Allergy

A Brief Look at Food Allergy Symptoms and Causes

Allergy Causing foods are foods that contain one or more of the known allergenic proteins. These can include egg, milk, peanuts, wheat and fish among other common allergenic foods. In general, individuals who suffer from one or more allergic reactions to these commonly consumed foods can find relief by avoiding them. However, the Food Allergy Act outlines a number of steps that must be taken in order to ensure that these foods are not consumed by anyone who could possibly have a reaction to them. As well, some of these foods must be completely removed from the diet.

One of the first steps to take if you think you might have a reaction to one or more of the above foods is to make an allergy blood test. The allergy blood test will measure your blood levels of IgE, the allergy-causing protein. If the test results show that you do in fact have an allergic reaction to a particular allergen, you may be able to identify which food is triggering the reaction. If this is not the case however, you may be advised to avoid the food in question.

Allergy Causing foods include animal proteins such as cow’s milk, soy products and eggs among others. Some dairy proteins like cow’s milk and cheese can also cause allergic reactions when consumed. Seafood allergies may be caused by either contaminated fish or by an environmental allergen.

Individuals who suffer from food allergies can sometimes identify which specific foods are triggering their allergic reactions by using a patch test. A patch test is performed in which you place a small piece of the suspected allergen on a piece of cotton fabric. You then wear the patch for twenty-four hours. If your patch test reveals positive results for the allergy-causing protein, you are treated with a medication that will reduce the allergic reaction. Depending on your particular case, this may include a change of diet. In some cases, antihistamines may be prescribed to alleviate the allergy symptoms.

The majority of food allergy reactions are believed to be due to the body’s reaction to the allergen rather than a true allergy. As such, people suffering from these reactions can still enjoy a healthy, balanced diet. They simply need to eliminate the specific foods from their diet for a short period of time. If you follow this advice, your digestive system should be back to normal quickly and any additional food allergies should no longer be a problem.

It is possible that you may experience a delayed allergic reaction to one of the foods that has triggered your allergies. This delay may be up to three days or even longer. If you continue to eat the foods after this time, you run the risk of experiencing a more severe allergic reaction. You should not stop eating these foods altogether as doing so could lead to a chronic condition known as hyper-allergies. Hyper-allergies are often characterized by constant itching, swelling and a number of other symptoms that are caused by your body’s reaction to the offending allergen.

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