(Food) Allergy vs. Intolerance vs. Sensitivity

(Food) Allergy vs. Intolerance vs. Sensitivity 

Are you finding yourself tired, bloated, oozing purple goo, and looking for the magic trick to tell you how to fix all your problems? 

Do you check the validity of every commercial you hear or see to determine if that product is what it says it is? Most often the answer is no… because lets be honest, we expect those advertising to be the experts. I wish all people were good and they would only sell wholesome products, but the reality is we don’t live in that perfect world and sometimes we need to fact check things.  

We are going to talk through the differences between a food allergy, a food intolerance and a food sensitivity. I acknowledge some of you are very sensitive about your ‘sensitivity’ tests, but just note that I am going to be referring to scientific based research and responses from insurances companies in regards to these classifications. 

The Reaction 

Food Allergy – is when your immune system overreacts to a particular protein found in foods; typically when your immune system detects a harmful substance. 

Signs and Symptoms: an unpleasant or dangerous immune system reaction when that food item is consumed, such as hives/rashes, diarrhea, nausea, gastrointestinal upset, swelling, or anaphylaxis. 

Anaphylaxis– an abnormal response triggered by your body’s immune system, causing a mild or severe reaction that can be life threatening, if not treated immediately 

8 Major Food Allergies:

• Cow’s Milk
• Eggs
• Fish
• Peanuts
• Shellfish
• Soy
• Tree Nut
• Wheat

**There are others these are just the most common

Allergies can have an onset in childhood or later in life. Children sometimes have the ability to outgrow some allergies such as cow’s milk, egg, soy and wheat, however, if they are diagnosed with a peanut, tree but, fish and shellfish allergies thee will most likely persist throughout adulthood (If, you attempt to reintroduce the first 4 foods consult your primary care provider, I just thought this was an interesting fact). Adults are not as lucky and once they develop an allergy this will be their friend for life. 

There are two types of allergies: 

• Food Protein-induce Enterocolitis Syndrome (FPIES)– delayed food allergy, can cause vomiting and diarrhea, and if severe could cause dehydration. Most common culprits of this are milk, soy, and grains, often develops during infancy when a child is bring introduced to solid foods. 
• Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE)– a reaction causing inflammation of the esophagus (throat). Those who have this type of reaction often has a family history of allergic disorders such as asthma, rhinitis, dermatitis, or food allergy. 

Moving on…. Food Intolerance 

An intolerance is when your body is lacking an enzyme to break down a certain food. If you have an intolerance to a food and you eat that food item you may feel discomfort such as bloating, but you will not have an allergic reacting to that food. Your body essentially just does not make that enzyme or enough to break it down when consumed. If you have a family history of intolerances your changes may increase and if you have other health conditions and/or treatments that have caused intestinal damage you can develop an intolerance. 

A common food intolerance is lactose intolerance. Lactose intolerant is when your body is unable to break down lactose, a naturally occurring sugar found in dairy. Following the one shoe does not fits all, not all intolerances are the same. Some individuals can consume small amounts of lactose containing foods, where others may not be able to.

Signs and Symptoms: bloating, diarrhea, gas, nausea and stomach pain 

Finally….. Food Sensitivity

Sensitivity tests:

• Measure the body’s “immune response” to roughly 96 different foods by testing IgG “antibodies”
• Results suggest eliminatingseveral foods to alleviate your “symptoms,” (I frown against this… in light that it can cause a spiraling downfall of disordered eating). 

Food sensitivity is not an official medical diagnosis known to the American Academy of Allergy and Asthma and Immunology. This is also one of the reasons why insurance companies will not cover the cost of this testing, whether it be at home or in a clinic. There are at home blood tests that can be mailed to you, completed and mailed back however there has been question as to the validity of those tests.  

Food sensitivity test, test IgG antibodies that are produced by your body after you eat some type of food. These IgG antibodies are also known as “memory bodies”. 

Lets put this into perspective, for example, if you ate a plum the day of or the day before administering your sensitivity test, the chances of that food showing up on your test is moderate to high. This is because the IgG antibodies otherwise known as the  “memory antibodies” have produced a ‘code’ that then shows up on your little blood sample. You are essentially creating a memory of that food in your body. You may have absolutely no signs or symptoms to this food, which would indicate an allergic reaction or intolerance, but according to that test your body remembers it, which does not necessarily mean it is a bad thing.

Therefore, an IgG antibody signifies memory through the exposure of a food, so a positive IgG test is a sign of a normal immune system and memory of a food, not necessarily an allergy. When food allergy tests are conducted they are done through skin pricks or blood tests that measure IgE antibodies, which are suggesting an immune response.  

Overall, IgG = memory. Your body has created a memory to that food, most often with no sign or symptoms. This does not mean you should eliminate them from your diet. I would recommend getting an allergy test conducted by a doctor who specializes in allergies to determine if you really have an allergy to this food. 

Overall…. 

Just like nutrition, allergies and intolerances are not a one shoe fits all. All bodies are different and there is no perfect scenario. 

Food allergic reaction involves the immune system. Your body sees the food’s protein structure as an intruder, causing your immune system to overreact by producing antibodies, immunoglobin E (IgE). Your body will then go into overdrive trying to get rid of the intruder most often causing an allergic reaction. Some reactions will be mild others will be more severe.  

Food intolerances involve the digestive system.Simplest form, your body is missing an enzyme to break down food. Depending on the severity most people are usually able to eat small amounts without issues. 

Food Sensitivity, is lacking scientific evidence for support. 

That is all folks!! Some of you may feel slightly on edge and that is okay. There is always new research coming out and I will wait to see what the future holds for sensitivity tests, but there is lacking evidence.

XO, 

Sami