Clinical Nutritionist Practice Test 2026 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

Food allergies are characterized by the body's immune system reacting to specific proteins in foods, which are perceived as harmful. This immune response can lead to various symptoms, ranging from mild to severe, including anaphylaxis, which is a life-threatening reaction. Understanding that food allergies involve the immune system is crucial because they can trigger a variety of symptoms due to the release of histamines and other chemicals from immune cells.

In contrast, food intolerances generally involve non-immune mediated responses and primarily affect the gastrointestinal system. These typically result from the body's inability to digest certain foods, such as lactose intolerance, where the body lacks the enzyme lactase. While food intolerances can lead to discomfort, they do not provoke the immune system to react in the way that food allergies do.

The other options focus on nuances that do not accurately define the core difference between allergies and intolerances. For example, food intolerances may not necessarily require medication or always cause severe reactions, and they do not involve energy deficits or the immune response as a mechanism of symptomatology.