Food Allergy Vs Food Intolerance: Here’s What Most People Don’t Know

MaNaDr2021-08-19

What is the difference?

Food Intolerance

Physical reactions to certain foods are common, but most are caused by a food intolerance rather than a food allergy. Food intolerance can cause some of the same signs and symptoms as a food allergy, so people often confuse the two.

Food sensitivities and intolerances are more common than food allergies. While these adults may actually believe they have a food allergy, the symptoms they reported were not reflective of true allergic reactions. Most likely, they were experiencing other unwelcome symptoms—like diarrhea, abdominal pain, or bloating—from a food sensitivity or intolerance.

*A young woman uses her hands holding a glass of milk while she is a bad stomach ache. She has bad lactose intolerance and unhealthy problems with dairy food products*

You may be sensitive or intolerant to a food for a few reasons. These include:

Not having the right enzymes you need to digest a certain food
Reactions to food additives or preservatives like sulfites, MSG, or artificial colors
Pharmacological factors, like sensitivity to caffeine or other chemicals
Sensitivity to the sugars naturally found in certain foods like onions, broccoli, or Brussels sprouts

Food Allergy

Food allergy symptoms are caused by an immune system response; symptoms of intolerances or sensitivities are not.
A true food allergy causes an immune system reaction that affects numerous organs in the body.

The reaction to this faulty immune response leads to symptoms like:

Skin reactions, like hives, swelling, and itching
Anaphylaxis, including difficulty breathing, wheezing, dizziness, and death
Digestive symptoms

*A woman scratching the itch on her hand because of a food allergy*

In contrast, food intolerance symptoms are generally less serious and often limited to digestive problems.

Eight foods account for 90 percent of allergic reactions: milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, and soybeans.

Advice: If you have a reaction after eating a particular food, see the doctor to determine whether you have a food intolerance or a food allergy. Because if you have a food allergy, you may be at risk of a life-threatening allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) — even if past reactions have been mild.

Using the MaNaDr application, you can see the doctors easily to check your condition immediately. We are connecting you to the trusted doctors

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Reference: Health Magazine, What’s the Difference Between a Food Allergy and Food Intolerance? Here’s What Most Americans Don’t Know

MayoClinic, Food allergy vs. food intolerance: What’s the difference?

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