Food Allergy VS Food Intolerance

What's the difference between a food intolerance and food allergy?

Although many people have adverse reactions to certain foods, true food allergy — a reaction triggered by the immune system — is uncommon. Only about 2 percent of adults and 6 percent of children have a true food allergy. Far more people have a food intolerance, unpleasant symptoms triggered by certain foods. Unlike a food allergy, a food intolerance doesn't involve the immune system.

In a food allergy, your immune system mistakenly identifies a specific food or a component of a food as a harmful substance. Your immune system triggers certain cells to produce immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to fight the culprit food or food component. The next time you eat even the smallest amount of that food, the IgE antibodies sense it and signal your immune system to release histamine and other chemicals into your bloodstream.
Signs and symptoms of a food allergy may include tingling in the mouth, hives, swelling of the lips, face, tongue and throat, wheezing or breathing difficulties, and dizziness or fainting.

It's important to distinguish food intolerance from food allergy. If you have a food allergy, eating even the tiniest amount of the food may trigger a serious allergic reaction. By contrast, if you have food intolerance, you usually can eat small amounts of the food without a reaction.

Artikel diatas reasy copy dari klinik Mayo. Besar banget keinginan untuk sharing masalah alergi atau masalah pada pencernaan yang sensitif. Tapi untuk perkenalan,,, dipahami dulu perbedaan antara food allergy dan food intolerance.

Kenapa reasy merasa perlu untuk posting mengenai alergi,, karena alergi jadi "musuh dalam selimut" yang membuat hari-hari bersama Mahant jadi menakutkan.