Food Allergy Vs Food Intolerance
Nothing gives you the best satisfaction like good food. When it comes to food, everyone has their favourites to pick. Some foods may taste like heaven to you while some may give you an unpleasant feeling after consumption that you can’t turn to it again. Most people confuse this situation as food allergy due to the unexpected effects it shows up. But, the real reason behind the reactions can be a food intolerance.
Things to know about Food Allergy
Food allergy is a reaction caused by the immune system after a particular food is ingested. The reactions may range from mild to severe leading to life-threatening circumstances too. Food allergy is mostly triggered by allergy-causing proteins in certain foods.
Some of the common symptoms of food allergy include
- Uncontrollable itching
- Severe cramping
- Vomiting
- Hives
- Swelling of different parts of the body
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Breathing trouble (worst cases)
About 90% of allergic food reactions are due to commonly consumed foods like
- Milk
- Eggs
- Fish
- Groundnuts
- Wheat
- Soybeans
How to avoid food allergy?
The best solution to get rid of food allergies is to avoid foods that cause allergies. If the allergy gets worse, consult a doctor for a piece of proper medical advice.
Things to know about Food Intolerance
Coming to food intolerance (also known as Food sensitivity), the digestive system is primarily responsible for the problems caused after the consumption of a specific food. And the immune system has nothing to do with food intolerance. Food Intolerance happens when a food triggers an intolerance usually in your digestive tract where it cannot break it down, or react properly leading to troubles. Let’s take a simple example, the person who has lactose intolerance finds it difficult to drink milk but they can drink lactose-free milk with ease. Few of the reasons why you may be sensitive or intolerant to food are
- Food additives including artificial colours, sulfites, and so on
- Chemicals in foods or other Pharmacological factors
- Sensitivity to sugars presents naturally in common foods like onions, cauliflower, or pulses.
- Not possessing the right enzymes required for digesting the food
Some of the common symptoms of food intolerance are
- Nausea
- Sudden Cramps
- Headaches
- Abdominal pain
- Heartburn
- Bloating
- Fatigue
How to avoid food intolerance?
Food intolerance can be avoided if you don’t eat those specific foods. If the problems persist, consult a doctor to get supplements that may aid in easy digestion.
What makes food intolerance differ from Food Allergy?
Food Allergy and Food intolerance are very similar. To be particular, Food intolerance is less dangerous compared to food allergy. It is because a person with food intolerance can take in small amounts of that food without having adverse reactions. Also, it can be taken care of by taking supplements at extreme conditions. Food allergy is very sensitive and it needs to be avoided at once no matter what. If you’re confused between food allergy and food intolerance, visit a healthcare provider, get the details and act accordingly to arrive at a better solution.
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