Even nutritionists often have to conduct tests to determine whether a person is suffering from a food intolerance or a food allergy, so it's not surprising that laypersons can become confused. Understanding the differences between food intolerances and food allergies can help you understand how to identify and treat them.
Food Intolerances versus Food Allergies
Medically, the difference between food intolerances and food allergies is that:
- A food intolerance is a chemical reaction to a food.
- A food allergy is an immune system response to a substance.
Food intolerances can be more difficult to identify than food allergies because allergic reactions are usually sudden while an intolerance to a food may not show up for hours or even days.
Symptoms of Food Intolerance
The most common symptoms of food intolerance are primarily in the digestive system and may include:
- Nausea
- Diarrhoea
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Bloating
- Abdominal pain
Other common symptoms can easily be confused with the symptoms of allergic reactions. Some of these include:
- Rapid breathing
- Heart palpitations
- Sweating
- A burning sensation on the skin
- Asthma-like symptoms
Food intolerance has also been associated with irritable bowel syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome.
The most common food intolerance is lactose intolerance. Lactose is a type of sugar found in milk and other dairy products. A lack of an enzyme called lactase in the digestive system prevents lactose from breaking down and being absorbed by the body. Tests are available that can identify lactose intolerance, but the only effective treatment is to remove lactose from the diet. Because milk contains important nutrients, if you are lactose intolerant, you may want to consult a dietitian and find safe and suitable food replacements for dairy products.
Other causes of food intolerance can be much harder to pinpoint and the problem can be exacerbated by the fact that many common food additives can cause food intolerance. Some of these additives include:
- Monosodium glutamate (MSG)
- Aspertame
- Caffeine
- Tartrazine
- Sulphites
- Salicylates
If you suspect that you or a member of your family suffers from food intolerances, consult with a holistic doctor or other medical specialist and get to the heart of the problem. Whilst not usually life threatening, a food intolerance can affect the quality of your life or the symptoms you are experiencing may be associated with another, more serious disease. Get help, get over your food intolerance and get on with a happier, healthier life.
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