Food Allergies vs Intolerances: How to Identify

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When you have a food intolerance, you may be able to tolerate small amounts of the offending food without issues. For example, with lactose intolerance, small amounts of lactose can be tolerated, and intolerance symptoms may even be prevented if a lactase pill is taken- which is the missing enzyme for your body to digest lactose in that case. Food intolerances may be caused by many reasons including the absence of a digestive enzyme and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Food allergies are an overreaction of the immune system to a certain protein. These proteins – called allergens- may come from foods, house dust, animal hair pollens, or moulds. The word allergy means that the immune system has responded to a harmless substance as if it were toxic. Ninety percent of allergic reactions are caused by milk, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, sesame, fish, shellfish and soy. Life-threatening allergic reaction symptoms include the following within minutes of exposure to the allergen: difficult or noisy breathing, swelling of the tongue, swelling or tightness in the throat, difficulty talking, hoarse voice, wheeze, persistent cough, persistent dizziness or collapse. 
To put it simply, a food intolerance is a chemical reaction, whereas  food allergies are an immune response which, in some cases, may be life-threatening! Make sure to seek immediate medical attention in such cases.

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So how are the two different?

Food allergies and intolerances both produce discomfort after eating specific foods, but they are not the same. Understanding the distinction is critical to effective management.
Food allergies cause an immune system response. This causes symptoms such as hives, edema, and nausea. The most common food allergies include peanuts, shellfish, milk, eggs, wheat, soy, and tree nuts. Food intolerance, on the other hand, is a digestive condition.. Unlike allergies, intolerances typically produce milder symptoms and are dose-dependent; the more you consume, the worse the reaction.
While there&#8217;s no single test to diagnose a food allergy, doctors may offer skin prick tests, blood testing, or elimination diets. Food sensitivity, a milder kind of intolerance, might be trickier to diagnose. However, keeping a meal log to monitor reactions can be beneficial.
It is critical to contact with a healthcare professional to identify the best appropriate tests for your circumstance. First Response Healthcare, or FRH, is a JCI-accredited healthcare organisation that provides high-quality patient-centered treatment. We can provide information on the availability and validity of specific food intolerance tests available in Dubai. Contact us to learn more about the Food Intolerance Test in Dubai. 
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What are the measures?

The terms “Food Allergy” and “Food Intolerance” are commonly confused, as food intolerance can cause some of the same signs and symptoms as food allergy.

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Dr. Farheen Malik

Food Allergies vs Food Intolerances

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Health Tips

Food Allergies vs Intolerances: How to Identify

Dr. Farheen Malik

June 2, 2022

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June 2, 2022

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