It seems as if everyone has a food allergy and while it's true that the numbers have increased, the reality is that most of those who think they have a food allergy really have a food intolerance. What's the difference?
Food Allergy vs Food Intolerance:
An allergy is a reaction by the body's immune system. Something that should be ignored isn't and the body overreacts with an outpouring of chemicals that trigger itchy eyes, runny nose and sneezing or coughing if the allergen is inhaled; nausea, vomiting and diarrhea if it's eaten and in both cases the risk of hives and shortness of breath. An allergic reaction can progress all the way to anaphylactic shock, a life-threatening situation where the blood pressure drops precipitously and the airway can close in. True allergies can kill. The most common triggers of this type of overwhelming reaction are shellfish, milk, peanuts, tree nuts and fin fish.
Food Intolerance:
While not meaning to minimize its impact on the quality of the person's life, a food intolerance is rarely (if ever) life-threatening. The body cannot tolerate a certain food and as a result the stomach and intestines rebel. A classic is lactose intolerance. As we age the amount of lactase, an enzyme that lives in our gut and helps us to digest the milk sugar lactose, drops. In some people it disappears completely. The result is that lactose cannot be digested by the person but can be by the bugs that normally live in the gut. They have a food bonanza as all this lactose that would normally be digested and absorbed by the gut before it gets to them isn't and so they go hog wild. The result for the poor person is severe tummy cramps, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea if they drink milk or eat any dairy with the lactose still there. That's an intolerance and it will not kill you, thank goodness.
Why is it important to know the difference?
First and foremost because one can kill (the allergy) and that means you need to avoid the trigger and perhaps always have an adrenalin auto-injector with you. What's interesting is that a recent study published in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) found that only about half the people who think they have a food allergy actually do, the rest have an intolerance. You can understand how important it is to know which one you have. If in doubt, speak to your doc and if necessary you can be tested but this should be done carefully and in a controlled environment because if you do have an allergy it can become serious quickly and so someone needs to be there at your side with the necessary expertise.