Food Allergy or Intolerance?
Have you ever ate something and just not felt well after?
There are MANY foods that make me feel that way, but that doesn’t necessarily mean there’s a food allergy at play.
Food intolerances are different from food allergies. A food intolerance is an abnormal response to a food, however, the immune system isn’t reacting to it. These may occur randomly with foods.
Common food intolerance symptoms are mentioned in the infographic below.
A food allergy is in fact a reaction from the immune system to a particular food. These tend to happen within minutes to hours after eating that food. These reactions can include digestive issues, hives, swollen airways, or even anaphylaxis. Below is a chart of allergic symptoms to look out for.
Food allergies are more serious and more complicated. Below is a list of the most common allergenic foods.
Berries
Buckwheat
Chocolate
Cinnamon
Citrus fruits
Coconut
Corn
Dairy
Egg whites
Mustard
Nuts
Peanut butter
Peas
Pork
Shellfish
Soy
Tomatoes
Wheat
Yeast
If you suspect you have a food allergy, talk to your doctor. Also, be sure to read labels on packaged foods. Sometimes allergenic foods are listed under another name. For example, wheat flour is listed as durum, egg whites are listed as albumen, and dairy products are listed as whey, casein, or sodium caseinate.
You’d be surprised where you find some of these potential allergens! Hot dogs, deli meat, and “non-dairy” desserts contain sodium caseinate (dairy). And if you think you’re going dairy free by eating margarine, think again. Most margarines contain whey, as do most protein powders.
Seeing as I have food allergies to wheat and chocolate, as well as food intolerances to many others, I have gotten pretty good at finding substitutes for just about anything. If you think you may have a food allergy or intolerance, schedule a discovery call with me to discuss some food options.
Looking for more tips on balance? Download this FREE cheat sheet on 8 Ways to Stay Balanced.