Ever felt bloated or fatigued after eating? Or perhaps had an unexpected reaction and weren’t sure why? Was it the result of a food sensitivity? It’s possible.
Food sensitivities and food allergies have some crossover symptoms but are not the same at all. Food allergies are strong reactions and should be tested for and diagnosed by an allergist. They are what is known as an IgE response and are tested by having a scratch test on your arm or back. Food sensitivities are the tricky ones.
What Is A Food Allergy?
A food allergy is a much more serious reaction. Symptoms are immediate (30 minutes or less) and can be life-threatening for some people.
In the case of allergies, your immune system mistakes certain foods for harmful invaders and attacks them, leading to symptoms that can range from mild (hives) to severe (anaphylaxis). Unlike sensitivities, allergy symptoms show up quickly, often within minutes.
There are 8 official allergens: milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat and soy. Some people may only need to ingest a small amount of the food ingredient to experience symptoms, while others might need to eat more.
What are the signs to watch for?
Allergies often trigger skin irritations (rashes, hives), breathing issues (shortness of breath), or cardiovascular symptoms (drop in blood pressure). These require immediate medical attention if severe. If you suspect you have a food allergy please contact your physician.
What Is Food Sensitivity?
A food sensitivity happens when your digestive system has trouble processing certain foods. Symptoms like bloating, headaches, skin issues, or fatigue can show up hours or even days after eating the food. Delayed reactions make it tricky to identify the culprit because there can be overlapping food exposures making it almost impossible to pinpoint, but it’s your body’s way of saying, “This isn’t sitting right.”
Far more people have sensitivities than allergies, with symptoms that may take hours or even days to present themselves.
When you eat or drink something that you are sensitive to it triggers an immune response. Your body sees that as a threat and defends itself by creating symptom-provoking antibodies. Then you don't feel great... IBS, bloating, gas, discomfort, or even headaches, skin irritation, and fatigue.
Long term, repeated exposure can lead to increased inflammation. That increased inflammation can show up as many different conditions.
A common approach is to suggest an elimination diet. This is a long road of trial and error with sometimes frustrating outcomes. Cutting out foods for long periods of time and then reintroducing them very slowly (one at a time!) and then watching for repeat reactions can feel like a nightmare.
A food sensitivity test can help you more quickly pinpoint potential problematic foods. Having that data in hand is like flipping on a light in a dark tunnel – suddenly a path to feeling better may be revealed. The new Pure Essentials Premium Food Sensitivity Test is a good place to start.
Reducing symptoms by avoiding sensitivity triggers is a start. Supplementing the diet with vitamins and buffering minerals like buffered vitamin C and quercetin can help reduce inflammation while a quality synbiotic (prebiotic and probiotic) can help repair damage in the digestive tract.
Once you’ve avoided your moderately and severely reactive foods, supplemented to reduce inflammation and repair damage, you’re ready to start restoring your system with the nutrients everyone needs. Think magnesium, EPA/DHA fish oil, and vitamin D. Of course, you’ll want to test not guess and only take what your body needs.
Key Differences Between Food Sensitivities & Allergies
Here’s a quick breakdown of the major differences:
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Timing: Sensitivity symptoms are delayed, often appearing hours or days after eating the food. Allergy symptoms hit fast, usually within minutes of eating the trigger.
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Severity: Sensitivities cause discomfort like bloating or headaches. Allergies can be life-threatening, especially if they lead to anaphylaxis.
- Immune Response: Sensitivities mess with your digestion, while allergies involve your immune system, causing much stronger and immediate reactions.
Common Symptoms To Look Out For
Understanding the symptoms can help you tell the difference between a sensitivity and an allergy:
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Food Sensitivity Symptoms: Bloating, headaches, fatigue, and sometimes IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome).
- Food Allergy Symptoms: Hives, swelling (especially around the face, lips, or throat), difficulty breathing, and vomiting.
If you feel bloated or sluggish after eating, it’s likely a sensitivity. But if you notice swelling or breathing difficulties, that’s likely a food allergy and you should seek medical help right away.
Tip: Testing To Identify Food Sensitivities
If you’re fed up with feeling bloated or fatigued but can’t figure out what’s causing it, a food sensitivity test can help. Unlike allergies, which are easier to spot, sensitivities are subtle and harder to detect. You could be reacting to something you ate, but the symptoms might not show up until much later, making it tricky to pinpoint the exact cause.
At Pure Essentials, we offer a Premium Food Sensitivity Test to help you figure out exactly which food and beverage ingredients may be causing your symptoms. This test analyzes your body’s response to more than 200 common foods.
You’ll receive your test results in 7 to 14 days and what you learn may be invaluable – helping you manage your diet for reduced symptoms. knowing what YOUR body is sensitive to is more important than what’s trending on TikTok or what commonly irritates others you know. With your personalized report in hand, you can make informed decisions about what to eat, what to avoid, and get back to doing the things you love! .
