But it's important to know the difference, because they each require a different treatment.

但知道其中的差別十分重要， 因為兩者需要的治療方式不同。

So what is the difference?

那麼，差別是什麼？

A food allergy is your body's immune system responding to specific proteins in certain foods.

食物過敏是你身體的免疫系統對某些食物中的特定蛋白質產生反應。

For instance, in shellfish, one of the triggers for allergic reactions is a protein called tropomyosin.

以甲殼類為例，有一種肌原纖維蛋白質會觸發過敏反應。

And with peanuts, it can be a reaction to one of its many proteins.

至於花生，有數種蛋白質可能造成過敏反應。

When a food particle enters the body of someone who's allergic, the body's immune system perceives it as a problem, an invader.

當食物粒子進入到過敏者的體內，身體的免疫系統就會把它視為問題，視為入侵者。

Just as your body might respond to a virus as a threat, with food allergies, part of your immune system sees the protein of the food as a threat.

就如同你的身體把病毒當作威脅時可能會產生反應，就食物過敏來說，你的免疫系統有一部分會將食物的這種蛋白質視為威脅。

The allergic reaction can be thought of as a disproportionate and inappropriate response from the immune system to the food.

可以把過敏反應想成是免疫系統對於食物產生一種不成比例且不妥當的反應。

Allergic reactions can range from being mild, tingles in the mouth, hives and rashes, to being extremely severe, like having trouble breathing.

過敏反應的範圍從輕微：口中的刺痛、 蕁麻疹、疹子， 到極度嚴重：比如呼吸困難。

And they can even be life-threatening.

甚至有可能造成生命危險。

Allergic reactions, with some exceptions, almost always happen quickly, within 30 minutes of eating or exposure to the food.

除了少數例外，過敏反應幾乎都很快， 在吃到或接觸到食物的三十分鐘內發生。

A food intolerance, on the other hand, is usually our body having trouble digesting certain foods.

另一方面，食物不耐症是我們的身體很難消化某些食物。

Unlike allergies, food intolerances are not related to the immune system.

不像過敏，食物不耐症和免疫系統無關。

For instance, being lactose intolerant means you don't have enough of the enzyme that breaks down the lactose in dairy.

比如，若有乳糖不耐症就表示你沒有足夠的酵素可以分解乳製品中的乳糖。

Intolerance to certain foods can often result in digestive issues, including bloating, diarrhea or just generally feeling unwell.

食物不耐症通常會導致消化問題， 包括腹脹、腹瀉，一般的不舒服。

Intolerance to food can happen pretty quickly too, but could also show up in the next few days.

食物不耐症也有可能很快就發生， 但也有可能在後來幾天才出現。

In other words, if you experience unpleasantness from something you've eaten a day before, most of the time it's not an allergy.

換言之， 如果你因為前一天的食物感到不適， 通常不是過敏。

There's a third kind of reaction that's neither an allergy or an intolerance.

除了過敏和不適症以外， 還有第三種反應。

For example, celiac disease is an autoimmune condition triggered by eating foods containing gluten.

比如乳糜瀉是一種自體免疫疾病，因為吃了含麩質的食物而引發。

Celiac disease may share some similar symptoms to a food intolerance, such as bloating or belly pain.

乳糜瀉和食物不適症有一些相似的症狀，比如腹脹或腹痛。

But unlike celiac disease, food intolerances don't damage the small intestine.

但和乳糜瀉不同，食物不耐症不會傷害到小腸。

So with all these real but nuanced differences, what's the best way to get a proper diagnosis?

所以，知道這些真實但細微的差別之後，若想得到妥當的診斷， 最好的方法是什麼？

Don't get one of those "do-it-yourself at-home food-sensitivity" kits.

別去買那種 「DIY 家用食物敏感」檢測包。

Those tests are not scientifically proven to do what they purport to do, and they aren't reliable diagnostic tools.

那些檢測聲稱的功能背後並沒有科學證明支持，也不是可靠的診斷工具。

If you wonder whether you have an allergy or an intolerance or celiac disease, talk to your doctor.

如果你想知道你是否有 過敏／不耐症／乳糜瀉，和你的醫生談談。

They'll be able to recommend the right course of action.

他們能給你正確的作法。

And in the case of food allergies, an allergist is your go-to person.

如果你有食物過敏，你應該去找過敏症專科醫師。

The two common ways they'll be able to diagnose you is by taking a really good food history,

他們常用兩種方式來為你做診斷，取得詳細的食物歷史記錄

and giving you an oral food challenge by giving you certain foods and seeing what happens in a medically safe and controlled environment.

並幫你做食物激發試驗，而就是在達到醫學安全和控制的環境下， 也讓你吃某些食物， 看看會發生什麼。

An allergist can also come up with a plan in case you're exposed to a food you're allergic to and may even be able to recommend treatments for some of those allergies.

過敏症專科醫師也可以給出計畫，萬一你接觸到過敏的食物時可以用得上，甚至可能可以針對其中一些過敏建議適當的治療。