There are a variety of reasons for an individual to arrive at having a restrictive diet; some are beyond their control like with many autoimmune diseases, digestive and kidney diseases, and so many more while for others it is a choice for personal, religious, better health, body comfort, and/or ethical reasons. It is important to understand the different categories that dictate a free-from, restrictive diet especially if you are the one living with it but also for others, loved ones and professionals in the food industry, that prepare food for people dealing with these issues. Awareness and education creates a supportive environment helping us to be able to thrive. I’ve tried to clarify them below:

1. Disease – a disordered or incorrectly functioning organ, part structure or system of the body resulting from the effect of genetic or developmental errors, infection, poisons, nutritional deficiency or imbalance, toxicity or unfavorable environmental factors; illness; sickness; ailment (dictionary.com)

2. Allergy – A food allergy is a very specific immune system response involving either the immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody or T-cells. Both are immune system cells that react to a particular food protein, such as milk protein. An IgE reaction occurs within minutes to an hour or so of either smelling, touching, or ingesting a particular food. (http://www.webmd.com/allergies/features/food-allergy-myths)

3. Intolerance – While the symptoms are similar to food allergy, food intolerance occurs when an ingredients or compound in food irritates a person’s digestive system or when a person is unable to properly digest the food.(http://www.ift.org/Knowledge-Center/Learn-About-Food-Science/Food-Facts/Food-Allergens.aspx)

4. Sensitivity – Food sensitivity is the least understood and most difficult to diagnose of the (three) afflictions. Generally, food sensitivity means that a person has a negative reaction to certain foods that do not always occur in the same way. With a food sensitivity, a person might be able to consume a certain food occasionally without feeling any ill effects, but will sporadically develop symptoms such as acid reflex, nausea, abdominal cramps. These symptoms are unpredictable and the medical field is largely uncertain as to why they occur some times, but not others.(http://www.ift.org/Knowledge-Center/Learn-About-Food-Science/Food-Facts/Food-Allergens.aspx)

5. Choice – Involves mentally making a decision: judging the merits of multiple options and selecting one or more of them.( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choice )