The difference between food allergy, sensitivity and intolerance.

As a general rule, any food that causes a noticeable uncomfortable reaction in either parent is a food that we would encourage you to avoid until your child is at least 12 months of age. To be clear though, just because you or your partner have a food reaction doesn’t mean your baby will.  Your baby may or may not have reactions to foods and may or may not have reactions to different foods to either of his parents.

Certainly there is a difference between a food allergy, food sensitivity and food intolerance.

Food sensitivities and intolerances are usually not life threatening and the child may grow out of them as they get physically bigger and their body can cope with larger quantities of different nutrients and particles.

Food sensitivity- person can usually have a small amount of certain foods but once they go over their own threshold they may have a reaction of some sort.  May be bloating, nausea, wind and pain, constipation or diarrhoea.

Food Intolerance- a cumulative effect that may build up over days or even weeks before you get any symptoms such as a rash or headache

True food allergies are the most important consideration . This is a response that can be reproduced EVERY TIME the person is exposed to that food and the reaction will happen within 2 hours of consuming the food.  An immune system response is triggered by these foods.   “Digestive signs and symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, cramping and diarrhea. Other signs and symptoms can include a tingling mouth, hives, and swelling of the lips, face, tongue and throat. A life-threatening allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis can cause breathing trouble and dangerously low blood pressure. If you have a food allergy, you'll need to avoid the offending food entirely. “(mayoclinic.com)

 An anaphylactic reaction  is when the body responds in such a strong way to a foreign protein- in this context it’s food- in such a way as to cause swelling of the airways which close off the trachea (windpipe) so that the person can’t breathe. It requires adrenalin to reverse it. Not all allergies will require adrenalin. With food intolerance and sensitivity it is not an immune system response.

The concern with allergy in recent years is that the number of these true allergies occurring worldwide is increasing exponentially. This is the area requiring ongoing research to find out and understand causes so we can prevent the occurrence increasing. It is a problem affecting Western cultures and becoming more prevalent in primitive cultures who are adopting Western culture.

Pollutants in our foods and general environments particularly over generations, appear  to be the likely cause.  The purity and goodness in our foods is even more important than ever before.  There is a strong growth towards natural and organic produce in part because of this growing problem.

Highly processed and commercialised foods have very little goodness left in them.  The best we can do is to get fresh foods and prepare them ourselves.  Even better is to grow our own vegie gardens.  Then we know exactly what is going into our food and bodies and there is better chance for us to be getting a more fuller nutrition.

When there are true allergies in the family it is wise to talk to someone who is expert in this field to get some guidance before stating solids.  It can be tricky and depends on which foods cause a reaction and what type of reaction.