The Difference Between Food Allergies, Intolerance, and Sensitivity

You’ve heard these terms before–allergy, intolerance, and sensitivity–in relation to food, but do you actually know what they mean? Oftentimes, these terms are interchanged in conversation about food and used incorrectly causing confusion for many people. Here’s the real definition for each of these terms to help you better determine what your relationship with certain foods may be.

Food Intolerance

Food intolerance refers to the inability to process or digest certain foods. These types of foods are different for everyone, though some food intolerances are more common than others. The most common food intolerance is lactose intolerance, which is the intolerance to anything with lactose in it (dairy products including milk, cheese, yogurt, etc.). This intolerance happens because as we get older, we become less able to digest dairy properly because our intestines make less of the enzymes, we require to process it. Lactose intolerance, or any type of food intolerance, is not serious, though it can be very uncomfortable, causing symptoms such as bloating, inflammation, and diarrhea.

Food Allergies

Allergies are a more serious problem than food intolerances. Where some allergies may cause lesser reactions that are not life-threatening such as sneezing, itchiness, and watery eyes, some food allergies can cause intense hives, tongue swelling, or anaphylaxis shock. The worst types of allergy symptoms are usually caused by allergies to peanuts or seafood, however, any food can cause these reactions. This is why it is essential to get food allergy tested.

Food Sensitivities

Food sensitivities refer to symptoms that are not life-threatening such as joint pain, stomach pain, fatigue, rashes, and brain fog that occur due to a certain food intake. Gluten is often a major cause of food sensitivities, though this is not to be confused with Celiac disease (a deadly type of gluten intolerance). Food sensitivities can change over time as our bodies and eating habits change. If you notice that you feel intolerant to certain foods, you should no longer consume them.

If you have a food intolerance, allergy, or sensitivity, you may also have some sort of digestive issue as each of these issues are linked to the gastrointestinal and digestive system. Although your intolerance/allergy/sensitivity may seem unrelated to your digestion, you would be surprised to find just how connected they are and how much better you can feel if you begin to treat your digestion the way it needs to be treated.

Dr. Cecilia Ho’s Digestion Restoration program, a naturopathic treatment for digestion, can help you get your digestive and associated problems back on track. Call Dr. Cecilia Ho, naturopath in Pickering today to book an appointment or to see if this program is right for you: 905-492-8688.