Food allergies and
food intolerances can have similar symptoms, but are very different conditions.
Food intolerances (such as lactose
intolerance
and celiac disease) mean either the body cannot properly digest
the food that is eaten, or that a particular food might irritate the digestive
system. Symptoms of food intolerance can include nausea, gas, cramps, abdominal
pain, diarrhea, irritability, nervousness, or headaches.
Food
allergies not only can make someone feel ill, but also can cause a life-threatening reaction (called anaphylaxis).A food allergy
happens when the body's immune system, which normally fights infections, sees
the food as an invader. This leads to an allergic reaction, a response from the
immune system in which chemicals like histamine is released in the body. The
reaction can cause symptoms like breathing problems, throat tightness,
hoarseness, coughing, vomiting, abdominal pain, hives, swelling, or a drop
in blood pressure. Below are a few things
to remember about food
allergies and food intolerances:
Causes of a Food
Allergy-Most people who have food allergies are also
atopic, which means they have inherited a tendency to have allergic reactions.
So it may be as easy as identifying a parent with a food allergy as a clue. Those
with food allergies may also be more likely to have other conditions such as
asthma, as well as a skin condition called atopic dermatitis that appears as a
red rash and causes intense itching.
Causes of Food
Intolerance-There can be a number
of reasons that a person develops a sensitivity or intolerance to some foods.
It is usually from the absence or underproduction of a certain enzyme
responsible for breaking down a particular food. There could be chemical
causes, such as the amines in some cheeses, and even caffeine in coffee, tea,
or chocolate. Another possible reason is histamine in foods that can cause
rashes and cramps, while salicylates from most edible plants can cause problems
if large quantities are consumed, adds the source.
Dealing with Food
Intolerance-The best way to deal
with food intolerance is with the help of a medical professional to help you
identify and avoid the trigger food(s). One way this is accomplished is by
restricting your diet for a few weeks and reintroducing foods 1 at a time until
you experience symptoms. Other approaches can include antibiotics to lessen
food intolerance symptoms. Probiotics can be helpful. In some cases women may
experience worse food intolerance symptoms at the onset of their period due to
increased progesterone. The menstrual cycle may be temporarily suspended with
hormone inhibitors to provide relief.
Don’t Cut Out Foods
without Good Advice-If you have an
allergy to a certain food or a medically identified intolerance, then it’s logical
to avoid them (or look for alternatives). However, there are some things you
should be aware of before arbitrarily restricting food groups. If your goal is
to lose weight, then you should talk to a doctor before cutting out foods as
you may be losing out on essential vitamins. For example, some people have done
gluten-free diets without having Celiac disease.
They could be missing out on Vitamin B9 (folic
acid). Choosing a vegan diet is fine, but you should be aware that zinc from
plants is not as easily absorbed as zinc from meat. You may end up deficient in
calcium, protein, iron, iodine, vitamins B12 and D, and essential fats (like
Omega-3). Talk to a dietician.
Life Saving
Treatments-There are generally
2-types of treatments for food allergies, depending on whether they are mild or
serious. For the lesser reactions that don’t involve gasping for air or
swelling body parts, you can try an over-the-counter antihistamine. However,
you will need a shot of epinephrine to control the release of histamine from an
extreme food allergy.
This will also relax muscles enough to be able
to breathe. You can administer the shot yourself if you’re equipped with a
shot, or an emergency team will do it. There are newer treatments in the works
such as food oral immunotherapy (OIT), which involves the patient ingesting
small doses of an allergen in a controlled medical environment with the goal of
building tolerance.
The Usual Suspects-Many of the same foods cause allergies or intolerance
although the symptoms will be different for both. 8 foods cause about 90 percent of food allergies, and
include milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish, and shellfish. 8 foods (or their components) people commonly have
intolerance for – and they include dairy, gluten, caffeine, salicylates in
plants, amines from fermentation, sulfites, and fructose.
[i] Sources used:
·
“Key Differences Between a Food Allergy and
Food Intolerance” by Jeff Hayward
·
“What's the Difference Between a Food Allergy
and a Food Intolerance?” Reviewed by: Larissa
Hirsch
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