Following seven years of pain and a mis-diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, I finally realised I was in fact dairy intolerant a couple of years ago. I already knew I was allergic to caffeine and on top of being a strict vegetarian I thought I'd have my work cut out for me in eliminating dairy from my already restricted diet.

Unfortunately I also managed to pass on my allergic tendencies to my son as is often the case. He suffered from both an inability to digest cow milk protein as an infant and egg intolerance. My son coughed in the night, had a constantly runny nose, and suffered from obvious stomach cramps and painful rushes of yellow diarrhoea. Just shy of two months old he was rushed to hospital with breathing difficulties where a paediatrician realised he was severely anaemic due to his inability to properly digest his formula milk.

Thankfully my son has been able to eat dairy produce since shortly after his second birthday with the exception of uncooked butter and cheese at present (the protein is denser in uncooked, unfermented dairy produce); but before that time I have to say feeding him a balanced diet was very stressful and trying. Not least because of the lack of specialist dietary information available for those who have multiple allergies or intolerances.

SYMPTOMS OF FOOD ALLERGY AND INTOLERANCE:

*Skin Rashes; including hives, eczema, urticaria and welts
*Bloating and Abdominal Cramping
*Diarrhoea
*Nausea
*Excessive Wind
*Headaches
*Depression and Anxiety
*Narrowing of the Airways
*Runny Nose
*Coughing in the Night (especially in babies)
*Swelling (such as arms, tongue or lips)

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO?

Mainly that an allergy produces an almost immediate reaction whereas intolerance can build up and lie dormant for a few hours or even days before a reaction occurs. An allergic reaction can prove life-threatening where swelling or narrowing of the airways occurs but intolerance is far more likely to cause pro-longed pain and discomfort that poses no immediate danger to the sufferer. An allergy is often with the sufferer for life whereas intolerance can often be overcome by the sufferer eliminating the offending allergen from their diet for a few months then slowly reintroducing it until they discover their personal tolerance threshold. For example, I was severely caffeine intolerant as a 17 year old and suffered from piping hot urticaria on my arms coupled with nausea and feeling like I needed

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