Food allergies, sensitivities and intolerances

What is the difference?

These three are all reactions to food and although some of them may present similar symptoms the main difference is that allergies and sensitivities are driven by an immunity response while intolerances are not.

Let’s look at them one by one:

Food allergies:

Food allergies are caused by the immune system's reaction to a food item (proteins) that it believes is harmful. When the food is digested, the immune system responds by creating immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies as a defense. The antibodies are proteins found in the bloodstream. Formed to protect the body against harmful substances, the antibodies are created after the person's first exposure to the allergen.

This immune response triggers an histamine release into the bloodstream. This causes those nasty symptoms of nasal drainage, sinus congestion, sneezing and itchy, watery eyes.

Symptoms are normally very intense (including anaphylaxis) and very immediate to food ingestion.

You can do a blood test to find out what foods you are allergic to. If you have a food allergy you should avoid the food triggering this response altogether.

Food sensitivities:

Food sensitivities are also immune mediated but in this case there is no histamine release and the antibodies released by your immune system are immunoglobin G (IgG).

Symptoms are not as intense are the ones occurring with allergies and they tend to be only digestive reactions.

These reactions are more delayed, symptoms can appear up to 72 hours since you had the triggering food.

Food sensitivities can also be tested in a blood test but the best way to identify sensitivities is by eliminating those foods you suspect you are sensitive to and re-introduce them one by one to see how you react to them.

In most cases, when you have intolerances without treating them for a long period of time, this may also impact your gut lining and overall health.

It is important to identify them as soon as possible to avoid potential gut disorders and tackle them if they already exist.

Food intolerances:

While food allergies and sensitivities involve the immune system, a food intolerance is not related to the immune system. For example, a person who is lactose intolerant has a shortage of lactose, the digestive enzyme that breaks down the sugar in milk and dairy products. This would cause an accumulation of glucose in the digestive system that could lead to stomach pain or bloating several hours after drinking milk.

Some of these enzymes can be sold in supplements. By taking them you can have the foods you are intolerant to without having symptoms.

People who are food-intolerant can sometimes consume that food and not experience intolerance symptoms.

A nutritional therapist can help you to identify food allergies, intolerances and sensitivities and build a plan to avoid correlated symptoms and to improve your gut health.