Food Allergies
Food Allergies
Food allergies occur when the body cannot tolerate certain food. Some people react to a particular food so sharply that it is chronic and life threatening.
- The body may show a normal reaction, if the person consumes too much of particular food.
- IgE antibody react with food protein.
- Problems related to digestion because of lack of enzymes in the body. There are different enzymes used for digesting different food.
- Lactase is used for digesting milk
- Aldehyde dehydrogenase is used for digesting alcohol.
- Phenylketonuria (PKU), lacking he enzyme to metabolize the amino acid.
- False food allergy, this occurs when the chemical present in the food when gets fused or bind with the mast cells and then releases the chemical similar to that of IgE.
- Lectins & peptides and other food that may cause similar reaction are mango, mustard, papaya, raw pineapple and sunflower seeds.
- Lectins are found in beans, peanuts, wheat & different pulses.
- Peptides are found in tomatoes, strawberries, chocolate, egg white, fish, pork etc
- True allergic reaction is seen when the IgE is released or manufactured in response to the protein consumed. This causes an allergic reaction and sometimes the reaction is chronic and life threatening. The elements which can cause such allergy are milk, fish, shellfish, soya, wheat, nuts, peanuts and eggs. These elements are also called as “big eights” and sharp reactions are seen to elements like nuts, peanuts, shellfish and fish.
If you observe the food allergy symptoms immediately then there is high possibility of having food allergy. And if the food allergy symptoms are seen after sometime of having food then it can be because of intolerance or sensitivity. Food allergy is normally possessed by children. After a particular age like 6 these children out grow food allergies. From studies it is been found that around 5 % of the children have food allergies. If you are already allergic to something else like asthma, hay fever, eczema etc then this food allergy may trigger you symptoms of other allergies. And from Food Allergy Network around 40% of American believes to have allergy to food. The effect of allergic reaction last from few minutes to few hours.
To know about Food allergy symptoms click here
