Differences Between Allergies and Intolerances

We need to tell apart between allergies and intolerance, which are two very distinct physiological feedback.

Allergies are brought on by the eating of normally harmless substances that the body identify as foreign (such as casein or lactose). This in turn causes the discharge of antibodies to fight off their existence in the body. Consequently, the body will release chemically activate such as histamines to alert the body to the attacking matter, which can result in inflammation. Allergies can range in harshness, and at their most extreme can result in anaphylactic shock.

Food intolerance, on the other hand, do not include the immune system. Intolerance result when an enzyme needed to absorb certain substances does not exist in the body. Those experiencing from lactose intolerance, for example, does not have sufficient quantities of the enzyme lactase, which is to blame for breaking lactose down in the small intestine. Without the essential amount of lactose, the lactose gets sent directly into the large intestine, causing a range of digestive troubles such as flatulence, bloating and stomach cramps.

With some 30% of Americans suffering from lactose intolerance, it is the most common food intolerance in the country. And unlike dairy allergies, which many children develop out of, lactose intolerance only degenerate with age. This is because, as we get older, the quantity of lactose our body manufacture naturally decreases. The most dependable testing method for understanding to dairy is the elimination diet. This involves the prevention of all casein or lactose-containing foods and processed foods as well as all dairy food for two weeks.

After the two-week period you should begin re-introducing certain dairy foods. Some health experts suggest that you begin with small servings of organic skim or low-fat cow's milk for two days. If after the two days you begin to notice any of the above symptoms, you most likely have a sensitivity to dairy. If, however, you experience no adverse symptoms after the two days you may continue re-introducing dairy products with the same two-day rule until you are confident you are tolerating them well.

Alternatively, some common medically supervised testing methods are The lactose intolerance test: This blood test measures blood sugar levels which, under normal circumstances, should rise after the ingestion of lactose. The lack of rising blood glucose levels is indicative of undigested lactose, and thus, lactose intolerance.

The hydrogen breath test: This test account for hydrogen levels in the breath resulting from undigested lactose in the colon. The stool acidity test: Like the hydrogen breath test, this test analyses levels of acidity in the stool brought on by undigested lactose. This test is usually given as a substitute for the hydrogen breath test for young children and infants.

Treatment options range depending on the severity of the allergy or intolerance. Those with a mild intolerance to lactose, for example, may still be able to consume limited amounts of dairy products with the use of a digestive aid, such as a lactase enzyme.

Simple avoidance, however, is generally the most reliable form of treatment. At the same time, since dairy is our primary source of calcium intake, thus taking on a dairy-free diet must be sure to substitute alternative sources of calcium so as not to become susceptible to deficiencies.

For dairy allergies, an antihistamine may be prescribed, although patients should be alerted to possible side effects. Another, slightly more controversial treatment alternative involves desensitizing the patient to the allergen through a series of injections. Natural treatment options, on the other hand, will most likely involve strengthening the adrenal glands through stress reduction and herbal supplements such as licorice root and Siberian ginseng.