There is a difference between having a food allergy and having a food intolerance. When i tell people that Julian has food allergies, anytime i mention milk , they ask me if he is lactoce intolerant, so i always say no, he has a milk allergy.
food intolerance occurs when the body lacks an enzyme to digest proteins in a specific food. An intolerance can cause some of the same symptoms caused by food allergies and never life threatening . An allergy on the other hand involves your entire immune system and can be life threatening.
Symptoms of food intolerance can be see upto 6 hours after eating the specific food. With a food allergy, it can be a matter of seconds or upto 2 hours after eating the food.
So here is how you can distinguish between the two.
Food Intolerance symptoms are :
-Upset stomach
-Gas and bloating
-Abdominal cramps
-Vomiting
-Diarrhea
Food Allergy symptoms are :
-Skin redness and itching
-Rashes or hives
-Red, watery eyes
-Nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing
-Vomiting
-Diarrhea
-Swelling of the lips, face, or throat
-Wheezing
-Severe breathing difficulty
-Loss of consciousness
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