Food Allergy and Intolerance

What is a Food Intolerance?

A food intolerance normally occurs when you have an enzyme deficiency or reaction to naturally occurring chemicals in foods. Often, people can eat small amounts of the food without causing problems, however it does mean you’re not able to digest a substance of certain foods. A food Intolerance is generally not life threatening and not serious, however they can make you feel extremely poorly and change your quality of life. When it comes to food intolerance there is some important things to remember. Someone who is suffering from a food intolerance can have a delayed reaction, sometimes up to 72 hours after eating the food. It can also not just be one food you’re intolerant to, a lot of people are intolerant to a few different substances/food. For example, someone who is intolerant to dairy, can also be intolerant to wheat, it just depends on the individual.

Many people also panic when they find out they’re intolerant, although it can cause pain at times, it is not something to worry about as a food intolerance is very common. It is key to remember to get tested if you believe you have a food intolerance or seek professional advice to solve the problem. If you do find out you are intolerant to a food, it is key to eliminate the substance from your diet.

Food Intolerance Symptoms

A range of symptoms can occur when you suffer from a food intolerance. Depending on the individual and intolerance symptoms can change. Examples of symptoms are as follows:-

• Stomach cramps
• Aches
• Headaches
• Bloating
• Constipation
• Diarrhoea
• Itching
• Migraine
• Rashes
• Tension
• Tiredness
• Weight loss/weight gain
• Wheezing.

These are just a few of the symptoms you may suffer from. Not everyone will suffer from the same symptoms even if they are intolerant to the same food, so don’t compare yourself to others.

Types of Food Intolerance

There are many types of food intolerance you can suffer from.  Many people get tested as they believe they suffer with a particular food intolerance. Some examples of food intolerance are:

• Gluten
• Wheat
• Dairy
• Egg
• Soya

These tend to be the main foods. However, some people may suffer from a specific food intolerance for example to olives or some other food.

There are many ways in which you can be tested for a food intolerance. Doctors or health professionals will suggest you keep a food diary which is an efficient way to see what you can and cannot eat. You can discuss this with your local GP. This method is usually suited to people who are able to follow rules strictly. Food diaries can contain many things, including what you eat during the time, you have felt unwell.  However, if you do not fancy going down that line of testing, you may instead opt for other alternatives such as an IgG food intolerance test. This can simply be done by visiting a specialist. Some of them may choose to take your blood which will be sent off to a laboratory where further tests will be done. It is always important however that you discuss all symptoms with your doctor.  Certain tests like those for coeliac / celiac disease are generally tested via your doctors.

You can take it into your own hands and deal with a food intolerance by accepting what you can and cannot have. Ensuring that you check all labels on food before buying is always a smart idea. Also if you’re travelling anywhere and you’re unsure whether they are ‘gluten free friendly’ for example, it’s always good to double check if they’ll have suitable food for you.  If not, then the alternative is to bring your own food.  Ensuring that people around you are aware of your intolerance is always a good idea too, this means you will not be in contact with any substances that might make you feel unwell.

What is a Food Allergy?

An allergy involves the immune system. Your immune system controls how your body defends itself. The next time a person comes in contact with that allergen, the body can remember the previous exposure and therefore produces more of the antibodies. As mentioned above, a food allergy is totally different to a food intolerance. An allergy can actually be life threatening if it is not kept under control which means it is highly important to ensure you’re being cautious at all times. With an allergy the reaction will also come up within 2 hours, unlike an intolerance which can sometimes take days. Although all allergies differ, many people suffer from similar reactions, normally the airways, digestive system and skin can be affected. An allergy means lifelong, so you will not grow out of this. It is something you will have to deal with during your life. There are many ways to keep an allergy in control, though so don’t be phased.

Symptoms of Food Allergy

A range of symptoms can occur when suffering from an allergy, some worse than others. It also depends on the type of allergy you suffer from. For example some symptoms are:-

• Hives,
• Swelling,
• Abdominal pain,
• Vomiting,
• Diarrhoea,
• Eczema,
• Conjunctivitis
• Asthma.

Obviously, this does depend on the individual and the type of allergy you suffer from.

There are more common allergies which people may suffer from, however everyone is different. Some of the different allergy types are: food, skin, dust, pet, eye, drug, allergic rhinitis (hay fever), and mold.  These are the most common types. For instance someone can have a nut allergy which is one of the most common allergies within food allergies.

The best way to get tested for an allergy is by going to your local GP and telling them about your symptoms.  Some allergies such as hay fever may have obvious symptoms so you may not need a test, however some are more complex.  The test will be a blood test, also known as a RAST test in order to identify the cause of your allergy. There are also alternatives such as a skin prick testing, it’s painless and your results can be found in around 20 minutes. Your skin is pricked with a tiny amount of the suspected allergen. If you’re allergic it will become itchy, red and swollen.

There are many ways in which you can cope with having an allergy. In some cases an allergy can be quite serious and sometimes life threatening, this is why it is extremely important you contact your local GP if you are having any symptoms or signs of having an allergy.  A lot of people find it hard to live and manage with an allergy. The key is being cautious and careful, for example if you suffer from a nut allergy always check the labelling on food packets to ensure that no nut traces can be found. Secondly, if the doctor has given you an inhaler (normally for asthma or hay fever) or an EpiPen (used for someone with an allergy) this is used when someone has an anaphylactic shock.  It is important to always carry it around with you at all times. Also ensure that people around you are also aware of your allergy and if you do carry an epipen, make sure that people know where to find it. You shouldn’t be ashamed as in the long run it could save your life.

There is a lot of information to take in when learning about Allergies and Intolerance and it is important that you know the difference.