your diet here and there but cutting it out can have a huge effect on how you feel," Oliver said. "The common symptoms I see are things like bloating, tiredness, headaches, acid reflux and joint pain. "They can affect day-to-day life. What’s happening is your body starts to mistakenly see foods as a threat and it’s creating antibodies against the foods to try and get rid of them."