13 Jul

What’s the difference between a food allergy and a food intolerance?

Posted by: admin  /  Category: food intolerance


An allergy is a disorder of the immune system that is a form of hypersensitivity. Allergies cause someone (when exposed to an allergen) to go into anaphylactic shock.

Food intolerances are kind of a "junk drawer" of food hypersensitivities that aren’t allergies (so, not immune disorders), for example lactose intolerance. Lactase, the enzyme that digests lactose, is underproduced and so the lactose isn’t digested, causing gas (among other things).

Food sensitivities are a wider category because they are a plethora of reasons and reactions, while an allergy is the same basic idea each time.

2 Responses to “What’s the difference between a food allergy and a food intolerance?”

  1. Haunted Says:
    July 13th, 2010 at 5:35 am

    a food intolerance will give you diarrhea and maybe some nausia, while a food allergy will cause massive hives and swelling inside and outside your body and can possibly kill you without immediate medical attention or a shot of epi
    References :

  2. poohbear Says:
    July 13th, 2010 at 5:48 am

    An allergy is a disorder of the immune system that is a form of hypersensitivity. Allergies cause someone (when exposed to an allergen) to go into anaphylactic shock.

    Food intolerances are kind of a "junk drawer" of food hypersensitivities that aren’t allergies (so, not immune disorders), for example lactose intolerance. Lactase, the enzyme that digests lactose, is underproduced and so the lactose isn’t digested, causing gas (among other things).

    Food sensitivities are a wider category because they are a plethora of reasons and reactions, while an allergy is the same basic idea each time.
    References :
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_intolerance
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allergy

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