Understanding Food Sensitivities, Allergies and Intolerances

Proper nutrition is vital to our overall health, but sometimes certain foods can wreak havoc on us. Many times this is due to food sensitivities, allergies or intolerances. Some people experience issues with this early in life while others develop them over time. Either way, they can be frustrating if it goes undiagnosed. We’ll discuss the difference between sensitivities, allergies, and intolerances and explain ways of diagnosing and dealing with them.

Food sensitivities can cause bad reactions to one or multiple foods.  Many times the reactions cause an inflammatory response. Some reactions cause gastrointestinal disorders such as IBS, indigestion, and constipation. Others can cause metabolic disorders such as obesity, diabetes, and inability to lose weight.  Other conditions that can be associated with food sensitivities are eczema, asthma, fatigue, headaches, and migraines. Thankfully there is a test called, LEAP, that identifies food sensitivities through a blood test which is called the MRT or Mediator Release Test.¹

Food allergies are a bit easier to ‘measure’ or diagnose than a sensitivity or intolerance with a simple skin or blood test. When someone has a food allergy the person’s immune system responds negatively to a particular food. I.e. antibodies stimulate chemicals that cause physical reactions such as your tongue or throat swelling, difficulty breathing, skin hives, vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal cramps.  It is shown that 6-8% of children have food allergies and only 3% of adults do.² Sometimes children do ‘grow out’ of allergies as they age, whereas intolerances tend to get worse the older you get. The most common food allergens are peanuts, soy, shellfish, milk, eggs, wheat, and fish.

Food intolerances cause no immune system response to foods but can negatively impact digestive health, usually causing diarrhea or gas. Another difference between allergies and intolerances is that some people are able to have small amounts of the food without any complications until they have consumed too much. As mentioned before, intolerances, especially to lactose, can develop later in life even if the person never had issues earlier. Unfortunately, lactose and gluten are the only food intolerances that have a reliable diagnosis process. For any other food intolerance diagnosis, an elimination diet would have to be done to identify it.

There is a lot of talk about food allergies, intolerances and sensitivities these days. Make sure to know the difference. If you are wondering if you might be experiencing issues with one of these don’t hesitate to contact a medical professional to get tested, so you can move forward with planning a healthy diet that agrees with your body.

If you do find yourself newly diagnosed with a food sensitivity, allergy or intolerance what’s the next step? A dietitian can help you plan your meals around which foods cause a negative response. I am happy to help you plan meals that will be well balanced and easy to follow. Contact me today for a free 30-minute consultation.

Stay Healthy!

Nicole Carlson, RD, LD
Registered Dietitian
Live Your Life^TM
Bringing Physical Therapy & Wellness to You!

Nicole is a registered and licensed dietitian in the state of Minnesota. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Wisconsin-Stout and completed her accredited dietetic internship through Iowa State University.

Nicole has a passion for health, nutrition, and cooking. She enjoys experimenting with and sharing new recipes and cooking techniques with her clients. She is dedicated to educating her clients on how to be mindful of their habits and make healthy changes that will last a lifetime.

Nicole currently works in clinical and private practice settings where she has gained experience with diabetes management, heart-healthy cooking, weight loss or weight maintenance, food allergies and sensitives, chronic kidney disease and heart failure.

References
¹Quantz, Yvette. Food Therapy Nutrition Consulting Services. Food Therapy, 4 Mar. 2015, foodtherapyonline.com/services/leap-mrt-food-sensitivity-testing/. Accessed 14 May 2018.

²Bolen, Barbara. Food Allergy, Intolerance or Sensitivity: What Is the Real Problem? Verywell Health, 27 Apr. 2017, www.verywell.com/food-allergies-intolerance-and-sensitivities-1945299. Accessed 14 May 2018.