食物过敏和食物不耐受的区别是什么?
With the rise of gluten-free and dairy-free diets over the past few years, food allergies and intolerances appear to be surging now more than ever. Celebs like Kourtney Kardashian and Kate Hudson have famously stripped their diets of common allergenic foods in the name of health, and the public seems eager to follow suit. Have we become better at detecting food allergies and intolerances, or are they just the latest trend? A new study published in JAMA Network Open suggests many Americans' food fears may be "unfounded." After reviewing data collected from over 40,000 U.S. adults, the researchers found about 19% of adults believed they had a food allergy-and only about 10% actually had one. "While we found that one in 10 adults have [a] food allergy, nearly twice as many adults think that they are allergic to foods, while their symptoms may suggest food intolerance or other food-related conditions," lead study author Ruchi Gupta, of the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, explained in a press release. While these adults may actually believe they have a food allergy, the symptoms they reported were not reflective of true allergic reactions. Most likely, they were experiencing other unwelcome symptoms-like diarrhea, abdominal pain, or bloating-from a food sensitivity or intolerance. Food allergy symptoms are caused by an immune system response; symptoms of intolerances or sensitivities are not. Someone with a food intolerance is missing a digestive enzyme that would break down a part of the food. Food sensitivities aren't as clearly defined, but they usually involve an upset stomach after eating a specific food. At worst, allergic responses can result in a life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis, which requires immediate medical attention. On the other hand, a food sensitivity can cause discomfort, but does not pose a threat to your health, Upton says. |