Food Allergy vs Food Intolerance: Know The Difference

Food Allergy vs Food Intolerance: Know The Difference

Some people’s digestive system reacts differently to different foods. Here’s all you need to know about food allergy vs food intolerance.

Some foods can cause unpleasant and harmful reactions after consumption. When people vomit or have any adverse reaction after eating a specific food, it means they have a food intolerance.

People find it difficult sometimes to figure out the foods that are causing them to fall sick.

The general reaction of consuming intolerant food is vomiting. Some symptoms appear fast while some take a little time after ingesting.

People falling sick to food sensitivities are actually IgG food intolerant. IgG food antibody assessment is a type of blood test that compares the antibodies with 87 most commonly consumed foods. This test is done to identify the person’s intolerance towards a specific food.

In this article, we will discuss the most common food intolerances, and shed light upon how to find out if you are intolerant to a specific food.

Food Allergy vs Food Intolerance

People tend to confuse food allergies and food intolerances. So here’s a brief explanation of both health issues.

Food Allergies

Food allergies have adverse reactions on the body caused by the immune system.

The immune system responds negatively to certain foods and in turn, affects the vital organs of the body.

Therefore, a person who has an allergy to a certain food needs to stay away from it.

In some serious cases, food allergies can be life-threatening. When this happens, you’ll experience:

  • Breathing difficulties;
  • Swollen throat;
  • Dizziness;
  • Fast pulse;
  • A sudden drop of blood pressure;
  • And even loss of consciousness.

It is very important to visit your doctor whenever any or more of these symptoms occur.

The most common foods that can cause an allergy include:

  • Milk;
  • Eggs;
  • Nuts (including peanut butter);
  • Soy;
  • Wheat;
  • Fish and other seafood.

Food Intolerances

The symptoms of food intolerance are less harmful than those of a food allergy. That’s because food intolerances are correlated to our digestive system.

Most often than not, the symptoms of food intolerance involve a digestive problem.

If you’re intolerant to a certain food, you can still eat it in small amounts without affecting your health. This isn’t the case with food allergies.

Symptoms of food intolerance include:

  • Nausea;
  • Stomach cramps and pain;
  • Bloating and gas;
  • Vomiting;
  • Heartburn;
  • Diarrhea;
  • Headaches.

The most common food intolerances are lactose intolerance, milk intolerance (colic in infants), gluten intolerance, and soy intolerance.

Lactose and gluten intolerances are the most popular ones. Up to 6% of people suffer from gluten intolerance and up to 70% of the worldwide population suffer from lactose intolerance.

If a gluten or lactose intolerant person consumes foods that contain gluten or dairy products then he must keep some medications with him all the time. You can order some prescription drugs from Canada which offers authentic medications to treat the intolerance on the go.

The Takeaway

Foods which are genetically modified in an artificial environment are mostly responsible for creating food intolerances and allergies among people.

Our immune system responds to certain foods in a different way. All food allergies and intolerances are caused by an immune response that comes in contact with certain food.

Some reactions to the food you eat can’t be avoided. So make sure to eat healthy foods, and stay away from the foods that might trigger your allergy or intolerance.

Whether you’ve suffered severe or mild symptoms immediately after eating a certain food, visit your doctor for a consultation.

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