Contrary to what many people believe, food allergies and intolerances are not the same thing. An allergy is an abnormal reaction to the immune system (to a particular food) and a reaction can be life threatening. Food intolerance causes symptoms such as stomach cramps, bloating and diarrhoea, but there is no allergic reaction. That said some intolerances can cause serious problems if particular foods are not avoided, and there are different levels of intolerance.

With an allergy, a very small amount of food can cause a reaction, so people who are allergic to nuts may experience a reaction after kissing an individual who has recently eaten food containing nuts. Food intolerances are not usually life-threatening, but they can still cause serious discomfort and pain.

Removing foods from your diet is a good way to find out which types of foods are causing the problems. For example if someone believes they’re gluten intolerant, they should remove wheat, barley and rye from their diet.