Food Allergies: Good Foods Gone Bad

Contributed by – Healthians Team

Do you suffer from any food allergies? Well, you are not alone, food allergies are really common problem. An increase in the cases of food allergies and lactose intolerance has been witnessed, making this problem much more sensitive.

For a lot of people food allergy is the harsh reality that they live with everyday. Food allergies can take really ugly turn several times. Food allergies often make eating out, travelling, going to parties difficult; as avoiding encounter with the food you are allergic to is the way to stay safe. It is best to stay aware of your allergies to avoid any accidents.

Let us read and try to understand food allergies and how to deal with them.

What Is Food Allergy?

Food allergies are basically a condition where a particular food or component of that food triggers wrong response from the immune system resulting in allergic reaction. In such cases the immune system gives abnormal reactions or autoimmune response towards that particular food.

Food allergies are very common in children and little less common in grown up adults. The abnormal response or allergic reaction can be identified with:

• Swelling of the face, lips or tongue
• Difficulty in breathing
• Vomiting
• Itchy rash
• Runny nose
• Watery eyes
• Hives
• Diarrhea

The allergic reaction often takes place within few minutes of consuming an allergic food item. Common food items that can cause allergy are cow’s milk (commonly in children), peanut, soy, eggs, wheat, nuts that grow on trees like almonds and cashew, seafood like prawns, shrimps and squids.

How To Deal With An Allergic Reaction?

It is best to know how to tackle allergic reactions, you never know when it can come in handy. Being prepared helps stay alert and prompt in case of emergencies. Most food reactions are not that severe and can be dealt with anti allergic or anti histamines. But, incase of severe swelling or breathing distress it is best to rush to the hospital.

It is always wise to see your doctor after an allergic reaction to seek proper medical care. Do not forget to keep a note of your allergic reactions and carry your anti-allergic kit with you. Even a small bite of allergic food can have awful consequences. Always make sure to check the ingredients before consuming anything to protect yourself.

Can Food Allergies Be Treated?

There has been immense research in this area, but no treatment has still been found. The only way to treat food allergies is to identify the allergic food item and remove it from your diet completely. That means if you are allergic to Egg then you would have to avoid all the food items that have egg in them.

Are There Any Tests To Detect Food Allergies?

Yes, there are tests which can help identify the allergen. There are mainly of two types of tests that includes:

• Skin test –  the suspected allergen is scratched on the skin and obvious allergic reactions like swelling, red patches called wheals are expected to show within 15mins to 30 mins
• Blood test- the IgE test shows a change in the count when the blood is brought in contact with the suspected food allergen

Depending upon the age of individual the test for allergies can be done. For small children the test can be repeated every year if the allergen is not identified. While for grown ups the test can be done every 2-3 years. The time between two consecutive tests is called the resting time for the allergic reactions to subside.

Are Food Allergies Genetic?

Food allergies can be developed and even seen passing genetically in families. If both parents have some common food allergies the chances of their offspring having the same food allergy multiplies. Allergies can develop anytime in the life span of the individual. But, no individual is born with good allergies, they tend to develop it later in life.

What Foods Can You Recover From Food Allergies?

Some foods act as natural agents that help you ease the allergic reactions. Although, the effectiveness is based on individual’s response to the food. Some foods that have soothing affect on allergic reactions are:

• Onion: The natural anti histaminic property of onion helps relax allergic symptoms
• Citrus fruits: These fruits have an amazing quality of cutting down on the histamines and soothe the gut
• Pineapple: An enzyme called Bromelain present in pineapple which reduces allergic reactions like breathlessness
• Yoghurt or Chhach: Pro biotics which are good bacteria for the gut. It soothes your digestion
• Hot and Cold Soups: Spinach or garlic soups helps with runny nose and watery eyes.

It is best to identify your allergies and stay miles away from those foods to stay healthy and avoid any allergic reactions.