Beware Of Food Allergies

Food allergy is an adverse immune response to food that the body mistakenly believes as harmful. In food allergy, our immune system releases antibody called IgE(Immunoglobulin E) to fight the food allergen. These allergens are food substances that create an allergy. Food allergy may appear more often in someone who has family members with allergies, and symptoms may occur after that allergic individual consumes even a tiny amount of the food. Allergy to food is a hypersensitivity reaction. This means that before a person becomes allergic to a certain food, he should have been previously exposed to the food, in other words, he is sensitized to food.

Peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish, cows' milk, eggs, soya and wheat are the most common problem foods that can cause food allergies. Usually, allergic reactions to food happen two hours after meal. Some food allergies result in immediate, severe and even life-threatening symptoms, while others cause symptoms which may take longer to develop. Allergic reaction can affect the respiratory system, gastro-intestinal tract, skin or cardiovascular system. These symptoms include runny nose, itchy skin rash, tingling in the tongue, lips or throat, swelling, abdominal pain or wheezing.

Mot people experiencing allergic reactions do not recognize that they have allergies to certain food, before they become severe therefore, that is why most food allergies go undiagnosed. Learning how to recognize an allergic reaction will help you get the medical care needed if a reaction occurs.

It would be best to get tested for food allergy now. Allergy testing is important because those that are suffering from allergies may be experiencing discomfort and symptoms that can be treated. Allergy test is also best for determining the foods that is triggering the patients' allergic symptoms. Also, some allergies are potentially dangerous, and thus knowing your food allergies can save you from allergic reactions and also from doctor's bills.

It is suggested that non intake of the problem food is the treatment for food allergy. People with allergies should identify and prevent them. Although at times the reaction is mild, reactions have the potential of causing illnesses and sometimes, can be fatal. In case you are experiencing an allergy and you do not know what causes it, go for allergy testing. This test will be very useful in order to avoid foods that you are allergic to.