Foods that commonly cause allergies and sensitivities

Food Allergy Verses Food Sensitivity

Food Sensitivity Testing & Nutritional Advice

Food allergy verses food sensitivity

The type of test required depends on the symptoms you are experiencing. If you suffer from bloating, reflux, irregular bowels, headaches, fatigue, or nausea, a food sensitivity test may be beneficial.

However, if you experience anaphylactic shock or swelling in any part of your body after consuming certain foods, such as peanuts, you may have an acute allergy.

Symptoms like rashes, urticaria, eczema, and asthma can be caused by either allergies, sensitivities, or a combination of both. Therefore, it may be helpful to undergo an allergy test (either through your GP or privately) and a food sensitivity test. OptiHealth UK strongly recommends exploring allergy testing before food sensitivity testing if you suspect you have an allergy.

Allergy

4%

of the UK population are thought to suffer from food allergies

Develops at any age, more often in infancy

Sensitivity

40%

of the UK population are thought to suffer from food sensitivities

Develops at any age

What is it?

Allergy

What is a food allergy?

When the immune system sees a certain food as harmful and reacts by attacking the food and releasing histamine and other chemicals.

Sensitivity

What is a food sensitivity?

Where individual components of food cannot be properly processed and assimilated by the digestive system.

How serious?

Allergy

Can be severe or life-threatening

Sensitivity

Usually less serious but includes more symptoms

Symptoms

Allergy

Hives, shortness of breath, itching, rash, swelling, anaphylaxis, tingling, nausea, vomiting, etc.

Sensitivity

Fatigue, weight gain, stubborn weight loss, migraines, bloating, gas, mood swings, brain fog, IBS, digestive issues, skin problems, headaches, constipation, diarrhoea, joint and muscle pain, etc.

When do they appear?

Allergy

Immediately to a couple of hours after consuming

Sensitivity

A delayed response, commonly up to 72 hours

Most common

Allergy
  • Nuts
  • Soy
  • Fish
  • Dairy
Sensitivity
  • Wheat / Gluten
  • Dairy
  • Fruit / Veg
  • Corn

Qualified & Experienced

OptiHealth UK practitioners have provided food sensitivity testing and nutritional advice since 2008 and are passionate about helping people improve their health and wellbeing through providing a personalised set of recommendations to follow.

Our experienced practitioners are registered with the Complementary Therapists Association (CThA) and the Federation of Holistic Therapists (FHT) and hold Diplomas in Anatomy, Physiology and Nutritional Advice.

Our Camberley clinic also offers food intolerance testing via blood samples as part of our Nutritional Therapy service, registered and regulated by the British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine (BANT) and the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC).

  • British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine (BANT) logo
  • Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC) logo

Ready to find out what your body is reacting to?

Request an appointment at our Camberley clinic, or call us to talk it through.