What’s the difference between an allergy and an intolerance?
Food allergies
Allergy is a hypersensitivity reaction of the immune system to a protein, called an allergen. Allergy is triggered when an ingested food is considered by the immune system to be an enemy.
This reaction may be immediate or delayed, i.e. it may be instantaneous, or it may occur without warning at some point in your life. For example, you may have eaten shrimps for years without any problems, and then suddenly your body reacts to this food, even though it has been known and accepted by your body until now
It can be limited, i.e. confined to a single local reaction (e.g. diarrhea), or generalized, i.e. several symptoms, such as headaches, nausea, itchy skin for example.
The most common food allergies are: peanuts, eggs, milk, mustard, seafood, fish, sesame seeds and soy.
Food intolerances
In the case of food intolerance, the immune system is not involved. Instead, it’s the digestive system that reacts. Symptoms can, however, resemble those of allergic reactions. It’s a reaction of your digestive system to a type of food you eat.
The most common intolerances are due to gluten (a protein found in the germ and husk of certain cereals) and lactose (milk sugar).
How do I know if I have a food intolerance? What are the symptoms?
Food intolerance is responsible for a variety of symptoms, mainly digestive: abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea. These symptoms can resemble those caused by an allergy, although they are generally less intense.
But listen to your body, because other reactions to food can also be signs of intolerance:
- headaches
- blocked nose
- nasal mucus and throat
- itchy throat
- water retention
How to recover from food intolerance?
There is currently no medical treatment for food intolerance. To avoid symptoms, you need to determine which foods are causing you a reaction, and either avoid them or eat them in small quantities.
However, here are 3 tips that could help you reduce the symptoms of your intolerance or even put an end to it!
- Give the digestive and intestinal systems a break.
Limit consumption of indigestible foods, such as raw vegetables, fruit with peel, small seeds or lots of pectin. Since we don’t have 4 intestines, like ruminants, our bodies aren’t designed to eat only salad, for example. When we overload our system with raw foods, it puts an enormous strain on our digestive system. So opt for extra-cooked vegetables, soups and compotes. - Take the time to eat and chew!
In fact, the intestine has to produce more acid to dissolve food when it is poorly chewed! - Eat smaller quantities.
This way, your digestive system is less overloaded. It works better and faster, and you become more aware of which foods are giving you symptoms.
If you believe you have a food intolerance and would like a consultation, contact Kinesyne Consultants Inc. at our Blainville clinic (514) 865-6636.
About Jean-Philippe Groulx of Kinésyne
Concerned about the well-being of others and focused on people, Jean-Philippe has over 23 years of experience in naturopathy. Above all, he wants to help people achieve a better quality of life through nutrition. He prioritizes a global approach and the optimization of metabolism, including the body’s stations (thyroid gland, liver, intestine, etc.) via a documented pro-metabolic diet. Since founding Kinésyne Consultants in 2006, Jean-Philippe has helped over 12,000 people achieve their goals.
