Why are food allergies and intolerances often confused?
When you experience pain after ingesting a food, you mistakenly think it’s an allergy. It triggers a release of histamine from mast cells, causing hives, angioedema, or anaphylactic shock. Food intolerance is a difficulty the digestive system has in digesting a component.
The most common intolerances affect lactose, gluten, cow’s milk proteins, and sulfites. The immune system remains inactive, but the small intestine or colon may suffer from chronic inflammation.
According to the WHO , approximately 10 to 15% of the population suffers from some form of food intolerance. It is therefore crucial not to confuse these two reactions in order to adopt the correct treatment.
Unlike allergies, they are rarely immediate or life-threatening.These signs indicate poor digestion due to a missing or deficient enzyme.
In lactose intolerance, the enzyme lactase is deficient. Lactose then remains undigested in the intestine, causing unpleasant fermentation.
In infants, certain signs may be warning signs: diaper rash, frequent diarrhea, colic , or persistent atopic eczema . In adults, chronic fatigue, headaches, or unexplained nausea may be linked to food hypersensitivity.
Digestive symptoms should not be taken lightly. They can mask a severe intolerance or cross-food allergy, particularly to cow’s milk protein, soy, peanuts, or wheat.
How to make a reliable diagnosis in case of doubt?
Diagnosing a food intolerance isn’t based solely on clinical interviews. Healthcare professionals rely on detailed medical examinations to help you. The first step is to consult a general practitioner or an allergist . The latter will analyze your medical history, your digestive or skin symptoms, and the times when they occur.
For intolerances, other approaches are used: hydrogen breath testing for lactose intolerance, enzyme testing, or a supervised oral challenge test.
It’s also possible to follow an elimination diet for a few weeks. The suspected food is eliminated and then gradually reintroduced to observe the effects. This allows you to test the digestive system’s response without any major risk.
In rarer cases, intestinal permeability tests or laboratory tests can complete the assessment. Do not attempt to self-diagnose. A misdiagnosis can lead to deficiencies, an inappropriate diet, and even long-term digestive complications.
Careful reading of food labels, especially for traces of allergens, is essential. Mandatory allergen labeling in France provides better protection for people with allergies or intolerances.
How to safely adapt your diet?
Changing your diet can relieve your symptoms, but it requires discipline. To begin, you need to specifically identify the foods to avoid.
If you are lactose intolerant, choose lactose-free products, such as certain yogurts, mature cheeses, or plant-based milks. For those with cow’s milk protein allergies, you can opt for goat’s or sheep’s milk, if they are tolerated.