Food Allergy vs Food Sensitivity

I can almost guarantee that each and every single one of us has run into one or multiple people who claim to have a food allergy/sensitivity. What they fail to note is that those two concepts are very different things entirely. Food allergies and food sensitivities are very different but often are talked about to be one in the same.

Allergies and sensitivities show up different in our bodies and range in severity.

What are food allergies?

A food allergy is an actual reaction from the immune system in the body. When a food triggers the immune system it causes mild to severe allergic reactions. This can appear as hives, swollen airways, wheezing or difficulty breathing, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or most drastically anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction in the body. It is a life threatening reaction and so seeking medical attention as soon as possible is crucial.

Food allergies should be taken serious as they can cause actual harm to someone.

What is food sensitivity?

Food sensitivity, or intolerance, means that one’s body has a hard time digesting a particular food. The symptoms that typically appear with a food sensitivity are bloating and abdominal pain. Sensitivities are not an urgent medical concern in most cases.

Food sensitivities are not life long conditions. There is evidence that shows they can be temporary or permanently fixed, with attention on healing the gut microbiome, and may change throughout a person's life. The most common sensitivities are lactose, histamines, and gluten. 

The key thing that separates allergies and sensitivities is that food intolerances involve the digestive system. Food allergies involve the immune system.

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