Answered: Your Most Burning Questions About 8 ALLERGIES FOR FOOD
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The 8 most common food allergies
Food allergies are extremely common. In fact, around 5% of adults and 8% of children are affected - and rising. Interestingly, although it is possible that any food causes an allergy, most food allergies are caused by just eight foods. different types of allergies for food discussed in this article.. It discusses the symptoms of who is at risk and what you can do about it.What is a food allergy?
A food allergy is a condition in which certain foods trigger an abnormal immune response.This is caused by your immune system incorrectly identifying some proteins in a food as harmful. Your body then initiates a number of protective measures, including the release of chemicals such as histamine, which cause inflammation.In people with a food allergy, even contact with very small amounts of the problem food can lead to an allergic reaction.
The symptoms may appear several minutes after contact with some hours later, and may include some of the following symptoms:
Swelling of the tongue, mouth or face
difficulty breathing
Low blood pressure
Vomit
diarrhea
hives
Itchy rash
In more severe cases, food allergy can cause anaphylaxis. Symptoms that can occur very quickly include an itchy rash, swelling of the throat or tongue, shortness of breath and low blood pressure. Some cases can be deadly.
Many food intolerance are often confused with food allergies.
However, food intolerance never affect the immune system. This means that they can significantly affect your quality of life, but are not life threatening.
Real food allergies can be divided into two main types: IgE antibodies or non-IgE antibodies. Antibodies are a type of blood protein that your immune system uses to detect and fight infections.
In an IgE food allergy, the IgE antibody is released from your immune system. In a non-IgE food allergy, IgE antibodies are not released and other parts of the immune system are used to combat the perceived threat.
Here are the eight most common food allergies.
1. Cow's milk
Cow milk allergy is most common in infants and toddlers, especially those exposed to cow's milk protein before the age of six months.It is one of the most common allergies in children and affects 2-3% of babies and toddlers.However, about 90% of children will go beyond the disease when they are three years old, which makes them much less common in adults.
Cow's milk allergy can occur in both IgE and non-IgE form. IgE cow's milk allergies, however, are the most common and potentially most serious. Children or adults with an IgE allergy usually react within 5 to 30 minutes of taking cow's milk. They have symptoms such as swelling, rashes, hives, vomiting and, in rare cases, anaphylaxis.
Non-IgE allergy tends to have gut symptoms, such as vomiting, constipation or diarrhea, as well as inflammation of the intestinal wall.
Non-IgE milk allergy can be difficult to diagnose. This is because the symptoms sometimes indicate intolerance and there is no blood test.
When a cow's milk allergy is diagnosed, the only treatment is to avoid cow's milk and foods that contain it. This includes all foods or drinks that contain:
milk
milk powder
cheese
butter
margarine
yogurt
cream
ice
Feeding mothers of babies with allergy may also need to remove cow's milk and foods that contain them from their own diets.
For babies who do not breastfeed, a suitable alternative to cow's milk formulation is recommended by a healthcare professional.
SUMMARY:
A cow's milk allergy mainly affects children under the age of three. The diagnosis of cow's milk allergy means that all milk and dairy products must be avoided.
2 eggs
Egg allergy is the second leading cause of food allergies in children. However, 68% of children allergic to eggs will grow beyond their allergy at age 16.The symptoms include:
Indigestion such as abdominal pain
Skin reactions such as hives or rash
breathing problems
Anaphylaxis (which is rare)
Interestingly, it is possible to be allergic to protein, but not to egg yolk and vice versa. This is because the proteins in egg white and egg yolk are slightly different.
However, most proteins that trigger an allergy occur in protein, so that a protein allergy occurs more frequently.
As with other allergies, the treatment of egg allergy is an egg-free diet.
However, you may not have to do without all egg-related foods, as heating eggs can alter the shape of allergy-causing proteins. This can prevent your body from seeing it as harmful, which means that it is less likely to cause a reaction.
In fact, one study found that about 70% of children with egg allergy could tolerate eating cookies or cakes containing a cooked egg component.
Some studies have also shown that the introduction of baked goods in children with egg allergy can shorten the time it takes to grow the condition.
However, this is not always the case, and the consequences of taking eggs in an allergy can be severe. For this reason, you should consult your doctor before reintroducing egg-containing foods.
SUMMARY:
The most common type of egg allergy is a protein allergy. The treatment is an egg-free diet. However, some people may be able to include some foods that contain boiled eggs in their diet.
3. Tree nuts
A tree nut allergy is an allergy to some of the nuts and seeds that come from trees.It is a very common food allergy that is believed to affect about 1% of the US population. Some examples of tree nuts are:Brazil nuts
almonds
cashews
macadamia nuts
pistachios
pine nuts
walnuts
People with a tree nut allergy are also allergic to food products made with these nuts, such as nut butters and oils.
It is recommended to avoid all sorts of tree nuts, even if they are only allergic to one or two species.
This is because an allergy to a tree nut type increases the risk of allergy to other tree nut types.
It's also easier to avoid all nuts than just one or two types. And unlike some other allergies, an allergy to tree nuts is usually a lifelong disease.
Allergies can also be very severe, and tree nut allergies account for about 50% of the deaths associated with anaphylaxis.
For this reason, people with nut allergies (as well as other potentially life-threatening allergies) are advised to carry an Epi-Pen with them at all times.
An Epi-Pen is a potentially life-saving device that helps allergy sufferers inject a shot of adrenaline if they develop a severe allergic reaction.
Adrenaline is a naturally occurring hormone that stimulates the body's response to "fight or flight" when stressed.
When administered as an injection to those with a severe allergic reaction, it can reverse the effects of the allergy and save the person's life (25Trusted Source).
SUMMARY:
A tree nut allergy is one of the most common food allergies. It is often associated with severe allergic reactions, and the treatment is usually a lifelong avoidance of all tree nuts and walnut products.
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4. Peanuts
Like a tree nut allergy, peanut allergies are very common and can cause severe and potentially fatal allergic reactions.However, the two conditions are considered different, since a peanut is a legume. Nevertheless, peanut allergy sufferers are also often allergic to nuts.
While the reason why people develop peanut allergy is not known, it is believed that people with a family history of peanut allergies are at greatest risk.
For this reason, it has previously been thought that feeding peanuts into a nursing mother or during weaning can trigger peanut allergy.
However, studies have shown that early introduction of peanuts can be protective.
Peanut allergies affect about 4-8% of children and 1-2% of adults.
However, about 15-22% of children developing a peanut allergy will find that it declines as they enter the teenage years.
As with other allergies, peanut allergies also diagnose a combination of anamnesis, skin samples, blood tests, and food problems.
Currently, the only effective treatment is the complete avoidance of peanuts and peanut-containing products.
However, new treatments are being developed for children with peanut allergies. It uses precise and small amounts of peanuts under strict medical supervision to desensitize them to the allergy.
SUMMARY:
Peanut allergy is a serious disease that can cause a severe allergic reaction. Treatment is life-long avoidance of peanuts and peanut-containing products.
5. Shellfish
Shellfish allergy is caused by your body attacking proteins from the crustacean and mollusk family, known as shellfish.Examples of shellfish are:
shrimp
shrimp
crayfish
lobster
Octopus
scallops
The most common trigger of a seafood allergy is a protein called tropomyosin. Other proteins that may play a role in triggering an immune response are arginine kinase and myosin light chain.
The symptoms of a shellfish allergy usually occur quickly and are similar to other IgE food allergies.
However, a true seafood allergy can sometimes be difficult to distinguish from an adverse reaction to a contaminant of seafood such as bacteria, viruses or parasites.
This is because the symptoms may be similar as both can cause digestive problems such as vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain.
A shellfish allergy does not disappear over time. Therefore, most sufferers must exclude all shellfish from their diet to avoid allergic reactions.
Interestingly, even the vapors of crustacean shellfish can cause allergy to shellfish. This means that many people are advised not to be close to seafood when cooking.
SUMMARY:
The most common cause of shellfish allergy is a protein called tropomyosin. The only treatment for shellfish allergy is removing all shellfish from your diet.
6. wheat
A wheat allergy is an allergic reaction to one of the proteins contained in wheat.Children are the most affected. However, children with a wheat allergy often grow out of it when they reach the age of ten.
Like other allergies, wheat allergy can lead to digestive problems, hives, vomiting, rashes, swelling and, in severe cases, anaphylaxis.
It is often confused with celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity, which may have similar digestive symptoms.
However, a true wheat allergy triggers an immune response to one of the hundreds of proteins found in wheat. This reaction can be severe and sometimes even fatal.
On the other hand, celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity are not life threatening. They are caused by an abnormal immune response to a specific protein - gluten - that also occurs in wheat.
People with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity must avoid wheat and other grains that contain the protein gluten.
People with wheat allergy need only do without wheat and tolerate gluten from grain that does not contain wheat.
A wheat allergy is often diagnosed by skin sampling.
The only treatment is to avoid wheat and wheat products. This means that foods and beauty and cosmetic products that contain wheat must be avoided.
A wheat allergy is often diagnosed by skin sampling.
The only treatment is to avoid wheat and wheat products. This means that foods and beauty and cosmetic products that contain wheat must be avoided.
SUMMARY:
Wheat allergy can be caused by sensitivity to hundreds of proteins in wheat. The only treatment is a wheat-free diet, but many people grow out of it before they reach school age.
7. Soy
Soy allergies affect about 0.4% of children and are most common in infants and children under three years of age.They are triggered by a protein in soybeans or soybeans containing products. However, about 70% of children allergic to soy grow out of the allergy.
The symptoms can range from itchy, tingling mouth and runny nose to rash and asthma or difficulty breathing. In rare cases, soy allergy can also lead to anaphylaxis.
Interestingly, a small number of babies allergic to cow's milk are also allergic to soy.
Common causes of soy allergies are soybeans and soy products such as soymilk or soy sauce. Since soy is found in many foods, it is important to read the food labels.
As with other allergies, the only treatment for soy allergies is avoiding soy.
SUMMARY:
A soy allergy is triggered by the proteins in soybeans and soy products. If you have soy allergy, the only treatment is removing soy from your diet.
8. Fish
Fish allergies are common and affect up to 2% of adults.Unlike other allergies, it is not uncommon for a fish allergy to occur later in life. 40% of people develop the allergy as an adult.
Like a shellfish allergy, a fish allergy can trigger a serious and potentially fatal allergic reaction. The main symptoms are vomiting and diarrhea, but in rare cases, anaphylaxis may also occur.
This means that those who are allergic to fish usually get an epi-pen, which they can carry if they accidentally eat fish.
Because the symptoms may be similar, a fish allergy is sometimes mistaken for a response to contamination in fish such as bacteria, viruses or toxins.
As shells and fish with fins do not contain the same proteins, people who are allergic to shellfish may not be allergic to fish.
However, many people with a fish allergy are allergic to one or more species of fish.
SUMMARY:
Fish allergies are common, but can be mistaken for a negative reaction to contaminated fish.
Other food
The 8 food allergies mentioned above are the most common.
But there is much more.
Less common food allergies can cause a range of symptoms, ranging from mild itching of the lips and mouth (known as oral allergy syndrome) to life-threatening anaphylaxis.
Some less common food allergies are:
linseed
Sesame seeds
peach
banana
avocado
kiwi
passion fruit
celery
garlic
mustard seeds
anisette
chamomile
SUMMARY:
Every meal can cause an allergy. Other foods People are allergic to fruits, vegetables and seeds like flaxseed or sesame seeds.
Do you think that you have a food allergy?
Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish food allergies and food intolerances.
If you suspect that you have a food allergy, it is important to talk to your doctor.
To find out if you have an allergy or intolerance, your doctor will probably perform a series of diagnostic tests (46Trusted Source, 47Trusted Source).
These include:
Nutritional Review: A detailed review of the consumed foods, including timing and symptoms.
Skin sample: A small amount of food is "stung" into the skin with a tiny needle. The skin is then monitored for a response.
Oral Food Challenges: The problem food is eaten in a controlled environment under medical supervision in gradually increasing quantities.
Blood tests: Under certain circumstances, blood is taken and IgE antibody levels are measured.
If you are allergic to a food, your doctor will tell you how to handle it. Your doctor may also refer you to a registered nutritionist to help you manage your diet.
SUMMARY:
If you suspect you have a food allergy, talk to your doctor. You will diagnose the condition through a series of tests.
The quintessence
Most food allergies are caused by eight foods: cow's milk, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts, shellfish, fish, soy and wheat.
Unlike food in tolerances, food allergies are caused by your immune system, which incorrectly identifies some proteins in foods as harmful.
This can potentially cause life-threatening reactions, and the only treatment is to remove the food from your diet.
If you suspect you have a food allergy, talk to your doctor about it.