People use the terms food allergies and food intolerances interchangeably, but are they similar conditions? The fact of the matter is that both food allergy and food intolerance are different, as food intolerance does not involve the body’s defense mechanism and cannot produce a life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, while food allergies affect the functioning of the immune system, causing many types of allergic reactions, which can be fatal in many cases.
Food intolerance is slightly complicated to comprehend as some proteins or other molecules present in the food can trigger some conditions like migraine, rashes, or irritable bowel syndrome.
The major Difference Between Food Allergy and Food Intolerance
The first and major difference between allergies and food intolerance is allergy can be hereditary or Immune reactions but food intolerance is a chemical reaction.
Food Allergy May Be a Hereditary
The probability of developing a food allergy is often genetic, in simpler terms it can be said that allergies pass through genes from parents to offsprings. However, it is important to remember that if a parent has an allergy, it doesn’t mean that the kid will also have it for sure. Researchers have found that environmental conditions which consist of lifestyle and diet interact with a genetic predisposition to enhance the risk of getting allergies.
Food Allergy May Be an Immune Reaction
Allergies occur due to an altered response of the body’s defense mechanism to some proteins present in the food. These proteins can be present in some food items and are referred to as allergens. Some food items like milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, etc. are more likely to cause allergies.
In allergy, usually, the immune system overreacts towards some substances and considers relatively harmless substances as if they were toxic.
Food intolerance is a chemical reaction.
Food intolerance is referred to as difficulty digesting certain foods or ingredients in food and chemical reactions that a few people experience after the consumption of certain food items. In most cases, this condition is not serious but you can feel unwell and it can bother you a lot. But in some conditions, It is associated with asthma, chronic fatigue syndrome, and irritable bowel syndrome.
Differences in Symptoms of food allergy and food intolerance
Symptoms of both conditions are almost similar, but the difference lies in the fact that the symptoms of food allergy develop relatively immediately after food consumption. In contrast, the symptoms of food intolerance are seen after period. Also, food intolerance largely depends on the amount of food consumed and may not show any sign till a certain amount or threshold value is reached, and this amount varies for each person.
Symptoms of Food intolerance
The following are the symptoms of the food intolerance:
- Tremor/shivering
- Sweating and palpitations
- Increased rate of breathing
- Headache or migraine
- Loose motions
- Burning on the skin
- Itching on skin
Symptoms of Food Allergy
The symptoms of food allergy are as follows:
- Painful rashes or hives
- Inflammation of the face, lips, and eyes
- Tingling sensation in the mouth
- Pain in stomach
- Vomiting
- Severe allergic reactions, also known as anaphylaxis, like tightness in the chest, wheezing or persistent cough, dizziness, and loss of consciousness.
Differences in Causes of food allergy and food intolerance
Causes of Food Allergy (Common food allergens)
Some common foods that cause food allergies are:
- Peanuts
- Tree nuts
- Cow’s milk
- Soy
- Wheat
- Shellfish
- Eggs
Out of these, peanuts cause allergic reactions in many people.
Causes of Food Intolerance (More common Intolerant food protein)
There are many proteins present in the food items that trigger an unwanted response from the body. Food intolerance occurs due to food items like:
- Dairy products
- Chocolate
- Eggs
- Food additives like MSG to enhance flavor
- Red wine
Differences in the Management of Food Allergy and Food Intolerance
The best way to manage food allergies and food intolerances is to avoid the food items that initiate allergic reaction or triggers intolerances. Ayurveda can successfully manage food allergies and food intolerances by restoring the state of balance in the elemental energies or doshas. Ayurveda stresses the importance of eating a balanced diet and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Moreover, Ayurvedic herbs can work on the immune system and avoid the overreaction of the immune system to some proteins.
Conclusion
When some people find skin reactions such as hives and rashes after eating a meal, they are not able to calculate whether it is a food allergy or food intolerance. Because of not having proper information about food allergies and food intolerances, it is more likely that people do not differentiate them as separate food reactions and consider both to be the same. Thus this confusion also affects the treatment process, so in this blog, we have discussed about what is the difference between food allergy and Food Intolerance.
We have discussed that allergies can be hereditary and immune reactions but food intolerance can be a chemical reaction. Their symptoms may be similar such as vomiting, pain in the stomach, hives, and rashes on the skin that confuse. Treatment and management options for both conditions may vary depending on the patient.