❗🍽️ Food Allergies Series "2": Food Allergy VS Food Intolerance

ketogenicfasting
May 2
2 min read

Updated: Jul 28

Food allergies and intolerances are often linked, but they are distinctly different conditions.

Diagnosis can be challenging, as food intolerances—also known as food sensitivities—are frequently mistaken for food allergies due to overlapping symptoms.

Difference Between Food Allergies & Food Intolerance

🧬 What Is a Food Allergy?

A food allergy is the immune system's response to a disagreeable food. When the body detects a protein it sees as harmful, it releases histamine to protect itself — causing allergy symptoms.

In short, food allergy = immune reaction + histamine release.

Once exposed, the immune system “remembers” the allergen and will react similarly in future encounters.

⚠️ What Is an Allergic Reaction?

Symptoms typically appear within a few minutes to 2 hours after consuming the allergen and may include:

🤮 Vomiting
💩 Diarrhea
🤕 Abdominal cramps
🌡️ Flushed skin, rash, or hives
👅 Tingling or itching in the mouth
😷 Swelling of the tongue, lips, throat, or face
🫁 Difficulty breathing, coughing, or wheezing
🌀 Lightheadedness, dizziness, or loss of consciousness

🧃 What Is a Food Intolerance?

A food intolerance is the digestive system’s response to a disagreeable food — not the immune system.

Example:🧬 Lactose intolerance = can't digest the sugar lactose in milk → digestive upset.

🚫 Common Food Intolerances

🌾 Gluten
🥛 A1 Casein (milk protein)
🧃 Lactose
🌈 Artificial food coloring & flavoring
🧪 Preservatives
🍇 Sulfites (found in dried fruits, canned goods, wine — may cause migraines or inflammation)