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Navigating Food Allergies vs. Food Intolerances
Understanding the nuances between food allergies and food intolerances is crucial for maintaining optimal health. This blog explores the differences between the two and delves into accurate diagnostic methods, shedding light on the risks associated with eliminating specific food groups. Discover how the equ food tracker app can play a pivotal role in creating personalised meal plans tailored to your unique needs.
Food Allergies & Intolerance: A Closer Look
A food allergy triggers an immune system response to a particular food protein, with symptoms ranging from mild to severe. Common triggers include dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, soy, wheat, and seafood. Even minimal exposure to these trigger foods can lead to reactions such as hives, facial swelling, and, in extreme cases, anaphylaxis. The only effective treatment for food allergies is complete avoidance of the trigger food. When compared to food intolerances, food allergies demand strict avoidance due to the potential severity of reactions.
In contrast, food intolerances don’t involve the immune system and are generally not life-threatening. They occur when the body struggles to digest or absorb a specific food or when a particular food irritates the digestive system. Symptoms include bloating, gas, diarrhoea, nausea, or abdominal pain. Food intolerances can be triggered by natural food chemicals such as salicylates, amines, glutamates, or artificial additives. Unlike allergies, food intolerances are often dose-dependent, allowing some flexibility in consumption.
Validated Diagnosis Tools: Separating Fact from Fiction
Various diagnostic tools claim to identify food allergies and intolerances, but what does science support?
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- Food allergies are typically diagnosed through a skin prick test or a blood test measuring allergen-specific Immunoglobulin E antibodies.
- Diagnosing food intolerances is challenging, with no reliable blood or skin tests available. The gold standard is a supervised elimination diet guided by a dietitian and medical practitioner.
- Beware of Inaccurate Tests: Tests like Cytotoxic Food Testing, Vega Testing, Kinesiology, and others have proven inaccurate and unreliable in published studies.
Risk of Nutritional Deficiencies & How equ Can Help
Eliminating or restricting food groups due to allergies or intolerances can lead to nutritional deficiencies and negative health outcomes if not properly managed. Seeking guidance from a general practitioner or an accredited dietitian is crucial for addressing potential deficiencies.
Managing allergies or intolerances requires careful consideration to prevent nutritional gaps. Using a nutrition tracker app, like equ, can be a game-changer in managing food allergies and intolerances while supporting you in reaching your health goals.
Personalised Meal Plans:
equ’s app utilises advanced algorithms to create personalised meal plans, taking into account your specific dietary needs and restrictions. Whether you have a food allergy or intolerance, our meal tracker app tailors meals to align with your health goals. This is one of the many features a food tracking app can provide to benefit your health.
Allergen and Intolerance Tracking:
The app allows you to easily track and manage allergens and intolerances. You can input your specific triggers, and the app will help you make informed food choices, ensuring that you stay within your intake goals.
Recipe Adaptations:
Discover a vast array of recipes within the app, with options tailored to accommodate various allergies and intolerances. This allows you to enjoy delicious meals without compromising your health!
Nutritional Support:
equ provides comprehensive nutritional support to address potential deficiencies associated with restricted diets. Alongside the guidance of a trained and qualified Nutrition Coach and our nutrition tracker app, these tools can help you maintain a balanced nutritional profile, promoting overall well-being.
Distinguishing between food allergies and intolerances is pivotal for a balanced and healthy lifestyle. Accurate diagnosis, informed management, and leveraging tools like meal tracker apps are essential to mitigate risks and ensure overall well-being.