Food Intolerance Symptoms versus Food Allergy Symptoms

Food Intolerance symptoms and Food Allergy symptoms may initially exhibit the same symptoms; nausea, vomiting, stomach / abdominal cramping and diarrhea. While the symptoms of food intolerance can take hours or even days or months to manifest, food allergy symptoms are instantly obvious and must be dealt with extreme urgency. The worst case scenario for a person suffering from food intolerance would be extreme discomfort because of the digestive symptoms. Death is not expected and morbidity is low on food intolerant individuals. People however, who are allergic to certain substances and have consumed or even have slight contact with them, will have adverse reactions, which if not treated immediately, might lead to anaphylactic shock and even death.

The best way to differentiate food intolerance from food allergy would be an elimination diet to narrow down which foods actually trigger off reactions. Because food intolerance symptoms take some time to become apparent and food allergies are almost always immediately discernible, it is easier to validate an allergic person’s condition. Elimination diets for food intolerant individuals take a long period of time – removing one type of food at a time to find out which one really is the culprit.

 

Controversy on Food Intolerance

As food intolerance symptoms pose less life-threatening risks on a person as compared to food allergies, many believe that it is a rather unimportant matter to debate about. It is often thought that food intolerant people are just fussy eaters or those who just feign food allergies. Food intolerance can take days, can include several types of food and that is why symptoms on persons are somewhat vague. Migraines, nausea, and bloating are general symptoms that could suggest any other condition. A high incidence of food intolerance in the world’s population also implies that anybody could be suffering from it, without even realizing they have some sort of reaction to certain types of food. People who do have food intolerance could even consume some of the suspect food without developing symptoms.

On the other hand, it is also known for a lot of people to assume food intolerance, as is the fad with famous celebrities. It can be very difficult to distinguish these people from the real victims of food intolerance. It is known that anxiety, depression and stress can be triggering factors in upsetting a person’s digestive cycles, as well as unhealthy and risky eating patterns. While true food intolerant persons’ symptoms are physically evident, those who are not actually sensitive might have this condition only in their minds.

 

Work-related and social-related effects

Food intolerant individuals who have not been diagnosed go about their lives normally and go on consuming food everyday without realizing that their reactions are actually the symptoms. They could be the people in the office who seem sluggish, lightheaded and tired all the time, complaining about migraines and joint and body pains. They may seem to acknowledge their conditions at some point but without being formally diagnosed, these people would not know which of the food items from an office after-party buffet causes them to experience digestive symptoms.

When an elimination diet is not carried out by a food intolerant individual, he will continue to exhibit digestive symptoms which may in turn, affect his social behavior. Irritability, hyperactivity and sleeping difficulties, brought about by digestive symptoms, can have negative effects on a person’s life. Children with food intolerance tend to display tantrums which alarm their parents and scare off playmates. They are likely to be misunderstood as people with attitude problems or behavioral difficulties, making it hard for them to interact with others.

 

Care for the Food Intolerant

Relatives, friends and school teachers of the food intolerant individuals can help alleviate symptoms by acknowledging the problem and taking effective actions.

• They can have the person diagnosed properly and subject him to several weeks of elimination diet to find out the cause of his food intolerance symptoms.

• A food diary can help track down food items and substances, and its effects on the person.

• Have the person check labels of processed food carefully and avoid eating unfamiliar foods.

• On travels, inform travel agencies of the disorder so that they can custom-fit the journey based on the limitations of the food intolerant person.

• Research on food intolerance in order to better eliminate suspect foods without compromising the person’s appetite. Study and introduce delicious meals that do not include ingredients he would likely have a reaction to.

• Encourage the person and support him. While other people may not see the realistic health threats of food intolerance, members of the family know the real situation and could help the individual cope and function better in his daily activities. This is especially helpful for children who may feel inferior because they cannot eat the same things as their peers.

As food intolerance has no known treatment, the only cure is prevention.

 

Famous people with food intolerance/ allergies

Food intolerance should not be regarded as a disease, and these individuals prove that one can function normally in the society without any difficulties, and even achieve many things.

• Drew Barrymore – the child star from ET, who grew up into one of Charlie’s Angels, has a list of allergies, including garlic and coffee.

• Halle Berry – the first Afro-American woman ever to win the Academy Award for Best Actress for her 2001 movie Monster’s Ball, is allergic to shrimp.

• Serena Williams – world renowned tennis celebrity who won ten single Grand Slam titles and two Olympic medals. She has an allergy to peanuts.

• Victoria Beckham – former member of the girl band from the 90’s, the Spice Girls, famous designer and fashion icon and wife to star football player David Beckham, has dairy intolerance. She shares the same condition with another actor, Orlando Bloom.

• Rachel Weisz – the English actress from “the Mummy” has wheat intolerance and so has Geri Haliwell.

• Billy Bob Thornton – probably the most well-known gluten intolerant in Hollywood and as a result the actor cannot consume bakery products such as bread, pizzas, pretzels and muffins.

• Jessica Simpson – famous singer who exhibits a lot of food intolerance symptoms to cheese, wheat, tomatoes, hot peppers, coffee, corn and chocolate.