About Allergies: Why Lactose Intolerance Isn't a Food Allergy

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Allergies Allergies Symptoms / Diagnosis Treatment Coping From Daniel More, MD, your Guide to Allergies When I ask my patients if they are allergic to any foods, some will answer that they have lactose intolerance. But lactose intolerance isn't really a food allergy -- but rather a food intolerance, as the name implies. A food intolerance certainly has a cause-and-effect relationship -- meaning that symptoms occur after a food is eaten, but that doesn't mean it's a food allergy. Unlike a true food allergy, food intolerance doesn't involve IgE antibody, which acts as a "trigger switch" to release chemicals such as histamine from mast cells. What Happens During an Allergy? Most everyone has an idea of what allergies are, but an allergist's definition of an allergy is quite different. Dr. Daniel More, a board-certified allergist, defines what is happening in the body when someone has an allergy... Read more Food Allergy Versus Food Intolerance Reactions to foods are very common, occurring in 1 in 4 people sometimes during their lifetimes. Many of these reactions are not allergic, even though there is a definite cause and effect relationship between eating the food and symptoms occurring. The timing and types of symptoms occurring after consuming the food in question is important in determining whether the reaction is allergic or due to a non-allergic process... Read more Lactose Intolerance Learn the difference between milk allergy and lactose intolerance, including the symptoms, diagnosis and treatments available for lactose intolerance... Read more Allergies Ads Dairy Food Allergy Milk Allergy Dairy Allergies Skin Allergies Allergy Signs Featured Articles Frequently Asked Questions Nose and Eye Allergies Skin Allergies Asthma and Lung Allergies Common Allergy Issues in Children Food Allergies   More from About.com Is it a Cold or the Flu? Knowing whether you have a cold or the flu can help you treat your symptoms more effectively. More> Concerned About Your Drinking? This short quiz can help you identify whether or not you have a drinking problem. More> This newsletter is written by: Daniel More, MD Allergies Guide Email Me | My Blog | My Forum   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About Allergies newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2010 About.com   Must Reads What are Allergies? Symptoms of Allergies Diagnosis of Allergies Treatment of Allergies Preventing Allergies Advertisement