The difference between a food allergy and intolerance is how your body responds to a foreign trigger. The immune system causes an allergic reaction, while your digestive system causes an intolerance.
The terms “allergy” and “intolerance” both refer to the body’s reaction to a foreign substance.
However, food allergies and intolerances are not the same.
Keep reading to learn more about the different causes, symptoms, and treatments of food allergies and intolerances.
- stomach pain
Food intolerances happen when your body can’t properly break down a certain substance in your digestive tract. It’s usually
Some common types of food intolerances include:
- Lactose: This is a type of sugar found in dairy products like cow’s milk, cheese, and yogurt. Lactose intolerance is caused by a shortage of lactase enzymes, which help break down lactose in your gut.
- Histamine: This is a chemical found in preserved, processed, or fermented foods. It’s
broken downin your digestive tract by the enzymes diamine oxidase and histamine-N-methyltransferase. If these are impaired, high levels of histamine can accumulate in your body.
- Gluten: This is a
group of proteinsfound in grains like wheat, barley, and rye. Non-celiac gluten sensitivity is when you experience symptoms after eating gluten but haven’t received a diagnosis of celiac disease, an autoimmune condition.
- Sulfites: These chemicals are common food preservatives. They may cause food intolerance symptoms in people with asthma, according to Allergy UK.
Your immune system is your body’s defense against invaders like bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Food allergies happen when your immune system identifies an invader in something you eat and reacts by producing antibodies to fight it.
- hives, rash, or itchy skin
- swelling in your face, lips, or eyes
- shortness of breath
- stomach pain
Is my allergic reaction an emergency?
Anaphylaxis is a severe, life threatening reaction to an allergen. It’s critical to get immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms after eating food:
- sudden swelling of the mouth, lips, throat, or tongue
- sudden rash
- shortness of breath, wheezing, or gasping for air
- very fast, rapid breathing
- difficulty swallowing
- sudden dizziness
- skin, tongue, or lips becoming blue or pale
- unresponsiveness, such as difficulty raising your head
A food allergy happens when your immune system attacks a food protein because it thinks it’s threatening.
Your immune system does this by creating antibodies to fight the invader. The most common antibodies are immunoglobulin E (IgE). These may cause an immediate reaction when they release defensive chemicals, such as histamine.
Food allergies can be fatal, unlike food intolerances. In extreme cases, ingesting or even touching a small amount of the allergen can cause a severe reaction, known as anaphylaxis. This happens when your immune system overreacts, releasing high amounts of histamine into your body.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the following nine foods account for
- tree nuts
There are also non-IGE-mediated food allergies. These occur when other cells in your immune system are activated.
Symptoms of non-IGE reactions primarily affect your skin and gastrointestinal tract. These may include vomiting, bloating, or eczema. Less is known about this particular type of reaction. However, it’s usually not life threatening.
There’s no cure for food intolerances or allergies. However, a healthcare professional may recommend a management plan to provide symptom relief and prevent a reaction. This may include:
- avoiding foods that trigger a reaction
- taking over-the-counter or prescription medications, such as antihistamines or topical creams
- using an emergency autoinjector (EpiPen) if you’re experiencing anaphylaxis
- immunotherapy to help lessen the severity of reactions
If you or someone you’re with experiences anaphylaxis after eating food, get immediate medical attention.
The National Health Service (NHS) recommends taking the following steps:
- Use an adrenaline auto-injector, such as EpiPen, if you have one. Make sure to follow the instructions as described on the injector.
- Call 911 or your local emergency phone number. Tell them you or someone you’re with is experiencing an anaphylactic shock.
- Lie down on the back and lift the legs and shoulders.
- Use a second adrenaline auto-injector if symptoms haven’t improved after 5 minutes.
If your child has a food allergy, you must know how to treat accidental food ingestions. A self-injectable epinephrine must always be available.
The potential effects of an allergic reaction are severe. But, efforts are made to accommodate people with food allergies. For example, school lunchrooms may be peanut-free to cater to children with peanut allergies.
Also, product labels must state if a food is made in the same facility that processes the most common allergens.
Is a food sensitivity the same as an allergy?
Food sensitivity is a term that refers to a range of symptoms that arise from an
Can you be sensitive to food but not allergic?
Yes. Eating certain types of food may trigger digestive-related symptoms, such as bloating. These are not allergic reactions, but food intolerance symptoms can be very uncomfortable.
What are the 3 signs of food intolerance?
Symptoms of food intolerance typically affect your digestive system. These may include diarrhea, bloating, and stomach pain, among others.
What are the 3 most common food intolerances?
According to a
Food intolerances and allergies can both cause symptoms. However, they’re both different types of reactions.
It’s important to avoid triggering foods that may cause a reaction, especially if it’s an allergen. In some cases, food allergies may lead to anaphylaxis, which can be life threatening.
Tofauti kati ya mzio wa chakula na kutoweza kuvumilia ni jinsi mwili wako unavyoitikia kichocheo cha kigeni. Mfumo wa kinga husababisha mmenyuko wa mzio, huku mfumo wako wa kumeng'enya chakula ukisababisha kutovumilia. Maneno "mchanganyiko" na "kutovumilia" yote mawili yanarejelea athari ya mwili kwa dutu ya kigeni. Hata hivyo, mzio wa chakula na kutovumilia chakula si mambo yaleyale. Endelea kusoma ili kujifunza zaidi kuhusu visababishi tofauti, dalili, na matibabu ya mzio na kutovumilia chakula. - maumivu ya tumbo Ukosefu wa kuvumilia chakula hutokea wakati mwili wako hauwezi kuvunja vizuri dutu fulani katika mfumo wako wa kumeng'enya chakula. Kwa kawaida Aina fulani za kawaida za kutovumilia chakula ni pamoja na: - Lactose: Hii ni aina ya sukari inayopatikana katika bidhaa za maziwa kama maziwa ya ng'ombe, jibini, na mboga. Ukosefu wa lactose unatokana na upungufu wa enzymes lactase, ambayo husaidia kuvunja lactose katika matumbo yako. - Histamine: Hii ni kemikali inayopatikana katika vyakula vilivyohifadhiwa, vilivyotengenezwa, au vilivyochemshwa. Ni kuvunjwa chini katika mfumo wako wa kumeng'enya na enzymes diamine oxidase na histamine-N-methyltransferase. Ikiwa hizi zimeharibika, viwango vya juu vya histamine vinaweza kujikusanya katika mwili wako. - Gluten: Hii ni kundi la protini zinazopatikana katika nafaka kama vile ngano, shayiri, na rye. Non-celiac gluten sensitivity ni wakati wewe uzoefu dalili baada ya kula gluten lakini hawajapokea utambuzi wa ugonjwa wa celiac, hali ya autoimmune. - Sulfiti: Kemikali hizi ni vitu vya kawaida vya kuhifadhi chakula. Kuna uwezekano wa kuwa na dalili za kutovumilia chakula kwa watu wenye pumu, kulingana na Allergy UK. Mfumo wako wa kinga ni ulinzi wa mwili wako dhidi ya wavamizi kama vile bakteria, virusi, na kuvu. Madhara ya chakula hutokea wakati mfumo wako wa kinga unapotambua kuwa kuna kitu fulani unachokula na kuitikia kwa kutokeza kinga dhidi ya kitu hicho. - kibofu, mlipuko, au ngozi inayokwaruza - uvimbe katika uso wako, midomo, au macho - upungufu wa pumzi - maumivu ya tumbo Je, mmenyuko wangu wa mzio ni dharura? Anaphylaxis ni athari kali, yenye kuhatarisha uhai kwa kichocheo cha mzio. Ni muhimu kupata matibabu mara moja ikiwa utapata dalili yoyote yafuatayo baada ya kula chakula: - uvimbe wa ghafla wa mdomo, midomo, koo, au ulimi - mlipuko wa ghafla - upungufu wa pumzi, kupiga kelele, au kukosa hewa - kupumua haraka sana, haraka - ugumu wa kumeza - kizunguzungu cha ghafla - ngozi, ulimi, au midomo kuwa bluu au nyeupe - kutojibu, kama vile ugumu wa kuinua kichwa chako. Mfumo wako wa kinga hufanya hivyo kwa kutengeneza kingamwili ili kupigana na mvamizi. Antibodies ya kawaida ni immunoglobulin E (IgE). Hizi zaweza kusababisha athari ya papo hapo zinapoachilia kemikali za kujilinda, kama vile histamini. Madhara ya chakula yanaweza kusababisha kifo, tofauti na kutoweza kuvumilia chakula. Katika visa vikali, kula au hata kugusa kiasi kidogo cha kichocheo cha mzio kunaweza kusababisha athari kali, inayoitwa anaphylaxis. Hii hutokea wakati mfumo wako wa kinga unapojibu kupita kiasi, ukitoa kiasi kikubwa cha histamine ndani ya mwili wako. Kulingana na Idara ya Chakula na Dawa ya Marekani, vyakula hivi ni muhimu kwa sababu ya athari za IGE. Hizi hutokea wakati chembe nyingine katika mfumo wako wa kinga zinapoanzishwa. Dalili za athari zisizo za IGE huathiri hasa ngozi na mfumo wa tumbo. Hizi zaweza kutia ndani kutapika, kuvimba, au eczema. Ni mambo machache yanayojulikana kuhusu aina hiyo ya mmenyuko. Hata hivyo, kwa kawaida hali hiyo haisababishi kifo. Hakuna tiba ya kutovumilia chakula au mzio. Hata hivyo, mtaalamu wa huduma za afya anaweza kupendekeza mpango wa usimamizi ili kutoa misaada ya dalili na kuzuia athari. Hii inaweza kujumuisha: - kuepuka vyakula vinavyosababisha athari - kuchukua dawa za dawa au dawa za dawa, kama vile antihistamines au cream za eneo - kutumia auto-injector ya dharura (EpiPen) ikiwa unapata anaphylaxis - immunotherapy kusaidia kupunguza ukali wa athari Ikiwa wewe au mtu unayemwona anaphylaxis baada ya kula chakula, pata uangalifu wa matibabu mara moja. Utafiti wa Usalama wa Kitaifa (NHS) unaonyesha kuwa kuna uwezekano wa kuwa na adrenaline auto-injector (EpiPen) au adrenaline auto-injector (AAI) kwa muda mrefu. Hakikisha kufuata maelekezo kama ilivyoelezwa kwenye injector. - Piga simu 911 au nambari yako ya simu ya dharura. Waambie wewe au mtu unayeishi naye ana mshtuko wa anaphylactic. - Lala juu ya mgongo na kuinua miguu na mabega. - Tumia auto-injector ya pili ya adrenaline ikiwa dalili hazijaboresha baada ya dakika 5. Ikiwa mtoto wako ana mzio wa chakula, ni lazima ujue jinsi ya kutibu ulaji wa chakula bila kukusudia. Epinephrine inayoweza kuingizwa yenyewe lazima iwepo daima. Athari za uwezekano wa athari ya mzio ni kali. Lakini, jitihada zinafanywa ili kuwasaidia watu walio na mzio wa chakula. Kwa mfano, vyumba vya chakula cha mchana vya shule huenda visikuwa na karanga ili kutosheleza mahitaji ya watoto walio na mzio wa karanga. Pia, viashiria vya bidhaa lazima vieleze ikiwa chakula hicho kimefanywa katika kituo hicho hicho kinachotengeneza visababishi vya mzio vinavyopatikana mara nyingi. Je, kuwa na hisi ya chakula ni sawa na kuwa na mzio? Uwezo wa kulevya ni aina ya dalili zinazotokana na hali ya kuwa na hisia za chakula lakini sio mzio. Ndio, nina hakika. Kula aina fulani za chakula kunaweza kusababisha dalili zinazohusiana na mfumo wa kumeng'enya chakula, kama vile kuvimba. Hizi si athari za mzio, lakini dalili za kutovumilia chakula zaweza kuwa zisizofaa sana. Ni nini dalili tatu za kutovumilia chakula? Dalili za kutovumilia chakula kwa kawaida huathiri mfumo wako wa kumeng'enya chakula. Hizi zaweza kutia ndani kuhara, kuvimba, na maumivu ya tumbo, miongoni mwa mambo mengine. Ni aina gani tatu za upungufu wa chakula unaopatikana kwa kawaida? Kulingana na a Usiwezi wa kula na mzio wa chakula wote wawili wanaweza kusababisha dalili. Hata hivyo, wote ni aina tofauti za athari. Ni muhimu kuepuka kuchochea vyakula ambavyo vinaweza kusababisha athari, hasa ikiwa ni allergen. Katika visa fulani, mzio wa chakula waweza kusababisha anaphylaxis, ambayo yaweza kuhatarisha uhai.