Food Intolerance and Food Allergy: The Important Differences

People are often confused between food allergy and food intolerance or sensitivity, both of which appear to be on the rise. Some of the symptoms of these reactions may overlap, but they are very different.

Understanding the Difference between Food Allergy and Food Intolerance

A true food allergy is an immune reaction to a specific food that the body incorrectly views as a threat. In this case, the immune system causes an allergic reaction to that food by producing IgE (Immunoglobulin E) antibodies.

Some of the symptoms of a true food allergy include:

• Eczema
• Hives and skin rashes
• Itchy and watering eyes
• Sneezing
• Runny nose
• Coughing and wheezing
• Difficulty breathing and talking
• Tingling skin
• Swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and throat
• Tightness of the chest
• Vomiting and diarrhea
• Fast pulse
• Dizziness and fainting

The symptoms appear within 6 hours of eating the offending food and can be severe, resulting in life-threatening anaphylaxis if treatment is not sought immediately.

The most common foods that trigger a severe allergic reaction include milk, eggs, wheat, nuts, fish and shellfish (1).  

On the other hand, food intolerance or sensitivity is an unpleasant and very real condition, but it is not critical. It’s usually the result of an inability to digest or break down certain foods and does not involve an IgE-mediated immune reaction. Food intolerances are often referred to as hidden intolerances as symptoms can take up to 48 or 72 hours to occur.  

Besides the life-threatening aspect, one of the key differences between food allergy and food intolerance is that in the case of an allergy, a person cannot eat or inhale even a minuscule amount of the offending food. There is a risk of an allergic reaction even if they eat something that is prepared in the same environment that contains the allergen. However, people with intolerances only react when eating the specific food and can often eat small amounts with no problem.

How to Treat Food Allergy versus Food Intolerance

Finding the cause of a true food allergy is relatively simple as the symptoms are specific and accurate testing exists, but it can be a lot more complicated in the case of hidden food intolerance.

However, once the cause is found, avoiding the offending foods is the key to managing both food allergies and food intolerances. This also means learning to read food labels carefully to check for hidden ingredients.

Those with severe food allergies will be given an epinephrine pen (containing adrenalin) to inject themselves with. This will need to be kept with them at all times in case of accidental contamination, otherwise the reaction can quickly become fatal.

Sufferers of food intolerance do not need immediate medical treatment, but it will require lifestyle changes. This could include keeping a food journal, following an exclusion diet, avoiding trigger foods, taking digestive aids, finding food replacements, and supplementing with certain nutrients if needed. 

Conclusion

As you can see, food allergies and intolerances are both unpleasant and real conditions but with different physiological reactions.  

If you are experiencing physical symptoms after eating certain foods, it’s important to visit a qualified medical practitioner. They can help you to distinguish between an allergy and a hidden intolerance and offer the necessary help.