02.12.11

Is your reaction a food allergy or food intolerance?

So many people today seem unable to eat gluten, lactose, wheat, or a myriad of other foods.  We all know someone who has cut something from their diet because they are intolerant. Or maybe we find that eating certain things gives us heartburn, bloating and other digestive symptoms. More and more children are on restricted diets; and nuts and eggs aren’t even allowed in kindergartens and schools any more.

Is everyone really so allergic? Or are they intolerant? Can these two words be used interchangeably? Well... no, actually, they can’t. Food allergies and food intolerances are quite different in many ways.

What is the difference between food allergies and food intolerances?

A true allergy is much more serious than an intolerance to foods. People with allergies need to avoid a particular food or foods their whole lives. If they don’t, they can develop serious health conditions such as Coeliac disease (an allergy to gluten that destroys their intestinal lining). Some allergies are so severe that they are potentially fatal, e.g. a peanut allergy.

People who are intolerant to certain foods find they feel better if they remove those foods from their diet. However, their health won’t suffer if they eat these foods occasionally.

Food intolerance is a digestive issue: symptoms are vague and often non-immediate

People who have a food  intolerance lack the enzymes they need to digest certain foods, e.g. the enzyme lactase, which digests lactose in milk. Their guts also tend be more permeable, which allows incompletely digested particles into their blood stream.

Food intolerances can be vague, and symptoms may not appear until many hours after the food has been eaten. Some people may not even realise that they are sensitive to something in their diet. However, they will usually have one or more of the symptoms below.

Symptoms of food intolerance

• Bloating
• Burping and/or passing wind
• Foggy thinking
• Sleepiness after eating
• Mood swings or low mood
• Blurry eyes, or floaters in the eyes
• Food or sugar cravings
• Restless or broken sleep
• Headaches or migraines
• Indigestion and/or heartburn
• Water retention
• Weight problems
• Poor concentration and memory
• Joint swelling and pain
• Muscle pain and stiffness 

Food allergy is an immune system response: symptoms are serious and immediate

When someone is allergic to a food, their immune system over-reacts to it so intensely that the response threatens their health.

A food allergy will cause an immediate response when the food is eaten, because the immune system sees the food as an “invader”.   So the allergic person’s  immune system responds by creating specific antibodies that are designed to fight off this invader.  These antibodies — called immunoglobulin E (IgEs) — trigger the release of certain chemicals into the body, one of which is Histamine.  In normal immune reactions, the body is protected from Histamine, but in food allergies, the response can be so exaggerated that it is harmful.

The immune response may cause 

• Rashes
• Swollen and/or itchy lips, mouth and throat (due to direct contact with the allergen)
• Throat swelling
• Nausea, cramping or diarrhoea
• Hives or skin rashes
• Anaphylactic shock: rapidly dropping blood pressure and difficulty breathing due to swollen airways.

Anaphylactic shock can be fatal. People who have severe allergies will carry an “Epi pen” (epinephrine/adrenaline injection kit) as a safety measure.

Common allergy-causing foods

• Nuts, especially peanuts
• Shellfish and seafood
• Eggs

What to do if you suspect you have a food allergy or intolerance

If you suspect you might be allergic or intolerant to certain foods, (especially if you have any of the symptoms from the second list), it is important to see your Healthcare Professional, or visit an allergy clinic.

 Author
Vicki Philbey Naturopath

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