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Food Allergies vs Intolerances – What’s the Difference?

Often people mistake a food intolerance for a food allergy and use the terms interchangeably.  Confusion is often caused by the sheer fact that many of the symptoms FEEL the same to the sufferer.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

A true food allergy is an immune system response and a food intolerance is a digestive system response. Essentially, both can cause cramping, diarrhea, headaches, gas, vomiting, irritability and other not-so-wonderful symptoms. A food allergy can also trigger more severe responses such as skin rashes, hives, shortness of breath, chest pain, swelling of the airway to the lungs, and anaphylaxis.

Even just a small amount of food can trigger an allergic response where the body’s immune system mistakes a food protein for a harmful substance and tries to fight it with a histamine which impacts the respiratory system, digestive tract, skin, or cardiovascular system.

People who suffer only from a food intolerance don’t usually suffer from eating small amounts of the offending food.

HOW DO I FIND OUT IF I HAVE A FOOD ALLERGY OR INTOLERANCE?

To find out if you suffer from a food intolerance is to keep a food journal and note the responses you have to specific foods. You can also go on an elimination diet and slowly move questionable food back into your diet a little at a time to see what kind of reaction you have.

There are tests for food allergies, which will help you diagnose and pinpoint your allergies more accurately.

WHAT DO I DO IF I HAVE A FOOD ALLERGY OR INTOLERANCE?
Either way, eliminating the food causing the problem from you diet is the best way to protect yourself from a harmful reaction.

Kirstin Carey

Kirstin Carey

After freeing herself from Celiac Disease (dx 2008) and Hashimoto’s (dx 2013), Kirstin has become a leading expert in helping others stop symptoms, reverse disease progression, and heal from autoimmune. She has worked with hundreds of autoimmune clients – including her own personal healing journey – to learn how to effectively tie together three crucial components of reaching autoimmune freedom and share them with others. Learn more about Kirstin here
Kirstin Carey

Kirstin Carey

After freeing herself from Celiac Disease (dx 2008) and Hashimoto’s (dx 2013), Kirstin has become a leading expert in helping others stop symptoms, reverse disease progression, and heal from autoimmune. She has worked with hundreds of autoimmune clients – including her own personal healing journey – to learn how to effectively tie together three crucial components of reaching autoimmune freedom and share them with others. Learn more about Kirstin here

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