Food Allergy vs Intolerance

Some people are confused about the difference between a food allergy and food intolerance, so here's a quick breakdown of the two terms.

As discussed in a previous post, there exists a correlation between food sensitivities and the microbiome. But what exactly is a "food sensitivity/intolerance," and why can't that term be used synonymously with "food allergy"?

You may be most familiar with the term “food allergy." This is the stimulus that induces production of the antibody called IgE, which causes the notorious immune system reaction affecting multiple organs and producing a range of symptoms. These true allergic reactions can be severe and in some cases, fatal if not treated immediately.

In contrast, the IgG antibodies produced during a reaction towards food intolerance lead to more insidious effects and symptoms are generally related to digestive issues. For instance, you may have gas, bloating, diarrhea, heartburn, and/or stomach pain after eating certain foods. Symptoms can also present outside the GI tract (i.e. headaches, brain fog, fatigue, skin issues, etc.). While food intolerance may not seem as serious as a full-blown food allergy, ignoring the sensitivity of your digestive system may lead to health complications in the long run.

Food intolerances can also indicate that your body may be lacking certain enzymes necessary to digest particular foods. Without these enzymes, your body may suffer from indigestion and gut inflammation—even from eating relatively healthy foods.

As always, we strive to tackle the inflammatory sources from our lifestyle, in order to maintain a strong and healthy immune system. If you’re struggling to find the right balance of foods in your life, let’s talk and get started on your individualized health journey!

Source(s)

Raymond JL, Morrow K. Krause and Mahan's Food & the Nutrition Care Process. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2021.