Understanding allergies can be a challenge. We all hear about a wide gamut of reported experiences from life threatening allergies, as in Anaphylactic Shock cases, to seasonally annoying issues, like Hay fever, to milder reactions to specific or unknown causes. It seems like any substance in any form (liquid, gas, solid) can produce some negative effects for some people.

Initially we are all biologically unique. What is good for the goose is not necessarily good for the gander. Healthy foods can act like slow poisons to some. This is why "fad diets" may work for some, but wreaks havoc on others.

What is the difference between an allergy and an intolerance? It would seem an allergy is more severe and possibly a lifelong sentence, whereas an intolerance is more like an inconvenience. Technically an allergy is a response of the immune system to a specific protein; the body makes anti-bodies to fight this foreign invader. Cells, tissues or organs in our body that resemble this protein are caught in the crossfire, and the antibodies attack our own body. This is a zero-tolerance situation. It is not a question of how much of the item, as those with serious allergies will attest.