Many people suffer from gastrointestinal problems, and these numbers seem to be increasing. Some try to diagnose the condition without medical help and only aggravate the problem. Others seek help and often find that they have a specific food sensitivity.
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A food allergy is our body’s immune reaction to a certain protein in food. Though the food is harmless, the immune system perceives it as toxic, making antibodies to protect itself and releasing histamines – chemicals that regulate inflammatory processes. High histamine levels cause allergic reactions, such as hives, bloating, and diarrhea. Sometimes, food allergy symptoms are severe and, in rare cases, life-threatening.
The FDA identifies nine most common allergens in food. These are wheat, milk, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts, soybeans, fish, crustacean shellfish, and sesame.
There is no cure for food allergies. Patients need to eliminate offending foods from their diet. In some cases, they outgrow the condition.
A food intolerance is the body’s non-immunologic, chemical reaction to certain foods, which causes gastrointestinal distress. The symptoms are unpleasant but not life-threatening.
Foods and ingredients that typically cause an intolerance include gluten, lactose, histamine, fructose, and fermentable carbohydrates.
There is no cure for food intolerance, but patients learn to manage the symptoms.
Many food allergy and intolerance symptoms overlap, so medical professionals sometimes have difficulty making a diagnosis. However, the two conditions differ in many ways. The following table sums up the differences.
| Food Allergy | Food Intolerance | |
|---|---|---|
| Symptoms | Skin rash, hives, itching, coughing, sneezing, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, dizziness, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, tongue, and throat. | Bloating, gas, diarrhea, nausea, body tremors, heart palpitations, headaches, skin rash, mood changes, joint pain, nasal congestion, eczema. |
| Causes | Immune reaction to food mistakenly perceived as harmful. | Chemical reaction to food involving the digestive system. |
| Patients more at risk | Children up to age five. | People of any age with genetic or acquired enzyme deficiencies and certain medical conditions involving the digestive system. |
| Tests | Skin prick test, blood (antibody IgE) test, food elimination diet. | Skin prick test, blood (antibody IgG) test, food elimination diet. |
| Treatment | Elimination of allergens, auto-injectable epinephrine, antihistamines, corticosteroids. | Avoiding trigger foods, enzyme supplements, stress management. |
Food allergy and intolerance symptoms are similar and include the following.
Allergy
A food allergy can lead to anaphylaxis – a condition involving a sudden drop in blood pressure, difficulty breathing and swallowing, fainting, and shock. It is a rare but life-threatening event that potentially leads to coma and death.
Intolerance
Scientists continue to look for answers regarding what causes food allergies and intolerances. They know that allergies trigger the immune system, while intolerances can affect the digestive system, skin, and immune function. They also found the following distinctions in causes and risk factors.
Allergy
Intolerance
Anyone can be born with or develop a food allergy or intolerance.
Food allergies primarily affect young children (up to five years of age). Most of them outgrow milk, egg, and wheat allergies. Only 20% of patients outgrow peanut allergies. Seafood allergies typically remain for life.
Food intolerances affect all age groups, and they are usually lifelong. However, patients can often consume small amounts of offending foods without experiencing symptoms.
Food allergies and intolerances have similar symptoms and patients don’t always report them as they appear, so it is challenging to accurately diagnose the condition. Furthermore, many patients wrongly self-diagnose an allergy and stop eating certain foods, causing more damage than good because they unnecessarily avoid essential nutrients.
Medical providers have different strategies for diagnosing food sensitivities.
Allergy
Healthcare providers first perform a physical examination and ask the patient to describe symptoms, when they appeared, how the food was prepared, what ingredients were used, etc. If they suspect an allergy based on the patient’s account, they order a skin prick or a blood test.
The skin prick test involves putting the potentially offending food extract on the skin and making tiny scratches, so that the food penetrates it. If a sign of an, such as redness or a bump, allergy appears on that spot, it may be a sign of a food allergy.
A blood test involves drawing a small amount of blood from the patient’s vein and analyzing it for antibodies (immunoglobulin E or IgE). If antibodies are present, it may be a sign of food allergy. However, it can also indicate some other infection. The absence of antibodies is a strong indicator that the patient doesn’t have an allergy.
There are also food allergies that don’t involve the production of IgE antibodies. In those cases, the only way to diagnose an allergy is to eliminate suspect foods and reintroduce them under medical supervision, monitoring the reaction.
Intolerance
The elimination diet is the most used diagnostic for establishing a food intolerance. Doctors may also use skin prick tests and blood tests for immunoglobulin G or IgG.
Lactose and fructose intolerances have more a straightforward test. The hydrogen breath test involves breathing into a balloon and doctors analyzing the exhaled gas. The presence of hydrogen indicates an intolerance.
There is no permanent cure for food allergies and intolerances. However, patients can manage the conditions and lead quality lives.
Allergy
Patients with food allergies need to fully eliminate allergens from their diet to avoid life-threatening situations, such as anaphylactic shock. They must always carry an adrenalin auto-injector with them.
Antihistamines can help with itching, sneezing, and congestion. Corticosteroids can help with swelling.
Intolerance
Patients with food intolerances should avoid offending foods to reduce symptoms and improve their quality of life. They may eat small amounts of such foods without experiencing symptoms.
Enzyme supplements, probiotics and prebiotics can help break down deficient enzymes and aid digestion. Stress management may also help reduce symptoms in some patients.
Food allergies and intolerances often last for life. In some cases, the symptoms subside on their own.
The symptoms of food allergies and intolerances can last from a few minutes to several days. In most cases, they disappear within several hours. Their duration depends on the symptom’s severity, the amount of trigger food consumed, and the patient’s activity before the meal (alcohol intake, physical activity, etc.).
Food allergies and intolerances are widespread medical concerns. Allergies are potentially fatal, so patients should work with their medical providers to adequately manage the condition. Intolerances are milder, but also need addressing to ensure proper nutrition and symptom management.
Contact our medical professionals at Vibrant Skin Bar and book a food sensitivities testing.
We are a Phoenix-based full-service medical spa with a passion for enhancing our clients’ natural beauty from the inside out.
