When it comes to food-related health issues, it is easy to get confused between food sensitivities and food allergies. While the symptoms of both conditions can be very similar, they are different in terms of their causes and severity. While eating food you are intolerant to can cause discomfort and leave you feeling sluggish, eating food you are allergic to can be life-threatening. Understanding these differences is important when it comes to managing your health and knowing when to seek professional help.
What Are Food Sensitivities?
Food sensitivities occur when your body has an intolerance to certain foods and has a difficult time digesting them. Common food sensitivities include:
- Lactose: This occurs in people who do not have sufficient lactase enzyme to break down lactose, a type of sugar in dairy products.
- Histamine: This is a molecule that is naturally present in cheese, pineapples, bananas, avocados, chocolates, and wines. Some people don’t produce enough diamine oxidase–an enzyme that breaks down histamine–and are therefore intolerant to foods containing the chemical.
- Gluten: This is a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. The exact causes of gluten intolerance are not well understood, but some studies suggest that wheat can affect the lining of the digestive tract. This lining usually stops bacteria from leaving the intestines, but for those with an intolerance, bacteria may flow into their blood or liver, causing inflammation.
Symptoms of Food Sensitivities
- Bloating and gas
- Stomach cramps or pain
- Nausea or diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Headaches
The symptoms of food sensitivities are usually less severe than allergies, but they can still affect your day-to-day life, and they may appear hours or even days after eating the trigger food. These sensitivities are often chronic, meaning they may persist long-term. People usually cope with this by avoiding the specific foods they are intolerant to. With Guava, you can track your food intake and symptoms, allowing you to recognize potential intolerances and develop a personalized approach to your diet.
Testing & Diagnosis for Food Sensitivities
Diagnosing food sensitivities can be challenging because the symptoms do not always occur immediately and are usually more varied. If you suspect you have a food sensitivity, working with a healthcare professional to get a diagnosis can help you learn ways to manage your symptoms and guide you in making informed dietary choices to avoid flare-ups. Not only will testing help your body avoid physical discomfort, but for many, knowing what is happening inside their body can provide a sense of relief and peace of mind. With this knowledge, you can be better equipped to take control of your diet and feel less worried about potential unidentified triggers and unexplained symptoms.
Elimination diet
An elimination diet is a meal plan that removes certain groups or ingredients to find out which foods you are sensitive to. The elimination diet starts with an elimination phase, where you should stop eating the food you suspect you are intolerant to. It is important to read food labels carefully, be aware of the ingredients used in dishes at restaurants, and track everything you eat and your responses to it. This phase typically lasts for 2 to 4 weeks.
The next phase is the reintroduction phase. Once you have eliminated potential food triggers, you can slowly implement each food back into your diet, one at a time. You should keep a buffer of 3 days each time you add a new food to provide your body time to react.
During this testing period, you may want to track all your reactions and symptoms. With Guava, you can easily monitor and record your body responses, making it easier to track your progress and pinpoint any food sensitivities.
Blood or breath tests (i.e. lactose tolerance test):
The lactose tolerance test examines whether your body can break down lactose when consuming milk, cheese, and dairy products. There are 2 types of lactose tolerance tests:
- Hydrogen Breath Test: This test measures the level of hydrogen gas in your breath before and after drinking a liquid with lactose. If your body cannot digest all the lactose, it gets broken down by bacteria in the large intestine, producing hydrogen gas that gets detected through your breath. Therefore, an increased level of hydrogen means you are lactose intolerant.
- Glucose Blood Test: This method measures glucose levels in your blood before and after drinking a liquid containing lactose. If you are lactose intolerant, you will not see an increase in blood glucose.
For these tests, you may be asked by your healthcare professional to fast for 8 to 12 hours before, stop taking antibiotics for 2 to 4 weeks before, and/or refrain from smoking or exercising the day before the test.
Management & Treatment for Food Sensitivities
The best way to manage food sensitivities is to alter your diet and eliminate foods that upset your digestion. When you do react to food intolerances, over-the-counter medicines such as antacids or antidiarrheals may help. Those who are lactose intolerant may also use lactose-free milk as a substitute and consume lactase enzymes in the form of a pill or drop directly before consuming dairy to help break down the lactose.
What Are Food Allergies?
Unlike food sensitivities, food allergies involve the immune system, where the body identifies a harmless food group as a threat and triggers an immune response. The body produces immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies, which result in allergic reactions that may be threatening.
Common food allergens are:
- Peanuts
- Shellfish
- Milk
- Wheat
- Soy
- Eggs
- Fish
- Sesame
Symptoms of Food Allergies
- Hives, itching, swelling (common around the face and lips)
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting
- Dizziness or fainting
- Anaphylaxis: The most severe form of an allergic reaction and can be life-threatening. Signs of anaphylaxis include a mixture of all the symptoms listed above and may also include low blood pressure, constriction of airways, swollen throat, and a weak, rapid pulse.
The symptoms of food allergies are usually very intense and occur immediately, within minutes to an hour of eating the allergen. Due to the severe reactions of certain responses like anaphylaxis, food allergies require strict avoidance of the allergenic food and may demand immediate medical attention upon exposure.
Testing & Diagnosis for Food Allergies
Food allergies are generally more straightforward and can be determined using a skin prick test or blood tests that reveal IgE levels for certain allergens.
Skin prick test
During the skin prick test, the skin is exposed to suspected allergens to determine if you will react to them. While they are generally safe for adults and children of all ages, your healthcare professional may advise against skin testing if you have experienced a severe allergic reaction and are sensitive to certain substances used in the test. Your healthcare provider may also recommend other testing methods if you are on certain medications, like antihistamines, as they can interfere with the results or if you have specific skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis that affect the coloring on areas of your skin.
Blood test
An allergy blood test detects the level of IgE in your blood, which is a type of protein produced by the body when fighting off allergies. Generally, you don’t need to prepare anything in advance. After the test is finished, you will receive a scoring system that shows how serious your allergy is.
Management & Treatment for Food Allergies
Avoiding foods you are allergic to is the best management option. Sometimes, if certain common allergens are difficult to avoid, your healthcare provider may recommend daily medications to reduce symptoms or the risk of a reaction. This includes:
- Antihistamine: Medication that blocks the chemical histamine from binding to receptors, reducing symptoms such as sneezing, itching, and a runny nose.
- Steroid nasal spray: Reduce inflammation by delivering a corticosteroid to the nasal passages to suppress inflammatory chemicals and reduce the activity of immune cells.
- Leukotriene modifiers: Block the release of leukotrienes, a molecule that causes inflammation.
- Omalizumab (Xolair) injections: Omalizumab binds to and neutralizes IgE antibodies. This stops IgE from attaching to immune cells and producing an allergic reaction.
- Allergy shots (Immunotherapy): Works by injecting you with small amounts of the allergen you’re allergic to over time. Over time, your immune system becomes desensitized, and your body can tolerate the antigen without causing a response.
- Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT): Similar to allergy shots, but SLIT is taken in tablet or drop form.
- Oral immunotherapy (OIT): Similar to other immunotherapy treatments, OIT involves gradually introducing small amounts of the food allergen into the body over time, either through food or an oral tablet, to desensitize the immune system.
A healthcare provider may also suggest carrying an epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen or Auvi-Q) at signs of a severe allergic reaction. It is also important to call 911 if you experience extreme discomfort, such as chest pain, tingling hands, feet, or lips, difficulty breathing, and more.
Being aware of your food allergies and having treatment options ready can also be useful self-care and coping mechanisms. In addition to medical interventions, stress management techniques like mindfulness, meditation, and regular exercise can also reduce anxiety related to allergies. Tracking your symptoms and triggers with food using Guava can also help you maintain an accurate record of your allergic reactions, providing insights into how you can better manage your health.
Can You Have Both Food Allergies and Sensitivities?
It is possible to have both food allergies and sensitivities. Some people may be allergic to certain products and also experience digestive issues with others. Managing both conditions requires careful attention to your eating patterns, and seeking advice from a healthcare provider is recommended.
Conclusion
While food sensitivities and food allergies are both conditions related to food, they differ in many ways and have different extents of severity. If you suspect that you have either of these conditions, it could be a good idea to consult with a healthcare professional for proper management strategies.
