Food Intolerances

There is a difference between food allergies and food intolerances. Food allergies are a result of a person eating a particular food that their body identifies as harmful. When the body has identified the food as harmful, histamine (a chemical released by the body as a natural immune system response) is released. Histamine causes the body to experience itching, rashes, swelling of the mouth or tongue. Anti-histamines reverse these symptoms of allergic reaction.

In the case of food intolerances, the food identified by the body as harmful does not cause an immune system reaction, but does cause the individual who ate the food to have symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, intestinal bloating.

The incidences of food intolerances are increasing in the United States. Healthcare researchers have concluded that in the United States the increase in processed foods has lead to increased incidences of food intolerances. Dairy, gluten, soy, lactose, and fructose have been the most recent culprits of food intolerances. Selective elimination of foods is the best way to identify food intolerances For more information on food allergies and food intolerances, visit the website: http://www.nutritionist-resource.org.uk