It is very important to know the difference between food allergy and food intolerance. These terms are often used interchangeably when there is an adverse reaction to food, but they do not mean the same thing.

Food Allergy Occurs when

• the body's immune system reacts to a food protein
• The offending food triggers an allergic reaction
• i.e.people with a milk allergy must avoid all milk protein

Food Intolerance

• Is an adverse reaction to a food that does not involve the immune system
• Triggered by a physical reaction to a food or food additive
• i.e. lactose intolerance

See the table below to compare.

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An allergy is caused when an allergen (for a list of other common allergens click here) enters our body system. The symptoms of a milk protein allergy fall into 3 types of reactions:

• Itchy red rash
  
• Hives
  
• Eczema
  
• Swelling of lips, mouth, tongue, face or throat
  
• Allergic "Shiners" (black eyes)

• Abdominal pain and bloating
  
• Diarrhea (usually very runny)
  
• Vomiting
  
• Gas/wind
  
• Cramps

Nose, Throat and Lung Reactions:

• Runny Nose
• Sneezing
• Watery and/or Itchy eyes
• Coughing
• Wheezing
• Shortness of Breath

The milk allergy symptoms are not only restricted to people suffering from milk allergy. Many other people can show these symptoms to basically any other immune reaction. This could be from a simple mosquito bite to a drug reaction such as penicillin. Common food allergies, all with similar symptoms include sea shells, peanuts, banana and eggs.

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The symptoms listed below are caused by the fermentation of lactose. Since lactose is not broken into glucose, and hence left unabsorbed by the body, the perfect conditions found in the intestines help the lactose to ferment and this leads to the formation of gases. A particular gas is methane that is usually the cause for the pain and aggressive flatulence.

Common symptoms include:

• nausea
• cramps
• bloating gas,
• wind diarrhea, which may begin from after half an hour to 2 hours after eating or drinking foods containing lactose.

Persons who suffer from lactase deficiency and do not avoid lactose may suffer from weight loss and malnutrition.

The severity of symptoms varies depending on the amount of lactose each individual can tolerate. Some of the symptoms may be similar to those of milk allergy but milk allergies can cause the body to react quicker, more often within a few minutes.

Compare the symptoms of lactose intolerance with those of milk allergy.

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Table of Comparisons.

Below is a table of comparisons between MA and LI. It is important to establish under which category you fall to be able to eliminate the wrong food product. In some cases a person can be subjected to both.

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