You’ve probably heard people say that they’re allergic to certain foods. You might be one of these people, claiming that you’re allergic to something because you once had a bad reaction to it. But, do you actually have a food allergy, or is it simply an intolerance?
Firstly, what’s the difference?
A food allergy is an immune system response that will lead to an allergic reaction.
Food intolerance is a response by your digestive system as it has become irritated, normally leading to issues within your digestive system.
Food allergies are far more serious as they can result in big reactions that might cause death if left untreated. Unfortunately, food intolerances and allergies are often mixed up. If a doctor says you have an allergy, when really you have an intolerance, that’s not a massive issue. You’re hardly going to get on the phone with a medical malpractice attorney as no harm will usually be done. But, if you have a food allergy but think you only have an intolerance, it can be very dangerous. So, it’s important to know which one you have, and here’s how:
Food allergy symptoms
Typically, the symptoms of a food allergy are similar to many other allergies you might suffer from. You could experience rashes or hives, itchy skin, chest pain, shortness of breath, and anaphylaxis. However, you may also experience stomach pain, diarrhea, and vomiting.
One of the key ways to know if you have a food allergy is by only eating a small amount of food. If you always experience the same symptoms after eating a tiny amount, there’s a good chance you have an allergy. In fact, doctors often do this as part of the diagnosis; they make you eat the foods you suspect are causing the reaction, but they are on-hand to administer any emergency treatment if the reaction is bad.
Food intolerance symptoms
When you have an intolerance to a certain food, you are most likely to experience stomach problems, digestive distress, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, heartburn, gas, bloating, and so on. The symptoms are much more confined to your digestive system. A lot of the time, you simply feel uncomfortable and bloated, often very gassy.
What’s more, food intolerances tend to happen when you consume a certain amount of a substance. If you’re intolerant to dairy, you might be able to eat a little bit of cheese without showing any symptoms. But, if you go beyond a certain threshold, that’s when you start seeing the symptoms. So, they might not show every time that you eat something you’re intolerant to.
Thankfully, we are blessed with great medical technology that lets us test if we are allergic or intolerant to certain foods. Nowadays, you can literally buy kits that come in the post and will let you test yourself. Provide a blood sample, send the kit back to the company, and you get your results within a few days. It’s very important to figure out if you suffer from an allergy to prevent serious health complications from arising. Likewise, finding what you’re intolerant to will help you create a healthier diet that isn’t as troubling for your digestive system.
This is a collaborative post.