| Food allergy is an unusual response to a food | | | | Life threatening reaction of food allergy is |
| generated by body's immune system. Allergies to | | | | Anaphylaxis, which will affect many parts of the |
| food are caused when the immune system sets up | | | | body simultaneously and may cause death. |
| an attack on specific proteins in certain food types. | | | | Other symptoms of allergies are problem in |
| Mechanism Of Food Allergy: | | | | breathing, fall of blood pressure and unconsciousness. |
| The allergens in food are proteins that are | | | | People sometimes confuse allergies due to food with |
| responsible for provoking an allergic reaction. They | | | | food intolerance, as they both have same symptoms. |
| generally can withstand the heat of cooking, the acid | | | | Food intolerance is the inability to thoroughly break |
| present in the stomach, and the intestinal digestive | | | | down food into digestible elements and caused due |
| enzymes. So, the allergens can easily survive to pass | | | | to insufficient or inadequate quantity of digestive |
| over the gastrointestinal lining, enter into the | | | | enzymes. The symptoms of food intolerance are |
| bloodstream, and reach the target organs. This | | | | indigestion, loose stools, gas, burping, nervousness, |
| results in allergic reactions all over the body. The | | | | and headache. |
| mechanism of food allergy is associated with immune | | | | Causes of Food Allergies: |
| system and heredity. | | | | Food allergies can be caused due to many food |
| Food allergy is a hypersensitivity reaction, which | | | | items. Foods that cause allergies are tree nuts, fish |
| means an allergic reaction due to allergen is caused, | | | | and shellfish, peanuts, milk. Also, eggs, soy and wheat |
| when a person is exposed to that allergen previously. | | | | cause food allergies. These are top eight most |
| In the initial exposure, allergen provokes lymphocytes | | | | common food allergies contributed to 90% of all the |
| (particular white blood cells) to generate the IgE | | | | food allergies that are diagnosed today. Researchers |
| (immunoglobulin E) antibody, which is unique for the | | | | have recognized that some people who suffer from |
| allergen. Then this IgE is released and gets attached | | | | hay fever (allergic reaction to pollen) symptoms also |
| to the surface of the mast cell (specific cell that | | | | have an allergic reaction towards specific food items. |
| present in all tissues) present in different tissues of | | | | Treatment for Food Allergies: |
| the body (mostly on tissues of nose and throat, | | | | Avoiding allergic food is usually the best option |
| lungs, skin, and gastrointestinal tract). When the | | | | for most of the common food allergies. A person |
| person eats the food next time, its allergen increases | | | | must read food labels to avoid allergic food. |
| and sharpens particular IgE antibody on the surface | | | | Medications and supplements can be used to |
| of the mast cells and provokes the cells to release | | | | reduce food allergy symptoms. |
| chemicals like histamine, which causes symptoms of | | | | Rotation diets are essential for patients who |
| food allergy. | | | | suffer from multiple allergies. |
| Symptoms Of Food Allergy: | | | | Vitamin C must be consumed more as it is a |
| Food allergy symptoms appear within a few minutes | | | | common anti-allergy supplement. |
| to an hour after consuming food. Allergies are mostly | | | | The diagnosis of food allergy is conducted with a |
| show effect on skin, stomach and intestines, mouth, | | | | complete history of the patient's diet diary or an |
| and airways. | | | | elimination diet. Most of the types of food allergies in |
| Skin symptoms of allergies are hives, itchy, scaly | | | | adults are different from those in children. People |
| rash called eczema, redness or flushing and swelling. | | | | who suffer from food allergies should identify and |
| Digestive symptoms of allergies are stomach | | | | stop using them because usually the symptoms may |
| pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. | | | | be mild and not severe. But sometimes these |
| Common respiratory symptoms of allergies are | | | | reactions can result in devastating illness and in some |
| sneezing, coughing, closing of the throat, runny nose | | | | instances can lead to death. |
| and wheezing, itchy and watery eyes. | | | | |