Food allergy and food intolerance are different.
In food allergy, IgE type antibodies are secreted. These antibodies provide histamine secretion, giving us an allergy signal with symptoms such as itching, sneezing, cough. The cause of the allergy is easily understood. Allergy cannot be cured; however, with antihistamine drugs and staying away from that substance, symptoms and discomfort can be prevented.
However, food intolerance is insidious. It does not reveal itself immediately. It causes more general health problems by causing specific reactions over time. The type of antibody produced is IgG.
Food intolerance is defined as the reaction of the digestive system to a substance contained in consumed food. A substance in the food cannot be digested or broken down properly by the person’s digestive system. This condition irritates the digestive system and causes damage. The cause of food intolerance is the lack of enzymes or the digestibility of the substance in the food. For example, lactose intolerance occurs as a result of lactase enzyme deficiency, which ensures the digestion of lactose carbohydrate in milk.
If a person has food intolerance, it can occur when a person eats that food for the first time. What affects food intolerance is the amount of food. When the food that causes intolerance is consumed in low amounts, it can be accepted by the body, while higher amounts may cause discomfort. Symptoms of food intolerance:
- Weakening in the immune system
- Constipation
- Stomach and intestinal problems
- Abdominal swelling
- Diarrhea
- Skin problems Obesity (overweight)
- Restlessness
- Insomnia or constant sleepiness
- Acne
- Headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Constant flu
A diagnosis of food intolerance can be made with the elimination diet or food intolerance test. In order to detect problematic foods in the elimination diet, the suspected foods under the control of the doctor or dietician are completely removed from the diet and then these foods are added to the diet one by one. By examining the symptoms, it can be understood which foods cause food intolerance. In food intolerance test, people are tested for sensitivity to many substances such as mushrooms, dyes, drugs, nutrients, and their diets are regulated according to this test result.
The only treatment for food intolerance is to remove the food that causes intolerance from the diet or to consume it in the body’s tolerable amounts. If the nutrient causing the intolerance is an essential food that the body must take, it is very important to consume another food of the same quality instead. Lack of wheat consumption due to gluten intolerance may cause inadequate vitamin B intake. In this case, the person does not contain gluten instead of wheat; it can consume corn flour, millet, brown rice, buckwheat and quinoa.
