Food Allergies, Intolerances and Sensitivities

Difficulty with tolerating foods has been increasing globally and chances are that you have had an unpleasant symptom after a meal once or twice. You have probably heard of food allergies, intolerances and sensitivities. But what do these terms mean? It is important to differentiate between these, because the reactions can range from just plain bothersome to life-threatening.

Food Allergies

When you have a food allergy, your immune system causes a reaction called a Type 1 Hypersensitivity, using immunoglobulin E (IgE). You have probably heard of the term anaphylactic reaction; which is the result of this IgE responding to a foreign allergen.

The symptoms include hives, swelling, itching, or symptoms of anaphylaxis such as difficulty breathing, wheezing, and dizziness. This is life threatening and requires interventions through a medication injected into a muscle to stop the immune response. Approximately 4% of Americans have this type of food allergy and there are some common foods that cause this such as-milk, eggs, tree nuts, wheat, soy, fish and shellfish.

Food Intolerances

Food intolerances and sensitivities are much more common than allergies and some studies estimate 15-20% of the population, although this number is likely much higher. With food intolerances, the reaction is triggered by the digestive system.

Food intolerances are difficulty digesting a food. Sometimes this may be due to lacking an enzyme to break the food down, such as in lactose intolerance. Your body is lacking the enzyme to break down lactose, a sugar found in dairy products. Aging alone can cause difficulty with digestion overall and intolerance to certain foods. This is not a serious disease but can be quite aggravating.

Symptoms include gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, cramping and/or nausea. Avoidance of certain foods or taking enzymes will often help with these intolerances.

Food Sensitivities

Food sensitivities are the result of high levels of immunoglobulin G, an antibody which the immune system creates in response to viewing the particular food as a foreign invader. Unlike food allergies, IgG activity does not cause a Type 1 Hypersensitivity reaction and therefore anaphylaxis does not occur. There is ongoing research as to the exact cause of this immune response to certain foods, who develops it and why.

Current understanding includes chronic stress, recurrent exposure to antibiotics, gastrointestinal infection, and inflammation as correlating factors with those who develop food sensitivities.  The symptoms are not life threatening but can be quite troublesome and include symptoms similar to food intolerances.

Gluten is the best-known trigger of food sensitivities, including Celiac disease and Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity. Through careful observation and elimination of certain foods with slow methodical re-introduction, this can help to understand the food triggers to improve quality of life.

Testing for food allergies, sensitivies and intolerances

Several tests exist to confirm allergies which include skin prick testing (usually done by an allergist), blood testing, and elimination diets. At Empowered Health, we have highly specific food sensitivity testing through blood work and elimination diet programs and support groups to help you get to the root causes of your allergy, intolerance or sensitivity.