FOOD ALLERGY OR FOOD INTOLERANCE? HOW TO TELL THEM APART

WHAT IS A FOOD ALLERGY?

• A food allergy results from an abnormal immune system response to a particular food. Due to various factors, the immune system mistakenly identifies the food as a threat, prompting a defense reaction that involves the release of significant quantities of chemical mediators, including histamine, to combat it. Histamine is the primary culprit behind common allergy symptoms, which may affect various systems in the body:

  • Skin: characterized by redness, itching, rash (hives), and swelling of the lips or eyelids.
  • Respiratory tract: leading to symptoms such as nasal congestion, sneezing, hoarseness, coughing, difficulty breathing, and wheezing.
  • Digestive system: manifesting as an itchy or swollen mouth, swallowing difficulties, nausea, frequent vomiting, stomach pain, and diarrhea.
  • Cardiovascular system: causing weakness and a drop in blood pressure.

  Allergy symptoms typically arise shortly after consuming the food, usually within minutes or hours. These symptoms can vary in severity from one individual to another and may even fluctuate from one reaction to another in the same person.

  When symptoms are severe and affect more than two systems, it is classified as anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is a critical medical emergency necessitating an epinephrine injection and immediate medical supervision. Left untreated, anaphylaxis can be fatal. Even in cases of mild symptoms, it is crucial to closely monitor the individual’s condition, as it can deteriorate rapidly.

  While any food has the potential to trigger an allergic reaction, nine specific food groups account for 90% of allergic responses:

  1. Eggs
  2. Cow’s milk
  3. Peanuts
  4. Fish and seafood (e.g., shrimp, crab, lobster, mussels)
  5. Soy
  6. Nuts (e.g., walnuts, almonds, cashews, hazelnuts)
  7. Mustard
  8. Sesame
  9. Wheat

  The most effective means of preventing an allergic reaction is to abstain from consuming the allergenic food. Developing the ability to interpret food labels is essential to avoiding known allergens. In some cases, it’s also advisable to steer clear of substances that are chemically similar and might lead to allergic cross-reactivity.

  Individuals with food allergies should always keep an epinephrine auto-injector within close reach.

WHAT IS A FOOD INTOLERANCE?

Research indicates that 7% to 8% of Canadians self-report suffering from food allergies, yet the number of confirmed cases by a physician is lower, ranging from 3% to 4%. A substantial portion of people may mistakenly perceive themselves as having a food allergy when, in reality, they are dealing with food intolerance to one or more specific items.

Food intolerances prompt unfavorable reactions to particular foods, but in contrast to allergies, they do not involve the immune system. Typically, intolerance arises when the body encounters difficulty in digesting a specific food or one of its constituents.

Individuals with food allergies can experience severe reactions, even in the presence of trace amounts of the allergen in the food. Conversely, those with food intolerances might occasionally consume small quantities of the problematic food without encountering discomfort. While food intolerance symptoms can be bothersome, they are not life-threatening, and their non-specific nature often makes it challenging to pinpoint the causative food.

Food intolerances sometimes result from the absence of a digestive enzyme essential for complete food breakdown. Lactose intolerance is among the most common forms.

Lactose-intolerant individuals produce insufficient or no lactase, the enzyme necessary for digesting lactose, the naturally occurring sugar in milk. Consequently, undigested lactose remains in the intestines, resulting in gastrointestinal symptoms that vary in intensity depending on an individual’s innate capacity to produce lactase.

GLUTEN INTOLERANCE AND CELIAC DISEASE

People who are gluten intolerant experience a range of different symptoms after eating foods that contain gluten, including gas and bloating, and fatigue.

Celiac disease is not a food allergy. Rather, it is an auto-immune disease triggered by the presence of gluten in one’s diet. When the person eats foods containing gluten, it causes inflammation of and damage to the small intestine, which can impair their body’s ability to absorb nutrients that are essential to their health. People with celiac disease must avoid eating any foods that contain gluten, as even a very small amount can cause inflammation and symptoms.

While symptoms of celiac disease vary from one person to another, they usually include vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and involuntary weight loss. Unlike food allergies, to wheat, for example, these symptoms do not develop into an anaphylactic reaction.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE A FOOD ALLERGY OR INTOLERANCE?

Severe food allergies typically manifest in childhood, and it is less common for them to develop in adulthood. On the other hand, food intolerances can emerge over time and become apparent in later stages of life. If you frequently experience significant digestive symptoms that impact your quality of life, it may be prudent to explore the possibility of a food intolerance or allergy.

One effective method is to maintain a food diary, recording your dietary intake and any unusual symptoms you encounter. This approach may enable you to identify a potential connection between specific foods and the onset of these symptoms.

Another option is to seek guidance from a nutritionist, who can assist in modifying your diet to prevent nutritional deficiencies. Nutritionists are experts capable of teaching you how to interpret and comprehend nutritional labels on grocery store products, facilitating your identification of substances to avoid.

It’s advisable to have a discussion with your healthcare provider regarding your concerns. In certain instances, they may recommend specific tests or refer you to an allergy specialist, which is a crucial step in arriving at an accurate allergy diagnosis.

For those dealing with food allergies, Food Allergy Canada serves as an invaluable resource. You are encouraged to visit their website for comprehensive information on how to manage your situation and maintain a fearless approach to eating.