What is defined as a digestive system response to food that the body cannot properly digest?

Food intolerance is a digestive system response that occurs when the body struggles to properly digest certain substances found in food. This can manifest in various uncomfortable symptoms such as bloating, gas, diarrhea, or stomach cramps, which occur when someone consumes specific foods that their body is unable to break down effectively. Unlike food allergies, which involve an immune response to a particular food protein, food intolerances do not involve the immune system but rather a functional issue in digestion.

Conditions like lactose intolerance, for instance, arise from the body's inability to produce enough of the enzyme lactase, leading to difficulties processing milk and dairy products. This distinction is crucial for understanding how different food-related health issues arise, emphasizing the digestive system's role in processing food intake.