Understanding the Difference Between Food Allergy and Food Intolerance

Not all foods are similarly accepted by the body. Certain foods, although harmless, can trigger unwanted reactions in the body. This can be due to food allergies or intolerance. Though the terms are used interchangeably and the food allergies symptoms often mimic those of food intolerance, the conditions are altogether different. Read through to understand the difference between food allergy and food intolerance in depth.

What is Food Allergy?

Food allergy is an immune system’s response that occurs immediately after eating a certain food. The food, although otherwise harmless, is perceived to be an invader as it contains an allergen (allergy-causing substance) that is not accepted well by the body. Therefore, the immune system springs into action, triggering symptoms that may range from mild to severe or even life-threatening.

Food Allergies Symptoms

The known and common food allergies symptoms include:

1. Swelling around the mouth with itching and burning sensation
2. Swelling on the face or around the eyes
3. Running nose
4. Appearance of skin rash or eczema
5. Appearance of hives or skin becoming red and raised, medically termed as urticaria 
6. Diarrhoea with persistent abdominal cramps
7. Breathing difficulties, ranging from wheezing to an asthma attack
8. Episodes of vomiting
9. Feeling of nausea

Food allergies can also trigger severe reactions. This is called anaphylaxis. This can cause a life-threatening situation. The signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis include:

1. Constriction and narrowing of the airways
2. Swollen throat
3. A sensation of blockage in the throat which makes breathing difficult 
4. A septic shock that leads to a sudden and severe drop in blood pressure
5. Dizziness
6. Light-headedness 
7. Loss of consciousness
8. Significantly increased pulse rate

Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency and requires immediate and extensive treatment. If left unaddressed, anaphylaxis can turn fatal or lead to coma. 

How Does Food Allergy Affect Different Body Parts?

Invariably, every body part is affected by an allergic reaction to food. The different ways a food allergy affects different organs are as follows:

1. The eyes become watery and start itching
2. The nose begins to feel stuffy. This can trigger sneezing or lead to runny nose
3. The inner lining of the mouth swells and the outer area starts itching
4. The throat area swells
5. The digestive system gets disturbed, resulting in abdominal pains, vomiting, and diarrhoea
6. Skin rashes become prominent. The appearance of urticaria, eczema, or atopic dermatitis is common
7. The lungs begin to wheeze with a constant cough and asthma-like symptoms 
8. The central nervous system is affected. Headache, irritability, fatigue, and convulsions are common.

What is Food Intolerance?

On the other hand, food intolerance is a chemical reaction that occurs in the body when the ingested food is not tolerated well by the body. It may arise due to a lack of digestive enzymes in the stomach or sensitivity to certain elements of a particular food, making the food indigestible. The food intolerance symptoms usually involve the digestive system and may range from mild to severe. The symptoms settle once the unwanted food is eliminated from the digestive tract either through vomiting or stools. 

Food Intolerance Symptoms

Symptoms that food intolerance can cause are: 

1. Feeling of nervousness
2. Tremors
3. Palpitations
4. Sweating
5. Rapid breathing
6. Abdominal pain
7. Stomach bloating and gas
8. Headache or migraine
9. Diarrhoea
10. Breathing problems
11. Tightness across the face and chest
12. Burning sensations on the skin
13. Allergy-like reaction
14. Asthma-like symptoms 
15. Feeling uneasy or depressed

Food Allergies vs Food Intolerance

Although the symptoms of food allergies and food intolerance overlap, the two conditions are grossly different. The difference between food allergy and food intolerance include:

1. Body Reaction

Food allergy is due to an immune system’s response, whereas food intolerance is a chemical reaction in the digestive process which triggers the response to eliminate the food. Food intolerance arises due to a lack of digestive enzymes or sensitivity toward food. The immune system is neither involved nor affected by food intolerance episodes.

2. Severity of Symptoms

The symptoms in both cases range from mild to severe. However, food allergies symptoms can turn out to be life-threatening. But food intolerance symptoms invariably aren’t life-threatening.  

3. Appearance of Symptoms

Food allergies symptoms are immediate and develop soon after consuming the food, whereas the food intolerance symptoms can be immediate or surface up to 24 hours after consuming the food.

4. Food Tolerating Ability

Someone with a food allergy is always at risk of another attack even upon ingesting small amounts of the allergen. Also, the intensity and magnitude of the symptoms are not linked to those experienced in the previous episode. On the other hand, people with food intolerance might be able to consume a small amount of food without much problem. The magnitude of the food intolerance symptoms invariably remains the same.

5. Effect on Body

The effect of an allergic reaction is visible on the entire body. The eyes, face, skin, breathing pattern, etc. everything is impacted. On the other hand, food intolerance symptoms are primarily related to the digestive tract. 

6. Diagnoses 

Food allergy is diagnosed through a blood test which measures the body’s immune system’s response to particular food items. It is done by measuring the allergy-related antibodies known as immunoglobulin E (IgE). On the other hand, food intolerance is diagnosed by monitoring the intake of suspected foods and the related symptoms. 

7. Cure

There is no proven cure for food allergies and food intolerance. The best way to manage either of the conditions is to stay away from the suspected foods. But food intolerance typically is not permanent. The body can resume tolerating suspected foods once the body system has automatically healed. But the reintroduction of foods must be done in small quantities with proper monitoring. 

When to See a Doctor?

If you develop adverse reactions after eating food, take note of the signs and symptoms and monitor the pattern. While mild symptoms can be monitored without medical support for a longer time, reach out for medical help immediately if the symptoms are severe or very frequent.  

Conclusion

Food allergy and food intolerance are interchangeably used terms. This is because the food allergies symptoms and food intolerance symptoms grossly overlap each other. However, now you know there’s a difference between food allergy and food intolerance and the fact that food allergies are more stressful for the body. Severe food-allergic reactions can even prove fatal. On the other hand, food intolerance is a more subtle condition. It is marked by the body’s inability to digest a certain food category. But the diagnosis, however, remains difficult and tricky. 

With no known cure, self-management is the best way to prevent adverse symptoms in either case. Avoiding foods or ingredients you are allergic or intolerant to is the lone remedy but pinpointing the allergen is perhaps the most difficult task. Once done, disease management becomes relatively simple. Talk to your doctor to help you identify your trigger foods.