Allergy versus Intolerance...

[humbird753]

I just joined this group yesterday and have been doing quite a bit of reading.

I see a lot of people saying they have an "intolerance" to some or many foods, including the gluten.

My question - Are you saying you have an allergy to these foods? Or, is intolerance totally different than an allergy?

If you are intolerant to certain foods, will it show up if you had allergy tests for those foods?


All replies are appreciated. Thank you.




Paula

[tex]

My question - Are you saying you have an allergy to these foods? Or, is intolerance totally different than an allergy?

That's a good question to which most doctors don't seem to know the correct answer. Consequently, there's a lot of confusion around the differences between intolerances and allergies. No, except in cases where mast cells are involved, most of us are not allergic to the foods that cause digestive issues for us. Those with mast cell involvement, or mastocytic enterocolitis, however, do have a combination of both allergies and intolerances.

I have a good, detailed discussion of this issue in the book I'm writing, but I hesitate to post anything from it until it's ready for publication, because I don't want to be accused of self-plagiarism, when the book is published, (as weird as that concept may seem on the surface). So in the meantime, the second post, (by me), in the thread at the following link, briefly discusses this difference:

http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=12415

If you are intolerant to certain foods, will it show up if you had allergy tests for those foods?

Allergy tests, (especially skin prick tests and conventional blood allergy tests), are generally worthless for determining food-sensitivities that cause autoimmune reactions in the digestive system.

Tex

[sarkin]

Paula - I'm going to go ahead and mouth off a little about this, though Tex's knowledge is far richer than mine - so don't take my answer to the bank, but I hope it will give you some helpful context... when I first found this forum, I was pretty overwhelmed!

Here's my take:

First, you're asking excellent questions. The typical allergy tests don't detect the issue we have with gluten, which is different from an "allergy" - it's more like, the body thinks that gluten is a pathogen, like a bacteria or virus, and is attempting to fight it... and our MC symptoms (plus many other possible symptoms) represent something like civilian "collateral damage."

"Intolerance" is not always used as a technical term; and in the vernacular, it sounds like something you could just ignore... people are familiar with 'lactose intolerance' (for example) which is TOTALLY different from a peanut allergy, which can be fatal if even a small amount is ingested. As a result, I think some well-meaning people figure if we don't have that kind of rapid, severe reaction, we're not really "allergically" unable to eat wheat. But we do sustain damage, sometimes quite severe, and sometimes with very small amounts of gluten. HOWEVER - I seemed to be having reactions involving mast cells, when first sick, and some of those symptoms are in the 'allergy' family... apparently I am fortunate not to have mast-cell enterocolitis, or a systemic problem with the mast cells that release histamine in allergic responses, but when everything goes blooey with me, that set of issues can get into the act as well (hives... dead give-away!)

To make things more confusing, in our discussions in this board as we all seek to achieve and maintain remission: many of us temporarily have trouble "tolerating" fiber, which is physical extremely irritating to a suffering gut, and excessive oil in the diet can be hard to digest, and some foods such as citrus or onions or sugars may be "hard to tolerate" while we are healing, but that doesn't necessarily mean that we have an Intolerance with a capital I. (I now eat quite a few things that troubled me when I was first recovering.) But that doesn't mean we're "intolerant" of those foods, in the same sense as "gluten intolerance."

I think I'm guilty myself of using words a little inconsistently

The Enterolab tests measure IgA antibodies to the gliadin component of gluten; also to casein, one of the protein components in dairy... and several other foods. These antibodies are actually in the gut, and will not be found in the bloodstream, unless and until the gut is so badly damaged that it is highly permeable, and large peptide molecules that should be contained within the gut are able to cross that barrier (and that's when the symptoms and other trouble may begin). That's why Enterolab tests sometimes reveal a serious problem with gluten in a person who has been assured there's no celiac issue - because it hasn't shown up in the blood yet.

I hope this helps - many folks here were assured they couldn't possibly have a problem with gluten, or dairy, and yet... they learn otherwise.

The food allergy tests that Tex mentioned... they have been improving them nearly 50 years, and they are still terribly unreliable. SO FRUSTRATING!

Tex, I'm excited that your book is getting closer. Congratulations, and as always, a thousand thanks.

Sara

[draperygoddess]

Paula,

I'm glad you posted this question, because it reminded me of something I meant to ask about, too! I have an 11-year-old niece who is intolerant of gluten (she's probably celiac, but has never been tested). She has been GF for several years now, with excellent results. Her mother mentioned that awhile back she accidentally ate something with gluten in it, and she broke out around her mouth. Now, this is interesting, because her original symptoms were all digestive, which puts her in the "intolerance" category and not the "allergy" category; however, this latest symptom would be considered an allergic reaction. It's especially noteworthy since she hadn't had gluten for quite awhile. Is it likely that she would develop a mast cell reaction now, after all this time?

[Lesley]

Reading this...I have had some upper respiratory rhinitis lately, usually an allergic reaction to ..something. They tell me it's "environmental". I generally take no notice of it unless I am so stuffed up I can't breathe, in which case I take zyrtec. I wonder if I am having some histamine reaction?
I think I am going to take a zyrtec and see if it helps. Rather that than more steroids.

[draperygoddess]

Lesley,

I figure it can't hurt! Wouldn't that be something?! If you decide to try the Zyrtec, keep us posted!

[Lesley]

I took it last night. My nose was nice and open, but I am not sure anything else changed. Yet!

I have some beef stock (homemade) in the freezer. I took some out to mash with potatoes this morning. I ate a lamb chop. I am swollen up to 5th month size (skin hurting sort of swollen!) and uncomfortable but no D of any kind so far. None of the firehose D I had with turkey and duck. I am hoping this is just a response to any food at all, and not another sensitivity.

[Gabes-Apg]

Paula
with the increased amount of people having allergies or intolerance, there are quite a few articles that have been published about this topic

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/food-allergy/AN01109

If you have a food allergy, even a tiny amount of the offending food can cause an immediate, severe reaction. Digestive signs and symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, cramping and diarrhea. Other signs and symptoms can include a tingling mouth, hives, and swelling of the lips, face, tongue and throat. A life-threatening allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis can cause breathing trouble and dangerously low blood pressure. If you have a food allergy, you'll need to avoid the offending food entirely.

Food intolerance symptoms generally come on gradually and don't involve an immune system reaction. If you have a food intolerance, you may be able to eat small amounts of the offending food without trouble. You may also be able to take steps that help prevent a reaction. For example, if you have lactose intolerance, you may be able to drink lactose-free milk or take lactase enzyme pills that aid digestion (such as Lactaid).

IMO- the slight difference for us MC'ers is that if we are inflammed and super reactive, then any item that is a allergy or intolerance will cause a chronic MC reaction.
Once the gut has healed, inflammation is gone, villi are rebuilt, leaky gut is minimised then there is a clear allergy reaction or an intolerance reaction.

regardless of if it is allergy or intolerance, if you ingest items that cause any type of reaction (no matter how mild) then you are putting stress on your digestion system.
in line with your other thread about stress and MC, if you are under physical, mental or emotional stress and you ingest food items that are an intolerance for you, then you are quite likely to get a bad MC reaction.

Still IMO: If you stick to an eating plan that has NO reactive foods, then your body will be able to cope with physical/mental/emotional stress.