Testing helps Illinois specialists distinguish food intolerance from allergies

Posted By: | Published On: | Food Allergies
Testing helps Illinois specialists distinguish food intolerance from allergies

Food intolerance and food allergies are often confused with each other. You may assume the physical reaction experienced after eating certain foods is caused by a food-related allergen. After all, there are a lot of symptoms such as nausea, stomach pain, and diarrhea shared between these two conditions.

Intolerance to a food, however, isn’t an immune system reaction. Allergies are the body’s hyperactive response to a food and/or other environmental triggers. Unlike food intolerance typically limited to digestive problems, the allergic immune response can affect many different organs, so you may also suffer from itchy skin, rashes and hives, chest pain, and shortness of breath.

Plummeting blood pressure, dizziness, fainting, and flushed or pale skin are often associated with anaphylaxis. A life-threatening reaction, anaphylaxis is most commonly caused by peanuts, tree nuts such as cashews and almonds, shellfish, milk, and eggs. With so much at risk, you may need to carry relief medication or epinephrine delivery device. Other treatments to reduce or control the symptoms may also be recommended.

With food intolerance, treatment may be as simple as avoiding the suspect food. You may even be able to consume some of the food with no trouble, so portion control can do the trick. Since lactose intolerance caused by milk is so common, you can prevent disruptive and uncomfortable symptoms by taking lactase enzyme pills to aid in digestion or consuming milk that doesn’t contain lactose.

Getting to the bottom of your symptoms

One of the ways to diagnose food intolerance is also one of the ways you may find comfort and an answer to your symptoms: through an elimination diet. Any suspect foods may be removed from your diet until you are symptom-free. Foods are then reintroduced, one at a time, to pinpoint the trouble source.

The specialists at the Advanced Allergy & Asthma Associates and Food Allergy Center of Illinois may suggest a food diary. You will record what you eat and when you get symptoms in an effort to connect specific foods to the symptoms.

Before you embark on any of these changes, you’ll want to do so under the guidance and the recommendation of professionals like Dr. Noga Askenazi. Dr. Askenazi and the staff can rule out any possible allergens through the likes of a skin test and, potentially, blood testing and oral ingestion challenges. To find out more about food intolerance testing and get one step closer to a symptom-free life, call Advanced Allergy & Asthma Associates and Food Allergy Center of Illinois at (847) 888-8802.

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Meredith Cirrincione | Dr. Noga Askenazi

Amy Schack, a distinguished board-certified Physician Associate, brings a wealth of expertise to patient care. Specializing in allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, asthma, and rashes, Amy is renowned for her commitment to excellence and compassionate approach. With a background in immediate care and orthopedics, she holds a Master's in Physician Assistant studies from Midwestern University and a Bachelor of Science from Northern Illinois University. A member of esteemed professional associations, including the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the Association of PAs in Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, Amy Schack instills confidence, ensuring you can trust her unwavering dedication to your health and well-being.


Meredith Cirrincione is a board certified Physician Assistant and specializes in treating allergies, with a focus on asthma, rashes, environmental allergies, chemical and food allergies. She holds a Masters in Physician Assistant Studies from The Chicago Medical School - Rosalind Franklin University of Health Sciences. She is a Fellow member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, the Illinois Academy of Physician Assistants, and the Association of PAs in Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. She likes to approach things holistically. She is a strong patient advocate and adored by her patients. She enjoys singing, reading, cooking, and the great outdoors.


Dr. Noga Askenazi is a nationally recognized asthma and allergy specialist who is board certified in pediatric and adult allergy. Her areas of special interest are innovative treatment of rashes, sinusitis, food allergies, asthma and immune disorders. She was past President of the ISAAI (Illinois Society of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology), works on state and national committees for advancement of the allergy field and is a consultant for Advocate, Ascension Health, Northwestern amongst other health care systems. Her joy is helping patients reach their goals after together determining best treatments. Her staff and patients are a chosen family, and she invests in their happiness. She enjoys gardening, biking and cooking to good music.


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