How can you tell the difference between an allergy and an intolerance?
Even though most people confuse food allergy and food intolerance, these are different conditions and have different tests to check for them in the body. A food allergy occurs when your immune system overreacts to a food item that’s usually harmless. Food intolerance is more of a chemical reaction to a food or drinks you’ve consumed. When suffering from a food allergy, you’ll notice symptoms from a few minutes after consuming the item, upto two hours later. However, food intolerance symptoms can take upto 72 hours for the symptoms to show up because the food needs to get to your colon for the symptoms to appear. The testing for food allergy is IgE, while food intolerance is IgG4 because these two have different reactions in the body. IgE antibodies are involved in reactions that cause rapid immune reactions (allergies). IgG4 antibodies on the other hand show reactions involving food antigens that haven’t yet developed into allergies (intolerances). Upon consuming a food you’re allergic to, you can develop anaphylaxis which is a life-threatening condition, and if not promptly treated one can die. However, food intolerance doesn't cause life-threatening symptoms and many people tend to suffer from it unknowingly. Even though food intolerance symptoms aren't life-threatening, they cause IBS-like symptoms which can interfere with one's quality of life. While you can't treat an allergy, sometimes with the help of a doctor, you can make your body more tolerant to a specific food thus eliminating food intolerance. But with food allergies, you will need to avoid that trigger foods for the rest of your life. Food intolerance symptoms include cramps, headache, bloating, diarrhoea, and headache. Some symptoms of food allergy include swelling of the throat and tongue, difficulty breathing, anaphylactic shock, and rashes.Comprehensive food intolerance tests in the UK
These are some of the common food intolerance tests you can find in the UK.Test Your Intolerance (£85)
This test checks for 63 intolerance in food and drinks. Once you order your food intolerance test, you'll receive the kit in your mail within three days. Upon getting your food Intolerance Test, you can take a blood sample by pricking your finger.
Upon sending your sample back to the labs, you'll receive your results within seven days of the sample reaching the labs. Your sample undergoes ELISA testing, which checks for IgG4 antibodies.
Once you get an email with your results, you will receive complete guidance on conducting an elimination diet. Blood tests from Test Your Intolerance also contain UKCA and CE markings as they comply with regulatory requirements.
Test Your Intolerance also has a customer LiveChat 24/7 where you can ask questions you need to and get elaborate explanations of what you're looking for. On LiveChat, you can get the nutritional advice that you need.
