Are You Eating Allergens?

Allergies are techniques of the body to alert the person about the trouble that may be caused to the body due to certain unwanted substances invading the being. Allergies can be of many types, like dust allergy, seasonal rhinitis – pollen allergy, skin allergy, water allergy and now food allergy too. Yes, there are people in the world, and many of them, who suffer from food allergy. There is a definite difference between food intolerance and food allergy and today’s topic of discussion is food allergy. Let us focus on what is food allergy and how to identify if a person is suffering from it, by glancing towards food allergies symptoms.

Allergy towards food is due to the quarrel between food and the immune system. The body immune system mistakes certain types of foods as injurious to health and hence starts its job of alerting it repelling it, which seems to us as the various food allergies symptoms. The body’s immune system produces antigens against the foods considered harmful, the process known as sensitization, which lead to reactions next time those foods are re-consumed. But food allergy may hardly cause any complications or harm to the body, though the symptoms may make one feel ill and at disease. It is often confused with food intolerance and food poisoning, which are 2 completely different scenarios.

Food allergies symptoms

• The mouth tingles and is feels irritated.
• There are ulcers seen on the inner walls of the mouth and roof.
• Hives and eczema are seen in and around the mouth due to persistent itching.
• The facial parts like the lips, cheeks, tongue, chin and the entire face seem swollen.
• Throat infection, itching and burning of the throat also take place.
• The throat calls out pain when something intolerant is swallowed.
• Itching and irritation in the gums.
• Skin of the face, esp. around the mouth, is reddened, itchy and burns.
• Conditions of wheezing and nasal congestions due to anaphylaxis, leading to tough breathing.
• Irritation and itching and sometimes redness of eyes are seen.
• Persistent running of the nose or stuffy nose is seen when allergy causing food is smelt.
• Nausea and headaches may be the reduced signs, leading to dizziness and fainting.
• Pain in the abdomen accompanies with diarrhea, vomiting and fever.
• Constipation for long time.
• Delayed discovery of food allergy may show signs of fatigue and arthritis.

Common foods that cause food allergies symptoms to occur in human beings are inclusive of nuts like peanuts, cashews, pistachios, almonds, walnuts. Also, a great role in causing food allergies is of foods like milk of the cow, eggs, chicken, meat, fish, soy (beans, sauce and milk), wheat (allergy of the gluten protein).

If one kind of food causes allergy, the person may suffer from cross-reactivity, i.e. allergy from other foods as well. For eg: if someone is allergic to milk, then he may show allergic symptoms on consumption of any kind of food product that is prepared by using milk, like butter, tea, coffee, curd, cakes, and other sweets. A prawn allergic may face allergy from other shellfish also.

Though food allergy does not cause actual harm to the body, still the symptoms are enough for the person to feel sick. Hence, diagnosis and treatment of such food allergies symptoms is essential for an eased health. The treatment normally includes avoiding the food stuffs that cause allergies.