Food Allergy

An allergic reaction is caused when the body perceives a substance to be a threat to the it.

The exact reason why the substance is perceived as a threat is not known. The most common substances known to cause allergic reactions are milk, eggs, peanuts, soy, wheat, tree nuts, fish and shellfish (including shrimps). Allergic Reaction to milk, eggs, wheat and soy may occur early in life but may also disappear with age. Tree nuts and peanuts may also cause reactions at an early age but are rarely outgrown. Sensitivity to fish and shellfish happens during the adult years and are never overcome.



Food allergy occurs when the body detects substances it believes harmful to the body, it creates Ige antibodies which induces the allergy cells of the body, mast cells, to release histamine into the circulatory system. The defense mechanism of histamine involves enhancing the permeability of capillaries so that white blood cells can work to neutralize the threatening substance. Allergic symptoms then manifest themselves in the organs affected by the presence of histamine. Red and swollen eyes, sneezing, throat congestion, difficulty of breathing, itchy skin rashes and gastrointestinal malfunction are all signs of an allergic reaction.

Not all the signs may accompany a food allergy reaction. More frequently, only the skin manifests itching and redness. The kind and degree of reaction to a specific allergen differs from one person to another depending on how much of the allergen was ingested and on the strength of the immune system of the body.

There are severe food allergy reactions which intensely affect one or two body organs. Such reactions may induce pronounced difficulty in breathing, a lowered blood pressure, weakness, fainting and even death.

But not because a person is manifesting one or more of the symptoms of allergy, it will be safe to conclude that he has an allergy. Some diseases may mimic the signs of allergy. The best option will be to consult a physician so he can conduct tests to determine if the cause of aberrant manifestations is an allergy or another type of disease. If the doctor suspects an allergy, he refers his patient to an allergist.

The only way to prevent food allergy is to avoid taking in allergenic food. Discretion becomes difficult with food that is eaten in public restaurants because the patient is not sure whether the dish he is eating contains allergens or not. In general, patients with allergies should not eat fancy dishes in food centers. If he needs to go to a restaurant, he should order foods that don't have the substances he is sensitive to. In the event of doubt, the chef should be consulted. When purchasing grocery edibles, the patient should read the labels on the cans or boxes to check if any allergens have been used in preparing the product.

The lifestyle of a person with food allergy can be very restricted and lonely. He may be shy to accept invitations to parties for fear of accidentally ingesting allergenic substances there. Such a person should inform his friends of his handicap so that they can help him look out for himself.

By Jeffrey Frasco