Chances are you know someone (maybe yourself?) that experiences negative symptoms after eating certain foods. They’ve been tested by an allergist, and they’re told they don’t have any food allergies. So, what is the reaction that is occurring after eating, and is it all in their head?

While both allergies, intolerances, and sensitivities to food and food ingredients may show similar symptoms, each category is unique in mechanism when it comes to reacting to food. It's important to know the difference since the range of symptoms can be from just annoying to life-threatening.

FOOD ALLERGY

A food allergy can be life-threatening. It is an immediate immune reaction (IgE) created by your body in response to being exposed to a food allergen. These IgE antibodies initiate an immediate cascade of events that can affect the skin (hives), the respiratory tract (wheezing), and/or the GI tract (vomiting). This is the reaction your allergist will test for. The classic example is the anaphylactic reaction following exposure to foods like peanuts or seafood. If you are positive for a food allergy, you must carry an Epipen and never come into contact with the food. Food allergies can show up at any time in our lives, even during older adulthood.

FOOD INTOLERANCE

Food intolerance refers mostly to the inability to process or digest certain foods. 20% of the population have food intolerances. A person with a food intolerance will often experience discomfort soon after eating certain foods. The symptoms are varied and usually involve the digestive system: bloating, gas, diarrhea, and/or constipation. Food intolerances are not life-threatening and they do not involve the immune system. They are the result of a lack of enzymes required to break down your food for nutrient absorption. Common food intolerances are lactose intolerance, fructose intolerance, and gluten intolerance (note: this is not celiac disease which is an autoimmune disease).

FOOD SENSITIVITY

Food sensitivities involve the immune system but they are not life-threatening reactions like food allergies. A food sensitivity is a delayed immune reaction (IgG) created by your body in response to being exposed to a food. These IgG antibodies initiate a delayed immune reaction that can create symptoms anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 days after eating the food. Food sensitivities do not just lead to digestive symptoms, but they can also lead to fatigue, brain fog, difficulty concentrating, wight gain, mood disorders, joint pains, headaches or migraines, eczema, skin irritations, and/or behavioral problems in children.

DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

As mentioned earlier, food allergies can be diagnosed by an allergist. It is important to see an allergist if you are experiencing life-threatening symptoms after eating certain foods. Treatment of food allergies involve avoidance and carrying an Epipen in case of accidental exposure.

Food intolerances can be diagnosed through testing from a gastroenterologist ie: lactose intolerance. Otherwise elimination/challenge diets can be used to determine if you are intolerant to food substances. For treatment, the good news is there are digestive enzymes that can be taken orally to compensate for the lack of enzyme contributing to intolerance.

Food sensitivities can be identified through elimination/challenge diets or IgG food sensitivity testing. Conventional medical doctors do not test for IgG food sensitivities due to the controversy around their accuracy. Our office uses KBMO IgG food sensitivity testing (https://kbmodiagnostics.com/) which looks at your IgG immune response in addition to immune complexes which if positive indicates the food substance tested is currently causing inflammation in your body. I’ve used other food sensitivity tests in the past and I find the KBMO FIT tests to be much more accurate and can be very useful clinically.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Since 2005, Dr. Fey has helped women, men, and children find real solutions to their health concerns. She truly believes that giving the proper care and nutrients your body has an amazing ability to heal. She is committed to finding the root cause of illness by utilizing a whole body approach not just focusing solely on presenting symptoms. With her scientific background, Dr. Fey uses science based natural approaches to treating disease.

Dr. Amanda Fey is the owner and practicing Naturopathic Doctor at Complementary Medicine & Healing Arts, the Southern Tiers Center for Natural Healthcare located in the Binghamton NY area. The office website is www.naturallywell.us. Dr. Fey is currently offering telemedicine for patients all across the US. To contact the office, call 607-729-0591 or email cmhahealth@gmail.com.