food intolerance test

Food allergies are infrequent in the Indian subcontinent. A recent report says that though the sensitisation rate of certain food items is relatively high in India (almost 26.5%), the probability of developing food allergies is very low(1.2%). However, there is still no positive explanation for these strange results. Therefore, food allergies are considered dangerous in India. Contrary to that, a global report says that although the prevalence of food allergies among adults is very low(1-2%), nearly 6-8% of children are diagnosed with food allergies. Five everyday food items aid food allergies among children. Breast milk is the best source of nutrition for babies up to 6 months. Introducing solids can be a great milestone for many parents but they must check their baby's body's reaction to new foods. As per Dr Ashish Sahdev, Head Marketing - Medico and PMT, Metropolis Healthcare Ltd, many children develop food allergies, which are abnormal reactions to certain foods. What is Allergy? Allergy is a common medical condition when foreign particles or allergens attack your immune system and the body exhibits specific reactions to them.  When foreign particles enter your body, your immune system produces antibodies to fight those foreign particles. These antibodies may identify the allergens as harmful even if they don't have any potential to harm your body. In such cases, your body cannot hold it in and starts showing severe reactions.   Allergies can occur due to several factors like pollen grains, dust, certain food items, air pollutants, etc. Thankfully, allergy is not life-threatening but severe cases can prove fatal. What is Food Allergy? Food allergy is a type of allergy that develops in your body after you eat certain food items. When your baby eats a different food for the first time, they will not show any symptoms as they get sensitised by the food. But during the second time, the IgE antibodies in your baby's body will react to the allergens and produce histamines. As a result, your baby may suffer from hives, itching in the mouth, diarrhoea and vomiting.  Difference Between Food Allergy and Food Intolerance It is equally crucial for you to know that food allergy and food intolerance are not similar conditions. Your baby's immune system gets triggered by food allergies which can be life-threatening in severe cases. But food intolerance is a more superficial condition where your baby cannot digest certain foods. Food intolerance is not life-threatening and does not attack your baby's immune system.  Common Food Allergies in Babies Doctors have spotted some of the most common food items that cause allergies in babies and children. They are as follows: Milk Your baby can develop allergies to cow milk as soon as you introduce formula. 85% of babies are prone to a milk allergy at the initial stage. However, they may resolve in later years.  Eggs Eggs are one of the most common foods that cause allergies in babies. Please do not feed an entire egg to your baby. Separate the egg yolk and then try. If your baby cannot withstand it, you should stop giving them eggs. They could be allergic to the protein in eggs.  Fish and shellfish Babies often fall sick of fish, especially shellfish. Be careful while feeding fish to your baby. Peanuts Nuts, including cashew, almond and pistachio, can cause allergies. Moreover, allergies to peanuts can be futile. Allergies from nuts do not usually go away. Take your baby to the nearest hospital as soon as possible if they show any symptoms or unusual behaviour.  Wheat Babies may be allergic to glutens present in wheat. Don't add wheat to your baby's food once it is sure that wheat is the reason for the allergy. This gluten allergy may go away in the coming years.  Soy Babies below 5 years sometimes exhibit allergies to soy. Be careful of what you are feeding your infant.  Symptoms of Food Allergies Rush to the nearest healthcare centre if your baby shows any of the following symptoms after eating any allergic food: Vomiting Diarrhoea Cramps Hives Difficulty in breathing Eczema Swelling Itchiness around the mouth, lips, tongue Tightness in the throat Wheezing Treatment of Food Allergies If your baby is diagnosed with food allergies, their treatment should be initiated immediately. Visit a paediatrician and tell them about your baby's food chart. They may advise you to get an allergy test done. If it is not severe, your doctor will omit those food items the child is allergic to from the chart. They may suggest substitutes for those food items if necessary. In severe cases, infants are injected with epinephrine to reverse anaphylaxis by constricting blood vessels to increase blood pressure and opening airways to help to breathe. Preventive Measures If your baby is prone to food allergies, please follow the following instructions: Get a food allergy test done It is highly recommended to get an allergy test done to find out what foods your baby is allergic to. Eliminate Foods That Trigger Your Baby's Allergy Omit the foods that cause your baby to fall sick. These allergies may go away later but don't take any risk now. It is essential to check the ingredients present in packaged foods before feeding them to your baby. Carry Safe Foods Always carry simple, easy-to-digest food with you. You can seek the guidance of a nutritionist to make a balanced food chart.  Check on Your Baby 24/7 Though it is not easy, it is advised to observe your child when introducing them to new foods. Conclusion Food allergies are not usually considered dangerous but a severe allergy could be fatal. Get your child tested to diagnose any allergies. Take care to keep those food items that they are allergic to, beyond their reach. Watch out for any reactions after introducing any new food to them. Pay additional attention to the food mentioned above as such foods are known to cause allergies in young ones. Always consult your doctor if you notice any severe changes in your body after a new food introduction.

A food allergy is usually any unwanted symptomatic reaction to the food you consume. The reactions are usually immediate after the consumption of the allergen. However, all reactions cannot be termed as allergies, as such reactions and their symptoms can also be due to the intolerance of those foods to your physiology. Every individual’s physiology differs remarkably from one another, and the allergies or intolerances vary accordingly. Not to say that all individuals do show such symptoms. If your body suffers from signs and symptoms after having a food item, it is best to find out if it is a food allergy or food intolerance. It helps with a better understanding of how and what quantity of certain foods may be unhealthy for your physiology. Additionally, it also clears the path to choosing to treat the same. Food intolerance is usually a delayed systemic response of the body’s systems, which may even occur a few days or weeks after the consumption of a particular food item. To give you an idea and to start with understanding the differences between the two, you must observe the cause of such symptoms—if it is the repeated consumption of certain food items or your everyday food intake. Let’s get further into the meanings and differences between food allergy and intolerance for a detailed understanding of the two physiological aspects. The Causes and Symptoms of Food Allergies Food allergy is a condition that often surfaces due to the body’s immune system not working optimally. If your body suffers from a food allergy, it is likely because your immune system identifies the particular food item as a harmful, invading, foreign object, thus leading to a fight response. A hyperactive immune system thus results in several observable symptoms that you may find surfacing in and on the body. Often, an allergic reaction is due to the high release of histamines in the body, a chemical addressing a local immune response in the body. It is ideally a useful chemical enabling blood thinning for the WBCs to pass easily and reach the affected location, among other purposes. However, in the case of food allergies, the immune system’s overactive state leads to a release of histamine and other responsive chemicals in high quantities to counter such food’s impact. Such a sudden release of these chemicals leads to severe responses, which are allergic symptoms. A food causing allergy in one’s body is identified as an allergen. Common food products that turn out to be allergens for a remarkable number of people include peanuts, animal dander, pollen, seafood, among others. Common symptoms related to a food allergy that one might come across include the likes of - Itching in the body Breathing trouble due to constricted/inflamed lungs Excessive watery discharge from the eyes Swelling and congestion in the nose Diarrhoea and vomiting in severe cases Red rashes on the skin Pressure in the chest or pain Anaphylaxis in fatal conditions The Causes and Symptoms of Food Intolerance Unlike a food allergy, food intolerance is the body’s response to any uneasy or incompatible food, leading to indigestion or irritation of the digestive system. As a result, the body’s capacity to digest the food reduces, leading to signs and symptoms. To understand food intolerance, you must know that it is not as sudden as an allergy and takes time to surface. Managing food intolerance is a slow process, too, needing you to eliminate certain food items from the diet. The doctor may also administer some light medications for any potentially harmful intolerance symptoms to subside. Long-term plans for food exclusion are among the best ways to counter intolerance to certain food items in your day-to-day life. Common food items causing intolerance in the body include wheat, gluten, and milk, along with certain vegetables and fruits. You must have commonly heard of the term ‘lactose intolerance,’ which is the body’s intolerance to lactose present in milk and milk products, leading to gastrointestinal discomfort. Some common symptoms of food intolerance in your body include the following. Constipation, cramps, bloating, and similar symptoms in the stomach Redness or inflammation of the skin Acidity and heartburn Excessive dryness of the skin Acne and pimples Headaches Mood swings and irritability Primary Points of Difference Between Food Allergy and Food Intolerance Some common points of difference between a food allergy and food intolerance are listed below for a better understanding of the two conditions. 1. Biological systems impacted The body’s immunity is the biological system that impacts/leads to allergic reactions to a certain food when in close contact. In the case of intolerance to food, chemicals produced in the digestive system are primarily responsible for the symptomatic reactions. Depending on the chemical composition of the body’s physiology, any healthy food consumed can cause intolerance symptoms. 2 .Causes In the case of a food allergy, your body’s immune system tries to protect it from certain food items that it considers a threat to the overall health. An allergy can be very specific to individuals based on the allergenic behaviour of such food. Apart from food consumption, even the smell or touch of certain food can cause allergic reactions in the body. Some other causes of food allergy include family history, age, maturity of the digestive system, and asthma. The body’s Intolerance to food is, however, typically caused due to the body’s inability to process or digest certain food due to the lack of necessary chemicals or enzymes. The presence of specific chemicals in such food or the presence of food additives can also be intolerance triggers. Irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease, and sensitivity to dried fruits are identified as other reasons for intolerance to food. 3. Diagnosis Food allergies are best diagnosed through dedicated blood tests, oral food tests, physical examinations of the skin, and tests based on food elimination. Additionally, the healthcare professional may inquire regarding your history of allergies, any family history of such conditions, etc. The first and basic test is usually a blood test to detect the Immunoglobulin E levels. If the levels are abnormal, further allergy testing like Allergy panels may be needed. There are now various tests available to detect food allergies like Allergy panel- Milk and milk products , Allergy panel- Fruits and other such tests. Apart from these basic blood tests like CBC, ESR may also be done to check certain abnormal parameters.  Food intolerance is difficult to diagnose and most laboratories do not offer any test for it. Metropolis Healthcare Ltd. offers testing for food intolerance using protein array technology. Test has a comprehensive range and can detect IgG antibodies against 150 + foods. 4. Severity A food allergy may or may not be severe depending on your body’s reaction to the allergen identified. However, in some cases, an allergen may lead to severe symptoms, such as diarrhoea, vomiting, asphyxiation, etc. Most of these symptoms appear shortly after coming in contact with such food, like in the following 2 hours. Comparatively, food intolerance leads to low severity symptoms, which often appear over 4-5 hours after food consumption. 5. Time taken for recovery The recovery time from a food allergy often depends on the extent of exposure to such allergens and the severity of the symptoms observed. The higher the exposure and/or symptoms, the longer it takes to recover. Under food intolerance, however, eliminating the identified food from your diet can lead to a muted response of the body to such intolerance, resulting in long-term recovery. 6. Treatment Cases with mild symptoms of food allergy can be easily treated through antihistamine administration. Severe cases of allergy may need a more immediate, assertive, and aggressive response, such as hospitalisation or epinephrine injections. All these treatments must be done under the guidance of your doctor, though. As per research reports, there does not exist any definitive cure for the treatment of intolerance to various food items. The best bet has been to eliminate intolerant food items from one’s diet. Parting Thoughts With this detailed insight regarding the differences between food allergy and food intolerance, you should be better able to distinguish between the two as per the symptoms, severity, food consumption, and such factors. You may watch out for either of them if you feel itchy, discomfort, rashes, or any such symptoms after consuming a specific food.

Your gut is a hard-working organ of the body that aids in the digestion of the foods you eat, absorbs nutrients, and utilizes it to energy and maintain your body functions. Not just this, it also helps keep your immunity balanced. Did you know that around 70 per­cent of your immune sys­tem is housed in your gut? Making sure that your diges­tive sys­tem is functioning properly is an essen­tial part of regulating your over­all health. How to know if you have poor gut health? Signs of an unhealthy gut are not just limited to the stomach,they include effects on skin, energy levels and overall health too.  Here are 5 common signs of an unhealthy gut Upset stomach: Stomach disturbances like excessive burping, gas, bloating,flatulence, constipation, diarrhea, and/ or acidity Uncontrolled changes in weight, usually weight gain  Sleep disturbances Constant fatigue Irritation and mood changes Is food intolerance a gut issue? Some people may find it difficult to digest certain foods and can show an unpleasant physical reaction to them. For example, bloating, diarrhea, etc. An easy way to know if you are intolerant to certain specific food items is to get a food intolerance test done. Please note that it is different from a food allergy. Food intolerance is related to the digestive system while food allergies involve the immune system. Allergy-causing food can trigger signs and symptoms more severe than food intolerance, including digestive problems, rashes, or swollen airways. Looking to book a food intolerance blood test? Get tested here. How to improve gut health naturally? Here we have covered practical and effective natural remedies for gut health:   Eat fermented foods regularly Studies have shown that people who consume fermented foods (like yogurt, kimchi, idli, dosa, dhokla, etc.) on a regular basis have a diverse and healthy gut flora, also called gut microbiome. Your gut harbors trillions of friendly bacteria that helps your digestive system work well. Anything that maintains gut flora is a tonic for gut health. As per some researchers, fermented foods may give small colonies of existing bacteria a chance to grow and flourish. Explore your local cuisines to find what fermented food options they offer. 2. Asafoetida (Hing) for your rescue: Hing or Asafoetida is considered an important ayurvedic medicine that aids digestion and relieves gas-related problems. Though there is not much scientific evidence available, some studies have shown it to help boost digestion by increasing the activity of digestive enzymes. Moreover, it may help digest fat by increasing bile secretion from the liver. How to use Hing for stomach problems: Put half a teaspoon of asafoetida in lukewarm water and drink it right away. Many people have claimed that it relieves the gaseous problems and gas-related stomach pain right away. 3. Eat less sugar and sweeteners: Eating a lot of sugary foods or artificial sweeteners may cause imbalance of gut flora. If you have to replace sugar, choose natural sweeteners like stevia, figs, dates, etc. A few animal studies reported that some of the artificial sweeteners like sucralose, aspartame can mess with good gut bacteria and destroy microbiome diversity in ways that may interfere with the digestive system’s natural mechanisms. 4. Do not compromise on sleep: Irregular sleep habits and disturbed sleep can have negative outcomes for the gut flora. This may increase the risk of indigestion and gut inflammation. A plentiful and healthful sleep schedule helps keep your gut better functional. As an adult, aim for at least 7 hours sleep per day on an average. 5. Quit smoking for good: Smoking has zero benefits. Even the mood elevator effect is transitional and it ends up worsening long-term mental health picture. Research published has found that smoking may cause an increase in potentially harmful gut bacteria and decrease the levels of beneficial ones. This alters the gut flora and leaves you feeling cranky and bloated. 6. Eat slowly: Chew your food thoroughly. Never rush to finish your meals. This helps ensure complete and quick digestion and optimum absorption of nutrients. A healthy digestion process is what you need for reducing gut discomfort. 7. Add probiotics and prebiotics: Probiotics are the mixture of healthy gut bacteria. This can reverse the damage caused to your friendly bacteria and add more to maintain a balanced level. Yogurt or buttermilk is a popular probiotic food because it's widely available. Especially in summer, taking buttermilk alongside day meals is considered a good practice. Probiotics are the food for good gut bacteria. Mostly they feed on fiber rich foods. Aim to include more green leafy vegetables in the daily diet and cut down on junk food, one step at a time. Fiber-rich foods can be aptly called stomach healing foods. Along with the aforementioned tips, certain yoga poses and physical activity can help you maintain a healthful digestion. Remember to keep moving and sit less. Have a happy and naturally healthy gut!