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About 50 million Americans have a food allergy, and these allergies can develop at any point in life. But a suspected food allergy could actually be a food intolerance. The two may produce some similar symptoms, but cause different reactions in your body. So, what’s the difference?
Digestive Versus Immune Systems
When the body has an intolerance to a certain food, it’s unable to digest the food properly. The improper digestion may result in gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, like an upset stomach and diarrhea. A food allergy, however, happens when the body’s immune system—not digestive system—reacts to a food and produces an allergic reaction to it. In addition to GI symptoms, food allergies may also cause reactions like hives, swelling, wheezing, coughing, trouble swallowing and dizziness or weakness.
A food allergy can also be life-threatening. The most common food allergens are eggs, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, wheat and soy.
Another difference? With a food intolerance, the body may be able to digest small amounts of the food without any problems. With a food allergy, however, even touching or ingesting a small amount of the food is enough to provoke a reaction.
Diagnosing the Problem
Knowing whether you have a food allergy is the first step to staying healthy and safe. If you suspect that you or someone in your family may have one, talk with your doctor. Doctors diagnose food allergies with different tests, including skin allergy tests and blood tests (also known as challenge tests).