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I’m back. I know it has been a while. I’m working on a more regular posting schedule. Stay tuned for that. In the meantime, on to today’s topic…
Ever had a bad reaction to a food and think it’s a food allergy? It could be, or it could be an intolerance. Wait, what? There’s a difference?
Yes, there is.
Food allergies
Food allergies occur when antibodies in the body react to proteins in foods. The most common antibodies are called immunoglobulin E (IgE) and non-immunoglobulin E (non-IgE), and they affect mast cells (which are in all parts of the body but mostly the nose, throat, lungs, skin, and digestive tract).
According to WebMD, the first time you eat a food you’re allergic to, some cells make a lot of antibodies to attack that food and considers it to be an allergen. This won’t necessarily cause a reaction…this time. The next time you eat that food, however, the allergen reacts to the IgE antibodies, and the mast cells produce a histamine, which causes the symptoms you experience in an allergic reaction. And, no, playing fast and loose with allergies (like taking an antihistamine before you eat an allergen) is not a good idea. Please don’t.
Allergic reaction times can vary. IgE antibody reactions can happen instantly or within a few minutes (and are often extremely dangerous). Non-IgE reactions can take a few hours up to a day or two to occur.
Common food allergy reactions
The symptoms of an allergic reaction can vary depending on where in your body those histamines are produced. Allergens that aren’t affected by cooking or digestion can cross into the bloodstream, causing them to travel throughout the body and create allergic reactions in multiple places.
The most terrifying allergic reaction is anaphylaxis. According to the Food and Drug Association website, common signs of anaphylaxis include:
- constricted airways in the lungs
- severe lowering of blood pressure and shock (“anaphylactic shock”)
- suffocation by swelling of the throat and larynx
I remember a friend (who is allergic to peanuts) telling me about a time when he was visiting his godson, who had just eaten a peanut butter sandwich. He said that one minute his godson was hugging him and giving him a kiss on the cheek. The next thing he remembered was waking up in the emergency room from anaphylactic shock. It can happen that fast. Thankfully the godson’s parents knew how to work an epi-pen, because epinephrine will stop anaphylactic shock (or slow it down enough to get to the hospital).
Other symptoms of food allergies include:
- Hives
- Flushed skin or rash
- Tingling or itchy sensation in the mouth
- Face, tongue, or lip swelling
- Vomiting and/or diarrhea
- Abdominal cramps
- Coughing or wheezing
- Dizziness and/or lightheadedness
- Swelling of the throat and vocal cords
- Difficulty breathing
- Loss of consciousness
If you have a food allergy, you may be at risk of a life-threatening allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) — even if past reactions have been mild. Learn how to recognize a severe allergic reaction and know what to do if one occurs.
James T C Li, MD, PhD., Mayo Clinic
I’ve had several of these reactions in my life, though I don’t have anaphylactic reactions to any of my food allergies (and I thank every deity I can think of for that). I’ve also had a few odd reactions to foods. Cashews cause gum lesions (yeah, I know, gross). And high-gluten flour once turned the palms of my hands a disturbing shade of red.
Food intolerances
Food intolerances occur when someone cannot properly digest certain foods. Food intolerances are usually caused by three things: lack of a necessary enzyme (e.g., lactase for milk), irritable bowel syndrome, and sensitivity to food additives (e.g., sulfites or red food coloring). Some foods or ingredients in foods that can be intolerances are:
- Gluten (wheat, rye, or barley)
- Histamines that occur in foods like cheese and wine
- Caffeine
- Alcohol
- Sulphites that are in some vegetables and herbs and are often added to beer, cider, and wine
- Salicylates that are found in some vegetables, fruits, and herbs
- Monosodium glutamate (MSG) that occurs naturally in ripe fruit and can be added to other foods
Ironically, I have an allergic reaction to sulfites due to a sulfa drug allergy. So does a friend of mine. Drug and environmental allergies can affect food allergies, but that’s a topic for another post.
Food intolerance symptoms
With food intolerances, the struggle starts in the digestive system but doesn’t stay there when it comes to symptoms. Food intolerance symptoms, according to the Cleveland Clinic, include:
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
- Gas and bloating
- Headaches or migraines
- Heartburn
- Nausea
- Upset stomach
According to a study done by M. C. E. Lomer, 15-20% of the population has food intolerances, compared to the Mayo Clinic’s findings that up to 8% of children and 4% of adults have food allergies. So, if you’re having reactions to certain foods, check with your doctor, and perhaps an immunologist, about testing to see if it’s an allergy or an intolerance.
That’s all for today. If you have any comments, please feel free to leave them below.
Be safe. Eat safe. And savor life!
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