There are many people in the population that can suffer from food intolerances or sensitivities. These are adverse reactions to food and are very different from an allergy to food. So what is the difference between a food intolerance/sensitvity and allergy?
I find in conversation the words intolerance and allergy are used interchangeably when they actually are quite different reactions to food that the body is having.
A food allergy will occur very quickly after the food is eaten are severe and can be life threatening including symptoms such as swelling of face and eyes, coughing and wheezing and anaphylaxis.
Food sensitivities/intolerances are not life threatening and reactions can occur some time after eating the food - making identifying the trigger food so much more difficult. Those with food intolerances may experience symptoms like stomach pain, headaches, loose stools and bloating.
Symptoms outside of the digestive tract may also be experineced, including brain fog, lethargy and fatigue (feel like you could fall asleep after eating) and difficulty.....um......concentrating.... (Get it!?!).
They can also exacerbate health concerns such as IBS, migraines, eczema and asthma in some people.
It can be difficult to work out which food may be involved in a food sensitivity as symptoms may not be experienced straight away and can take up a day or two to occur.
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