Food Intolerance vs. Food Allergy: What's the difference?


The inability to tolerate foods and environmental factors, also known as sensitivity or intolerance, induces chronic activation of the innate immune system and gives rise to inflammatory processes, which includes excess production of reactive oxygen species and the release of preformed and newly synthesized mediators of inflammation.

This inflammation has been linked to countless chronic conditions, including: digestive disorders, migraines, obesity, chronic fatigue, ADD, aching joints, skin disorders, arthritis and many more.

How does food sensitivity differ from classic food allergies?
True food allergies refer to foods that trigger the immune system to acutely produce massive amounts of the chemical histamine that leads to anaphylaxis. This potentially fatal condition causes the throat and esophagus to swell, cutting off air from the lungs, or may simply cause hives, skin rashes, and other non-life-threatening reactions.

This type of reaction is called a type I hypersensitivity reaction, caused by the degranulation of mast cells or basophils that is mediated by Immunoglobulin E (IgE).

Food and Chemical Sensitivity/Intolerance Test has provided patients with a tool to successfully overcome a wide variety of conditions, such as digestive disorders, migraines, obesity, chronic fatigue, skin disorders and arthritis, which result from food and chemical sensitivities.

I think every person should get tested at least once in their life time to see what their body is sensitive/intolerent to and prevent many conditions to form, most importantly people with extensive family history.
11/24/2010 11:12:09 PM
Written by drolshansky
San Francisco Chiropractor with passion for Alternative Medicine. Founder of Integrative Health Center where I introduced to San Francisco a real gift of Nature used since early 1800’s in Central Europe’s best medicinal spas, Moor Mud, Saki Lake Mud and Hungarian Mud therapy. Organic mixture contains multitude of bio-min...
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