Allergy or intolerance?

It would be wonderful if we could all eat any type of food we want without the fear of having some serious health consequences. Of course most of us indeed have that luxury, but there are also others, who suffer from various side effects after eating some products.

An adverse reaction occurring after eating food that is normally well tolerated by healthy people, is called a food hypersensitivity. A food hypersensitivity, wherein patomechanism is associated with the immune system, is a food allergy.

All the other non-immune food hypersensitivity reactions are classified as non-allergic food hypersensitivity, also called food intolerance. It is important though, to know that some certain products causing allergic symptoms, may also be the factor responsible for triggering non-allergic food hypersensitivity all at once. A good example is cow’s milk- people may react to its proteins which are a very common allergen; and to its sugar if they have lactose intolerance. Also wheat may trigger both allergy to its protein and gluten intolerance (celiac disease).

Nowadays, about 1-3% of the human population, and 6-8% of kids suffer from food allergy. Unfortunately, there is more and more people developing allergies in all the countries worldwide, which may be due to increased consumption of certain products, such us exotic fruit and vegetables, as well as using the ready-to-eat products more often than in the past.

The most common food allergens (but not the only ones!), called “THE BIG 8”, are:

  • 1. Cow’s milk.
  • 2. Eggs (egg whites more often than egg yolks).
  • 3. Fish.
  • 4. Soy.
  • 5. Nuts.
  • 6. Cereals.
  • 7. Citrus fruits.
  • 8. Shellfish.

 

One Response to Allergy or intolerance?

  1. Elizabeth C. says:

    Remarkable! Its in fact amazing article, I have got much more clear idea now, thanks Angie!

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