Food Allergies vs Food Intolerances: Dietician Explains Differences And Ways To Manage Both

Food Allergies vs Food Intolerances: It is quite normal for the body to respond to certain foods in a certain way, although, most of the time the reactions are because of food intolerance and not food allergy. Lactose intolerance produces symptoms resembling those of a food allergy and this causes the two conditions to be considered interchangeable.

A true food allergy targets the immune system only for a particular kind of food. It is a common misconception that only a small quantity of allergenic food is capable of causing several effects that may be lethal. However, food intolerance mainly impacts the gastrointestinal tract and the symptoms are usually less severe.

In a conversation with Jagran English, Dr Sharvari Umesh Gude, Senior Dietician, Manipal Hospital Goa explained the differences between food allergies and food intolerances and ways to manage both. 

Food Intolerance

People with food intolerance do not get harmed by consuming small portions of the specific food type that they are intolerant to. For instance, an individual suffering from lactose intolerance can take de-lactose milk or else may take lactase enzymes to support digestion. The symptoms of food intolerance are similar to those of food allergies and include bloating, gas, diarrhoea and stomach cramps. While these symptoms are unpleasant, they are not symptoms of an immune system reaction and are not fatal.

Food Allergy

Food allergies, on the other hand, are a form of an immune response to certain foods that are present in the diet. When an allergic person takes even a small portion of the food to which he or she is allergic, the body’s defence system is triggered and releases chemicals such as histamine that cause allergy. Some of the signs of food allergy are skin rash, swelling of the face and difficulty in breathing due to constriction of the airways. Food allergy may result in anaphylaxis, which is a severe and sometimes fatal reaction to food allergens that need emergency intervention.

Food Allergies vs Food Intolerances (Image Credits: Canva)

Causes and Risk Factors

Much about the root cause of food allergies is still unknown to this date. Majority of the food allergies are usually noticed at a young age and some may even fade off at a later age. Nonetheless, some food allergies remain with an individual throughout their lifetime.

Treatment and Management

In food intolerance, the main treatments are dietary modifications, and in some cases, enzyme replacement therapy. On the other hand, food allergies call for the complete elimination of the offending food from the patient’s diet. This means that minor allergic reactions can be managed using antihistamine drugs to help reduce the symptoms. However, severe reactions call for immediate medical intervention and may need the use of epinephrine.

This is very important in order to be able to manage and treat the condition that is between food intolerance and food allergies. Food intolerance is generally confined to the digestive system and is not very dangerous, while food allergies are dangerous since they involve the immune system. Whenever the symptoms appear after eating specific foods, it is necessary to consult a doctor to identify the correct cause and treatment.

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