We often tend to confuse intolerance and food allergy. However, the warning signs are different as well as the consequences for the person who suffers from it. How to differentiate the two pathologies?
According to Dr. Florence Trébuchon, allergist interviewed on the program Allodocteurs, in the case of a food allergy, “ it's the immune system re which is involved. We are then exposed to potentially severe reactions such as anaphylactic shock .”
She specifies that food intolerance affects the digestive tract, which has difficulty assimilating food . But in this case the symptoms are related to the digestive sphere.
Gluten and lactose intolerance are the most common types of food intolerance. Lactose intolerance is the most widespread, affecting 8% of the population French according to the allergist.
It is manifested by different symptoms:stomach aches, bloating, diarrhea, regurgitation, chronic fatigue...
Dr. Arnaud Cocaul, nutritionist doctor interviewed on the subject in Allodocteurs, advises intolerant people he receives for the first time to take a test avoiding any source of gluten during one week. Depending on the body's reactions, he generally suggests gradually reintroducing gluten or lactose until the right balance is found.
According to him, “you can be gluten intolerant without having celiac disease. »
What is celiac disease?
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease that manifests itself by the destruction of the lining of the small intestine. This is a permanent intolerance to gluten from certain cereals such as wheat (wheat), barley or rye. Some nutrients are poorly absorbed (vitamins, iron, calcium, etc.) and this results in nutritional deficiencies. Today, the only recommended treatment is a strict gluten-free diet for life.
More than 160 foods are likely to trigger allergic reactions. Among them, 8 only represent 90% of allergies :
How does a food allergy manifest?
It usually does not go unnoticed since it causes a disproportionate reaction of our body to a seemingly harmless allergen, which is often part of the foods mentioned above. After swallowing or touching the food with the mouth, the lips, tongue, eyelids or even the pharynx and larynx may begin to swell until the airways are blocked . This phenomenon is called angioedema. If these symptoms appear, you must immediately call the Samu (15).
According to Dr. Arnaud Cocaul, “Allergy can appear either gradually with age or from birth. When the allergy is present from birth, there is no sensitization phase. The reaction can be violent from the start.”
In some children, “the white blood cells of the defense system are over-activated for some unknown reason. They produce too many pro-inflammatory molecules responsible for the signs of allergy”; he continues.
If you notice signs of an allergy, such as difficulty breathing or swollen lips after eating something , it is more than advisable to consult your doctor. A visit to the allergist will then be essential to find the foods that are responsible for it and find solutions.
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