What are Allergies?

A lot of people are confused by the term allergy vs intolerance.  A food allergy is an acute immune response where the body mistakes an ingredient in food or chemical or environmental substance as being harmful and subsequently makes antibodies in order to fight the offending allergen.  Food allergies only affect approximately 2 to 4% of adults and 6 to 8% of children. The most common food allergies include nuts such as peanuts, walnuts, pecans and almonds, seafood,cows dairy, eggs, soy and wheat.

Typical allergic reactions are acute hay fever, sinus and anaphylaxis, skin rashes or hives, nausea or vomiting and acute stomach cramping or Diarrhea.

 What is an Intolerance?

Food intolerances are a digestive system response rather than an immune system response. Food intolerances are much more common and occurs when something in a food irritates a person's digestive system or when a person is unable to properly digest or breakdown the food.  The most common food intolerances include gluten found in wheat, oats and rye and casein and lactose found in cows dairy.

Typical symptoms associated food Intolerance include fatigue nausea, stomach pain, flatulence, bloating, heartburn, diarrhea, headaches, irritability, poor concentration, even anxiety, depression and insomnia

Because intolerances tend not to present with as severe symptoms as allergies, they can often go undiagnosed as they can be more difficult to pin point.

Food intolerances are becoming more common because our digestive and immune systems are becoming more compromised due to poor diets, stress and exposure to toxins and depleted pro biotic colonies within our intestines.

How Can I test for an Allergy Vs a Food Intolerance ?

There are a variety of tests to diagnose allergens however these tests can prove costly and often inaccurate. My professional approach to treating allergies and intolerances is to rehabilitate the digestive and immune system,  so that a person is less reactive to allergens.  This program also involves implementing a specific low allergy diet, but Sally can show you how to substitute allergenic foods with tasty alternatives so you will never know you are on a low allergy diet!

Below are the products I recommend to help treat allergies and intolerances.

For more information on these or to book a personalised consultation with Clinical Nutritionist Sally Joseph, contact us.

To learn more about what foods to avoid to treat allergies and intolerances and what foods are best for your health, purchase  A lifetime of health in 28 Days .