8 Notorious culprits of Food Allergy in Humans
Food allergy is on the rage. When you have an allergy to a certain food, not only does it limit your food choices, it can also cause anxiety and fear.
@healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan
Allergic reaction fom food can vary from mild to severe and life-threatening. Every person can have varying allergic reaction to a certain food.
An allergic reaction is caused by the body's hyperactive immune system, triggering an immune response against substances that normally does not harm the body.
Here are the notorious culprits of food allergy in humans:
1. Milk
Milk allergy is the number one cause of allergy among children in the United States. While most of them outgrow milk allergy, the are cases that persists through adulthood.
Individuals allergic to milk should avoid foods containing milk such baked goodies and dairy products such as butter, cheese, ice cream, and yogurt.
Is it possible to develop allergy from breastmilk? Babies can not be allergic to breastmilk, rather, it can be caused by the mother's diet which can be passed on into the breastmilk.
Milk allergy is different from lactose intolerance. Milk allergy is caused by the hypersensitive reaction of the body's immune system while lactose intolerance is caused by the inability to digest milk sugar "lactose".
2. Eggs
Allergy to egg is the second leading cause of allergy among children in the United States. Proteins found in egg can trigger an allergic response.
Bakes goods that contain egg such as cakes and pastries are no exception and can trigger an allergic reaction to people allergic to eggs.
Be careful when receiving vaccines such as influenza (flu) vaccine which actually uses egg to make it.
3. Peanuts
Severe allergic reaction from peanut can be caused not only by eating peanuts, by also from skin contact or inhalation of peanut powder or peanut oil. Did you know that peanut is actually a legume?
Peanut can be an ingredient in salad and dishes so always make sure to read the food label and inform your food server.
4. Tree nuts
Individuals who are allergic to peanuts can also be allergic to tree nuts.
Tree nuts includes almonds, cashews, chestnuts hazelnuts, pecans, pistachios, and walnuts.
Tree nuts can be found as an ingredient in chocolates, cakes, cereal, and even beauty products.
5. Fish
While it is safer to avoid all kinds of fish if you are allergic to one, there are individuals who are only allergic to a certain kind of fish. There are cases when even touching a fish or inhaling the aroma as it is being cooked can trigger an allergic response.
6. Shellfish
A person may be allergic to fish but not to shellfish. This is because shellfish is biologically different from fish.
If you are allergic to shellfish, the avoid those mentioned below.
Shellfish includes:
A person is allergic to seafoods when he/she is both allergic to fish and shellfish.
7. Wheat
Wheat allergy is caused by the body's hypersensitive reaction against the grain "wheat". Those allergic to wheat also has a possibility of being allergic to other grains.
Wheat can be found in many food products like:
8. Soy beans
In people with soy allergy, they have an abnormally high immune response against soy protein. Soy containing products should be avoided like miso, natto, soy milk, soy sauce and tofu.
Signs and Symptoms of Food Allergy
Allergic reaction can show up within seconds or several hours after ingesting the offending food. Signs and symptoms can include:
How to treat food allergy?
There is no cure to illiminate food allergy. There are causes that starts during childhood, then fades as one reaches adulthood. But there are cases that persists all throughput adulthood. There are also cases of food allergy that only shows up during adulthood.
The best way to avoid an allergic reaction is to avoid eating the allergy inducing food.
The fist line of treatment to manage an allergic attack is usually the administration of a drug called epinephrine.
Are you the kind of person who would venture to eat something you are mildly allergic to for the love of that food?
You know that's not safe. Why? It doesn't mean that if a certain food produces a mild symptom on you, it wouldn't trigger a life-threatening reaction in the future. You're actually playing a dangerous game here.
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| 8 Notorious culprits of Food Allergy in Humans |
@healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan
Allergic reaction fom food can vary from mild to severe and life-threatening. Every person can have varying allergic reaction to a certain food.
An allergic reaction is caused by the body's hyperactive immune system, triggering an immune response against substances that normally does not harm the body.
Here are the notorious culprits of food allergy in humans:
1. Milk
Milk allergy is the number one cause of allergy among children in the United States. While most of them outgrow milk allergy, the are cases that persists through adulthood.
Individuals allergic to milk should avoid foods containing milk such baked goodies and dairy products such as butter, cheese, ice cream, and yogurt.
Is it possible to develop allergy from breastmilk? Babies can not be allergic to breastmilk, rather, it can be caused by the mother's diet which can be passed on into the breastmilk.
Milk allergy is different from lactose intolerance. Milk allergy is caused by the hypersensitive reaction of the body's immune system while lactose intolerance is caused by the inability to digest milk sugar "lactose".
2. Eggs
Allergy to egg is the second leading cause of allergy among children in the United States. Proteins found in egg can trigger an allergic response.
Bakes goods that contain egg such as cakes and pastries are no exception and can trigger an allergic reaction to people allergic to eggs.
Be careful when receiving vaccines such as influenza (flu) vaccine which actually uses egg to make it.
3. Peanuts
Severe allergic reaction from peanut can be caused not only by eating peanuts, by also from skin contact or inhalation of peanut powder or peanut oil. Did you know that peanut is actually a legume?
Peanut can be an ingredient in salad and dishes so always make sure to read the food label and inform your food server.
4. Tree nuts
Individuals who are allergic to peanuts can also be allergic to tree nuts.
Tree nuts includes almonds, cashews, chestnuts hazelnuts, pecans, pistachios, and walnuts.
Tree nuts can be found as an ingredient in chocolates, cakes, cereal, and even beauty products.
5. Fish
While it is safer to avoid all kinds of fish if you are allergic to one, there are individuals who are only allergic to a certain kind of fish. There are cases when even touching a fish or inhaling the aroma as it is being cooked can trigger an allergic response.
6. Shellfish
A person may be allergic to fish but not to shellfish. This is because shellfish is biologically different from fish.
If you are allergic to shellfish, the avoid those mentioned below.
Shellfish includes:
- Crustaceans such as barnacles, crabs, crawfish, lobster, and shrimp.
- Vivalves such as clams, mussels, oysters, and scallops.
- Gastropods such as abalone, snails, slugs, and whelks
- Cephalopods such as cuttlefish, octopus, and squid.
A person is allergic to seafoods when he/she is both allergic to fish and shellfish.
7. Wheat
Wheat allergy is caused by the body's hypersensitive reaction against the grain "wheat". Those allergic to wheat also has a possibility of being allergic to other grains.
Wheat can be found in many food products like:
- barley
- beer
- bran
- bread
- bread crumbs
- cake
- cookies
- cracker
- cereal
- donuts
- flour
- noodles
- oats
- pasta
8. Soy beans
In people with soy allergy, they have an abnormally high immune response against soy protein. Soy containing products should be avoided like miso, natto, soy milk, soy sauce and tofu.
Signs and Symptoms of Food Allergy
Allergic reaction can show up within seconds or several hours after ingesting the offending food. Signs and symptoms can include:
- Rashes
- Hives
- Atopic dermatitis
- Itch
- Headache
- Runny nose
- Cough
- Wheezing
- Hoarseness
- Nausea
- Stomachache
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Swelling such as in areas of thr lips, tongue, eyelids, and face
- Dizziness
- Shortness of breath
- Anaphylactic shock
How to treat food allergy?
There is no cure to illiminate food allergy. There are causes that starts during childhood, then fades as one reaches adulthood. But there are cases that persists all throughput adulthood. There are also cases of food allergy that only shows up during adulthood.
The best way to avoid an allergic reaction is to avoid eating the allergy inducing food.
The fist line of treatment to manage an allergic attack is usually the administration of a drug called epinephrine.
Are you the kind of person who would venture to eat something you are mildly allergic to for the love of that food?
You know that's not safe. Why? It doesn't mean that if a certain food produces a mild symptom on you, it wouldn't trigger a life-threatening reaction in the future. You're actually playing a dangerous game here.
