Many people feel unwell after eating certain foods, but it’s not always clear why. It could be a food allergy, a food intolerance, or something else entirely. While they might sound similar, allergies and intolerances affect the body in different ways — and testing for them involves very different methods.
Understanding the difference between allergy testing and food intolerance testing can help you get the right diagnosis and avoid years of discomfort.
What Is a Food Allergy?
A food allergy is a reaction from the immune system. When someone eats something they’re allergic to, their body treats it as a threat. This triggers an immune response, which can range from mild symptoms like itching and rashes to severe problems like swelling, trouble breathing, or even anaphylaxis.
These reactions usually happen quickly — often within minutes or a few hours. Common food allergens include peanuts, shellfish, dairy, and eggs. Because of the risks involved, identifying food allergies early is important, especially in children.
Allergy tests are often done by a doctor or specialist. Skin prick tests and blood tests are used to check for IgE antibodies, which show how your immune system reacts to specific allergens.
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What Is Food Intolerance?
Food intolerance doesn’t involve the immune system. Instead, it’s usually caused by trouble digesting certain foods. The symptoms can be uncomfortable but are not life-threatening. Common signs include bloating, gas, diarrhoea, nausea, or headaches, and they often appear a few hours after eating the food.
Lactose intolerance is one of the most well-known examples, but people can also have issues with things like preservatives, artificial additives, or even naturally occurring chemicals in foods like caffeine or histamines.
Since the immune system isn’t involved, allergy tests won’t pick up a food intolerance. This is where food intolerance testing comes in. These tests are designed to detect delayed food reactions, often through IgG antibody testing. They can give you more clarity if you’re reacting to certain foods but allergy tests come back negative.
How Do the Tests Work?
Allergy testing is usually done under medical supervision, especially if there’s a risk of a strong reaction. The tests involve either applying a small amount of the suspected allergen to the skin or drawing blood to check for specific antibodies.
Food intolerance testing is more focused on delayed responses. Blood is usually taken to look for IgG antibodies that may be linked to intolerance-type symptoms. Some tests might also consider enzyme activity or reaction to certain chemicals in food.
These results help guide you on what foods might be causing your symptoms. If you remove the problem foods and your symptoms improve, it’s a strong sign those foods were contributing to your issues.
Which One Do You Need?
If you have strong, fast reactions after eating, like swelling or breathing trouble, you should get tested for allergies right away. These can be serious and even life-threatening.
If your symptoms are slower to show up and include things like stomach pain, tiredness or skin flare-ups after meals, you might be dealing with a food intolerance.
Many people live for years with food reactions they don’t understand. Getting the right test can take the guesswork out of it and help you feel better sooner. A professional service like ImuPro can guide you through testing options that suit your symptoms and history.
