Beware of Food Allergies

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You are on a diet but you are avoiding the temptation of indulging on a mouth-watering food. You have a good appetite but you cannot even take a bite of the food you are craving for. You might be healthy but the problem is you might also have a food allergy.

What is food allergy?

Food allergy is an abnormal response to food that is triggered by a specific reaction in the immune system and expressed by certain, often characteristics, symptoms.

In some instances, either food allergy or food intolerance affects nearly everyone. Oftentimes, when people have an unpleasant reaction to something they eat, they think they are allergic to the food. Yet, it is clinically proven that only about 1% of adults and 3% of children have true allergic reactions to food.

Although food allergy is usually mild and not severe to some, people, who are affected by it, must identify and prevent them because these reactions can be a devastating illness and, in rare instances, can be fatal.

What causes the allergic reactions to food?

The components of the food that are responsible for stirring up allergic reactions are what they call ‘allergens’. They are proteins that usually resist the heat of cooking, the acid in the stomach, and the intestinal digestive enzymes. Once it happens, the allergens will cross the gastrointestinal lining, enter the bloodstream, and will go out to target organs causing allergic reactions throughout the body. The mechanism of food allergy involves the immune system and heredity.

Immune System

There are two components of the immune system involved in an allergic reaction to food. One component is a protein-type antibody called ‘Immunoglobulin E’ (IgE) which circulates throughout the blood. The other is the ‘mast cell’ a specialized cell that is found in all tissues of the body. These cells are especially common in areas of the body that are typical sites of allergic reactions, including the nose, throat, lungs, skin, and gastrointestinal tract.

Heredity

Generally, people with allergies come from families in which allergies are common – not necessarily to food but perhaps allergies to pollen, fur, feathers, or drugs. Hence, a person with two allergic parents is more likely to develop food allergies than someone with only one allergic parent.

Symptoms and Signs of Food Allergy

Timing, location, and particular symptoms of an allergic reaction to food are affected by the process of digestion. The occurrence of the symptoms of food allergy is within a few minutes to an hour after eating. Initially, food allergy can be experienced as an itching in the mouth, and difficulty swallowing and breathing. Then, upon digestion of the food in the stomach and intestines, symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain can start.

As mentioned earlier, the allergens are absorbed and enter the bloodstream. As they reach the skin, allergens can induce hives or eczema, and when they reach the airways, they can cause asthma. As the allergens travel through the blood vessels, they can cause lightheadedness, weakness, and anaphylaxis, and sudden drop in blood pressure.

Most Common Food Allergies

The most common foods that cause allergic reactions are shellfish, shrimp, lobster, crab, fish, walnuts, peanuts, and eggs. Even a little amount of a food allergen can incite an allergic reaction. However, less sensitive people may be able to tolerate small amounts of a food to which they are allergic.

Diagnosis of Food Allergy

In most cases, when we experience unpleasant reactions from the food we are suspecting to cause such, we conclude that we have food allergies. However, we cannot be sure of it unless we confirm it by consulting a doctor. Diagnosis is done by the doctor with the help of a detailed history from the patient, the patient’s dietary diary, or an elimination diet. The doctor then confirms the diagnosis by the more objective skin tests, blood tests, or food challenges.

Treatment

There are no medications for food allergies. Diligent avoidance of the offending food is the only sure way to prevent an allergic reaction. Kick those food-causing allergies away from you and live a healthier and happier lifestyle!

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