More and more people are affected by food allergies and the number of people who experience symptoms after eating certain foods is steadily increasing. What is the difference between food intolerance and food allergy? In the everyday language, the two terms are often confused and the causes of symptoms are not always identified. This blog summarizes the key facts and the main differences.
The main difference between food allergy and food intolerance is that an allergic reaction is triggered by the immune system’s response, which is typically rapid, whereas the symptoms of a food intolerance are triggered by the digestive system.
In case of food allergy, the consumption of even the smallest amount of food can trigger severe symptoms. In the most severe cases, anaphylaxis can occur almost immediately, which is a severe and life-threatening hypersensitivity reaction. Additionally, tongue swelling, throat swelling, laryngeal edema, shortness of breath, chest pain, gastrointestinal symptoms or various skin lesions can develop.
In case of food intolerance, symptoms typically develop more slowly, over hours or even days, and the severity of symptoms may depend on the amount of food eaten. Typical symptoms of intolerance include diarrhea, abdominal bloating, headaches, but may also include joint pain and dermatitis (eczema).
Only a thorough examination can reveal the causes
Avoid self-diagnosis! Without a medical or laboratory diagnosis, it is impossible to distinguish between intolerance and allergy, especially if the symptoms, although unpleasant, are mild. One reason is that there are symptoms that can occur in both cases, such as various skin lesions (eczema, hives, itching, redness) or digestive symptoms (diarrhea, nausea, stomach cramps, bloating). If these symptoms occur, laboratory tests may help to identify the root causes.
If you experience these symptoms but are not sure what is causing them, choose HR-Pharma’s tests to help you identify food intolerance or food allergy.
Food allergy test: this test measures allergen-specific IgE levels from a single blood sample and provides information on 30 foods: avocado, banana, white rice, mustard, celery, kiwi, chicken, corn (food), casein, egg yolk, garlic, tuna, wheat (food), white potato, orange, codfish, beef, pork, tomato, shrimp, clam, almond, milk, hazelnut (food), brewer’s yeast, soybean, peanut, pea, sesame seed, egg white.
https://www.hr-pharma.hu/en/service/allergy-and-intolerance-packages/#allergy-nutritional-profile-package
Food intolerance profile package: the most common food intolerance triggers (IgG tests) are measured (46 pcs). The following foods are tested: apple, lamb, brazil nut, broccoli, potato, wheat, chicken, melon mix, walnuts, durum wheat, freshwater fish, yeast, whitefish mix, blackcurrant, garlic, strawberry, peanut, gluten, mushroom, grapefruit, ginger, legume mix, cocoa bean, cabbage, cashew, corn, almond, beef, orange and lemon, olives, pepper, tomato, leeks, crab and clam mixture, rice, rye, carrot, pork, soybean, tea, cow’s milk, whole egg, tuna, cucumber, oat, celery
https://www.hr-pharma.hu/en/service/allergy-and-intolerance-packages/#food-intolerance-package
In the food intolerance package, a wide range of food intolerance triggers (206 pcs) are tested from a single blood sample. A list of the triggers (foods) can be found in the package description:
https://www.hr-pharma.hu/en/service/allergy-and-intolerance-packages/#food-intolerance-package-width-206-paramters
Important: Before a food intolerance test, all foods should be reintroduced into the diet and consumed for 2-3 weeks to allow immunoglobulin detection. However, if you have a known food allergy, do not eat that food.