Food Allergy or food intolerance?

Have you ever experienced itching in the skin after eating shrimp, or the little one into diarrhea after drinking milk? Is this a sign you have food allergies, or simply can not tolerate certain foods? Is there a difference between them?

A study published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology found that although most of us easily recognize the symptoms of food allergies, but the majority would not be able to distinguish what is food allergy and food intolerance. Naturally, we also do not know how to handle this problem.

The issue of food allergies is even cursory never been taken seriously, even though the result could be fatal. Meanwhile, food intolerance was so troubling precisely because it only caused discomfort. "It seems people do not realize how true food allergies, because it is serious, and affects all aspects of life," said Scott H. Sicherer, MD, professor of pediatrics at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and author of Understanding and Managing Your Child's Food Allergies. "Imagine if we can not drink milk or eat eggs. For children, this can affect all social situations," he added. Little could not eat common foods consumed by children in the neighborhood, or can not come enjoy his friend's birthday party, because allergic to all types of dairy products.

You also want to know what the difference between food allergy and food intolerance?

Food allergies
Food allergy occurs when the immune system to attack any protein in the diet, according to Dr. Sicherer. When the body of responding to foods, like peanuts, as a foreign substance, the body begins to form antibodies against these substances. As in other occasions that the body found the food again, the antibodies immediately felt, and signals the immune system to react. And this is what causes red spots are itchy, swollen lips or tongue, dizziness, fainting, and even in some cases, death. "These symptoms can occur very quickly after eating the wrong foods," he said. "Some people are very sensitive, and only a little food can trigger a reaction."

Common: In children, three of the most common food allergy triggers are cow's milk, peanuts, and eggs. According to the study, many people who think cow's milk allergy in children can be replaced with low-fat milk. Whereas food allergens in adults are shellfish.

Another misunderstanding: Still according to the results of the study, about 40 percent of people think that allergy will not heal when children grow older. Approximately 55 percent of people think that food allergies can be cured, and 30 percent believe there is a daily treatment for people with food allergies. All this is not true: allergies can disappear with age. Milk allergies in children, for example, can be resolved later by the child, said Ruchi Gupta, MD, MPH, assistant professor of pediatrics at Children's Memorial Hospital Northwestern School of Medicine, and author of the study. But the only way to effectively deal with allergies is to avoid the trigger foods. You can make checks to the doctor to see if you are allergic to food or certain things.

Food intolerance
Food intolerance has nothing to do with the immune system. People who can not tolerate certain foods to lose some of the components in the digestive system is needed to digest these foods. For example, lactose intolerance occurs in people who lack digestive enzymes lactate. "Intolerance of food is not scary, just makes us uncomfortable," says Dr. Sicherer. The symptoms also tend to be associated with digestion, such as abdominal cramps, diarrhea, wasting a lot of wind, and bloating. However, some food additives can cause rashes and itching or asthma attack, which is often mistaken for symptoms of allergies. Some people can even tolerate the food in question if in small quantities only.

A common: There is a condition in which people can not digest foods that contain wheat flour, and this is a common form of food intolerance. In addition, most people also have a certain level of lactose intolerance. Food additives, such as food coloring, and sulfide in the wine, is also often trigger intolerance that is often confused with allergies, according to Dr. Gupta. If you are not sure what foods trigger your digestive problems, remove all the suspicious material in your diet, and consumption back gradually.

Another misunderstanding: Some food intolerances can be overcome. You can take medicine containing lactic acid, an enzyme which is missing in milk intolerance. Good health tips about the Food Allergy or Food intolerance can be beneficial for us all.