Health-Tips: What You Should Know About Food Allergy and Food Intolerance(Difference)

What is Food Allergy?

According to a group of scientists led by Dr. Jeniffer J. Schneider Chafen in their report published in The Journal of The American Medical Association,there is no universally accepted definition for food allergy. Despite there is no accepted definition for food allergy, most experts in this field agree(believes) that the primary cause of allergic
reactions is the immune system. It has been noted that an allergic reaction to a certain type of food is usually a response to a protein in that particular food. 

This means that the immune system erroneously identifies that protein in the food as harmful. Whenever the immune system of the human body notices a new protein in the body,the immune system may create a type of antibody known as IgE to try and neutralize this perceived invader. The antibodies created can trigger release of chemicals including the histamine if the food allergen is again ingested.

Normally, the chemical called histamine plays a beneficial role in the immune system. But for some reasons yet to be fully understood,the presence of IgE antibodies and the subsequent release of the histamine provoke an allergic reaction in people who happen to be hypersensitive to a particular food protein. This simply explains why a person could eat a new food without any visible/apparent reaction the first time but when the person eat the same food again can experience an allergic reaction.

Read Also: Health-Tips: Food Allergy and Food Intolerance;Symptoms,Diagnosis and Possible Treatment

What is food Intolerance?

To fully understand this Food intolerance you have to understand what is food allergy, food allergy though not having a universally accepted definition is a kind of reaction that is triggered in the human body when the immune system of the human body spots/identifies a new protein in the body and in an effort to prevent this suspected harmful protein, the immune system creates an antibody body known as the IgE to fight this supposedly harmful protein. This antibody sometimes reacts with a chemical called histamine and this result in an allergic reaction.

Although Food intolerance, like a food allergy, may be an adverse reaction to a food item. But unlike a food allergy that is directly triggered by the immune system, a food intolerance is a reaction of the digestive system, and thus no antibodies are involved. Basically some persons have trouble breaking down a Food, sometimes its because of lack of needed enzymes other times its because of some chemicals contain in the food that are difficult to process. For example, a lactose intolerance occurs when the gut does not produce the needed enzymes to digest the type of sugars found in milk products.

Food intolerance can occur the very first time of eating the food, because it is not a matter of the production of antibodies. But quantity may be the determining factor- a small amount of a certain food may be tolerated, but a problem may occur when larger amounts of eaten/ingested. In other cases, even a tiny amount of food can cause a life-threatening reaction. This can be refer to as severe food allergy. 

The next post will be about the symptoms, diagnosis and possible treatment for Allergic reactions and Food intolerance.

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