Definition: A food allergy is when the body’s immune
system reacts unusually to specific foods.
It involves immune system.
Symptoms:
An itchy sensation inside mouth, throat or ears
Swelling of face near eyes, lips, tongue and roof
of the mouth
Difficult swallowing
Abdominal pain
Feeling sick
Shortness of breath
Runny nose
Vomiting, nausea
Skin rash
Causes of Food Allergy:
Eggs
Fish
Shellfish
Soya
Wheat
Gluten
Pine nuts (a type of seed)
Meat
Packaged foods
Diagnosis:
Skin – prick testing
Blood test
Food elimination test
Blinded challenge testing
Food diary
Definition: Food intolerance or food sensitivity
occurs when a person has difficulty digesting
particular food.
It involves digestive system.
Symptoms:
Sweating
Rapid breathing
Diarrhea
Burning sensations on skin
Nervousness, tremor
Headache, migraine
Tightness across face and chest
Cough
Runny nose
Stomach ache
Irritable bowel
Causes of Food Intolerance:
Food additives (antioxidants, emulsifiers,
flavor enhancers)
Chocolate
Eggs, particularly egg white
Strawberries, citrus fruits and tomatoes
Histamine
Dairy products (milk, cheese, yoghurt)
Absence of an enzyme
Food poisoning – toxins can cause food
intolerance
Diagnosis:
Skin – prick test
Blood test
*Absence of an Enzyme: Enzymes are fully needed to digest foods. If any enzyme is missing or
insufficient, improper digestion may be occurring. e.g. lactose intolerance may occur due to
insufficient lactase. If then milk remains in the digestive tract instead of absorption, it can cause
spasm, stomachache, diarrhea, gas.
*Food Poisoning: Some foods have naturally occurring chemicals that one has a toxic effect on
humans. E.g. undercooked beans have aflatoxins that can cause extremely unpleasant digestive
problems.
*Histamine: Causes blood vessels to expand and the skin to become inflamed. It also affects the
nerves, making the person feel itchy. The nose may produce more mucous, resulting in itching,
burning and streaming nose)
*Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A long term condition in which the patient has diarrhea,
constipation and stomach pains.
*Skin-Prick Test: A small quantity of the suspected food is placed on patients back or forearm.
The skin is pricked with a needle, allowing some of its substance to penetrate below the skin
surface. Allergic people will react with a raised bump. This test is not 100% reliable.
*Blood Test: The patient is exposed to tiny quantities of foods believed to cause an allergic
reaction and subsequently checking for IgE (immunoglobin E) antibodies.
*Food Diary: Patients write down everything they eat, and describe symptoms, if there any.
*Blinded Challenge Testing: More accurate. The patient is given several foods. One of them
has a tiny amount of suspected allergens. Blinded means person doesn’t know about food
allergens, because some people react psychologically to some foods.
*Peppermint Oil: Can soothe the digestive tract and can reduce inflammatory symptoms
associated with food allergies.
References:
www.medicalnewstoday.com
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/food-allergy/Pages/Intro1.aspx
http://draxe.com/food-allergies-natural-treatment-remedies/
www.aaaai.org