The Differences Between Food intolerances and Allergies

Some of the symptoms of food intolerance and food allergy are similar, but the differences between the two are very important.

What’s a food intolerance?

A food intolerance is different from an allergy. A food allergy is an immune-mediated response to a food. This means that when that food was consumed, the body created an immune response to it as if it was a harmful invader. This causes the immune system to develop antibodies to that food. Antibodies are the memory cells of the immune system that remember that substance next time they encounter it. So when that food is eaten again, or in some cases just inhaled particles, the immune system mounts an attack immediately.

Think of the immune system as an army of soldiers (immune cells). They are supposed to protect the body against invaders. However, sometimes they might be a bit over-enthusiastic and not realise an invader is actually friendly, and attack it by mistake. Furthermore, sometimes the army goes crazy, and doesn’t know when it’s time to stop fighting, and so the soldiers create absolute havoc.

This is representative of anaphylactic shock; when body tissues swell up and may obstruct airways which can be life threatening. This is why someone may carry an epi-pen. An epi-pen contains epinephrine, another term for adrenalin – one of our stress hormones.

A big shot of adrenaline into our bloodstream suppresses and switches-off the immune response, a bit like knocking-out all the soldiers in the immune-army. So the immune system can quickly calm down again and peace can be restored.

What’s an Intolerance?

An intolerance doesn’t involve this immune response. An intolerance is when there is an issue with the terrain of the digestive system. This could be commensal microbiota dysbiosis, or another cause of low-grade inflammation that affects digestive function, meaning some foods cause a reaction.

Microbiota dysbiosis can be caused by illness, stress, medications and poor diet. The symptoms of food intolerance can be troublesome, painful and impact quality of life. Often it will start with just one or two foods, and then progressively get worse over a number of years until the individual feels that many foods are off limits.

They might get a diagnosis of IBS from the doctor, if they don’t have an inflammatory bowel disease. Food intolerances can be resolved through treating the individual as a whole, and not just the set of symptoms.

First, the foods that are bothering the digestive system need to be eliminated for a short period of time, to allow healing to occur. These foods can be identified using Kinesiology. Then, restorative herbs and supplements need to be introduced to heal and repair the colon lining and restore balance to the commensal microbiota.

After some time of following this protocol, foods can be re-introduced gradually and carefully, whilst continuing to support the digestive system and monitor the response.

Under the guidance of a good practitioner, the individual will learn how to maintain a diet that nourishes their body whilst still allowing them to eat the foods they enjoy, keeping their diet and lifestyle in balance for health and longevity.

They might get a diagnosis of IBS from the doctor, if they don’t have an inflammatory bowel disease. Food intolerances can be resolved through treating the individual as a whole, and not just the set of symptoms.

First, the foods that are bothering the digestive system need to be eliminated for a short period of time, to allow healing to occur. These foods can be identified using Kinesiology. Then, restorative herbs and supplements need to be introduced to heal and repair the colon lining and restore balance to the commensal microbiota.

After some time of following this protocol, foods can be re-introduced gradually and carefully, whilst continuing to support the digestive system and monitor the response.

Under the guidance of a good practitioner, the individual will learn how to maintain a diet that nourishes their body whilst still allowing them to eat the foods they enjoy, keeping their diet and lifestyle in balance for health and longevity.