Food allergy vs food intolerance

If your stomach gets upset after drinking milk and eating shrimps make your skin itchy, it means you are either allergic or intolerant to this particular kind of food. Studies have shown that most of us believe that such symptoms determine food allergy. However a majority of Americans can’t tell you the difference between food allergy and food intolerance. Therefore, wrong treatment methods may be chosen.

In fact, the main difference is in seriousness of these disorders: allergies may cause even death while food intolerance brings some discomfort. An allergy is a very important issue that affects almost all sides of our life. Imagine yourself being on a strict diet all the time! Imagine a child not eating milk and eggs which means not eating cakes and other sweet things. How do you find a birthday party without a delicious cake?

Food allergy

A food allergy occurs when our body does not recognize a certain item and mistakes it as foreign or dangerous substance. Therefore the body starts to fight against the substance, producing antibodies. The antibodies make our immune system react. The reaction is rush, swollen tongues or lips, dizziness or itchiness.

Food intolerance

Food intolerance has no connection with out immune system. It’s just that our digestive system lacks some component that is needed to digest certain food. Food intolerance can cause diarrhea, bloating and gas.