Many people do not know the difference between food allergy, food intolerance, and food sensitivity and will often assume any reaction to a food is a food allergy. Even many health professionals use the terms synonymously.
News Flash: THEY ARE NOT THE SAME! 🙂
The difference between a food allergy, intolerance, or sensitivity is determined by how the body responds to the food that it considers harmful. Food allergies occur as early as infancy, and in many cases, are outgrown by the age of five. Food allergy involves the immune system and the production of Immunoglobulin E antibodies (IgE) that trigger symptoms. Food intolerance is a mechanism during which the body does not produce the right chemical to break down a component of a food. An example of this would be not having enough lactase in the body to break down the lactose in milk and milk products. Food sensitivity is another type of reaction that does not involve Immunoglobulin E. In this case, foods are not processed normally and result in inflammation causing chronic symptoms.
Common foods causing sensitivity symptoms can be almost any food, ingredient, or chemical, even if it’s been consumed without suspicion in the past. Food sensitivities can be more challenging to pinpoint. Following the LEAP MRT Protocol, personalized elimination and reintroduction diets are designed just for you to provide the foods that do not show as reactive foods on food sensitivity testing.
Read more about how to know if you have food sensitivities, what to do about it, and why your “I eat the same meal every day and have for years” habit may be doing more harm than good!
“I’m on day 7 of the first 14 days. Feeling clean. I didn’t know eating could be so comfortable. My gut doesn’t hurt at all post-meals and I don’t get sleepy from eating. Lost a few pounds. My bowel movements are very healthy and frequent, which always makes me feel good.” – Zuzanna K.