FOOD INTOLERANCE OR FOOD ALLERGY

FOOD INTOLERANCE OR FOOD ALLERGY?

By Debbie Markel, CH, CNHP

How often do you hear people say they’re allergic to a particular food? According to WebMD (www.webmd.com), allergies are immune system responses to food ingredients, usually proteins. The body thinks the food is an invader, so it produces antibodies to fight it off. WebMD also states that the most common food allergies in adults are peanuts, tree nuts (such as walnuts, pecans and almonds), fish, and shellfish. The most common food allergies in children are milk, eggs, soy products, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, fish and shellfish. Usually, people get symptoms when they eat a food to which they’re allergic. Even one bite of the food may cause symptoms. These symptoms can be one or more of the following:

* Rash or hives

* Nausea

* Stomach pain

* Diarrhea

* Itchy skin

* Shortness of breath

* Chest pain

* Swelling of the airways to the lungs

* Anaphylaxis, which is a serious, potentially life-threatening allergic response that manifests itself by causing swelling, hives, lowered blood pressure and dilated blood vessels. If severe, a person will go into shock. Blood pressure drops severely, swelling occurs in the lungs, and the person may choke and lose consciousness. If anaphylactic shock isn't treated immediately, it can be fatal.

Most people aren’t allergic to foods. In fact, only about 1% of adults and 7% of children have true food allergies and children often outgrow theirs (www.webmd.com). Doctors can diagnose food allergies by monitoring blood antibodies after an allergen is introduced into the body. The only cure for a food allergy is to completely eliminate the offending food from your diet. As allergic people know, reading food labels is critical because some allergens are hidden in foods. Foods could be processed in factories that also process the allergen and in rare cases, this tiny exposure to the allergen (being processed in the same facility) can be life-threatening to some people.

Food intolerances are much more common than food allergies. Food intolerances are an inability to fully digest or process certain foods, leading to chronic symptoms. Symptoms can be very uncomfortable and can include one or more of the following:

* Stomach pain

* Bloating

* Gas

* Nausea

* Diarrhea

* Constipation

* Rash or hives

* Memory loss

* Mood swings

* Achy muscles or joints

* Headaches

As you can see, some of these symptoms mimic symptoms of food allergies; however, food intolerances are not life-threatening.

The most common foods that provoke symptoms of intolerance are dairy, wheat, sugars, caffeine, yeast, dyes, monosodium glutamate (MSG), preservatives, sulfites, and salicylates (a group of natural plant chemicals found in many fruits, vegetables, nuts, coffee, juices, beer and wine). According to the National Institutes of Health (www.nih.gov), between 30 and 50 million Americans are lactose intolerant, which means they have difficulty digesting the protein found in dairy products. As many as 75 percent of all African-Americans, Jewish-Americans, and Native Americans, and 90 percent of Asian-Americans, are lactose intolerant.

Usually, food intolerances are triggered because our body doesn’t produce enough of a particular enzyme (or several enzymes) needed to digest our food. The Physician’s Desk Reference (www.pdrhealth.com) mentions that lower enzyme production is a normal part of the aging process. Some people may inherit their diminished ability to produce one or more enzymes. Food intolerances cannot be diagnosed by conventional medical tests. Usually, you can diagnose them yourself by keeping a detailed food diary. Record everything you eat, write down when you get symptoms, then look for patterns. Another way to identify offending foods is to go on an elimination diet. You would completely eliminate any suspicious foods from your diet until you are symptom-free. You then begin to add back the foods, one at a time. This can help you pinpoint which foods cause symptoms.

Treating food intolerances is simple. You can completely avoid the problem foods, cut down on the amount of those foods you eat (which can alleviate symptoms in some cases), or try using digestive enzyme supplements. These supplements contain one or more of the following enzymes: lactase to help digest dairy; amylase and amyloglucosidase to help digest carbohydrates; protease in acid stable and pancreatin forms for protein digestion; lipase to digest fats; and cellulose and hemicellulase for digesting fiber.

Knowing about food intolerances can often resolve symptoms that are difficult for doctors to diagnose. Knowing about food allergies could potentially save a life. Learning about both can ultimately lead to a happier, healthier you.

Debbie Markel, Certified Herbalist and Certified Natural Health Professional, is the proprietor of Apothecarian Herbals in Powhatan. She can be reached at 598-5352. Visit www.herbalconsultant.com for more info.

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