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Posts Tagged ‘food allergy’

Protect Your Family with These 7 Little Known Facts About Allergy

Monday, December 7th, 2009

We all feel as if we have a pretty good idea about the allergies that affect us everyday and how to deal with them (largely by avoidance). However, there are some facts that you probably aren’t aware of that could affect their severity.

1. Your Bad Breath Could be From Allergies

Those who suffer from allergies also often suffer from dry mouth brought on by the antihistamines that doctors prescribe to deal with those allergies. This dry mouth can lead to bad breath because of little pieces of food stuck in your tongue and around your tonsils that go unnoticed.

breathing difficulty- allergy2. Suffering from ? It Might be Your Digestive System and Not Your Lungs

Even minute changes in the microflora of your digestive system can affect your immune system, even change it completely. This intensifies your reaction to allergens. Our modern use of antibiotics and diet play a part in these changes. Maintaining a diet that’s high in fruit and veggies and low in sugar helps especially when it comes after a round of antibiotics.

3. It’s Impossible to Become Immune to Allergy Meds

If you feel that your allergy meds aren’t working the way they used to, it’s not your meds that are at fault. It’s actually that the severity of your allergies has increased. If this happens, then a change in treatment could be in order. Intranasal steroids, isotonic saline nasal washes, allergen immunotherapy or other antihistamines are all great options to try.

4. Plants Aren’t as Good for Your Health as You Think

The soil in planters and the dust that settled on these plants themselves can cause a reaction from your allergies. To prevent this, put some gravel down on the soil of the plant to hold down the debris.

5. If Your Pets Bring Sneezing or Coughing You May be Allergic

Even if you were around a pet all your life you can eventually find yourself dealing with allergies to it. Being exposed to a pet for a long period can help your build up immunity to its allergens. However, if you go away from that environment and then expose yourself to that animal there’s a chance you may have allergies because that immunity has been lost over the time you were away from them.

6. By the Same Token, It Might not be Your Pet

It may not even be your pet that’s brought on your allergies. There are many different types of indoor contaminants like dust mites and mold that can bring on a similar reaction. Even homes without pets can be affected by this type of allergy because of allergens carried into the house by the wind, guests and sometimes dander brought in on the homeowner’s own clothing and shoes.

7. Factors Like Weight and Birth Order May Also Play a Part

Kids and teens who are overweight are at a higher risk for developing allergies than other children. This is especially true of food allergies. Those who are the first of their parents’ children are also more likely to develop allergies than later children, probably because the conditions in the womb are different for the first child than later children.

Most Common Fruits and Vegetables That Cause Food Intolerance and Food Allergy

Thursday, November 5th, 2009

Most people who are allergic to fruits and vegetables experience mild symptoms that often occur as a rash, itchiness or blisters where the food has come in contact with the skin or mouth. People who are allergic to fruits and vegetables are likely to also have allergies to certain pollens. For many, these symptoms are removed or reduced in fruits that have been cooked or pasteurized. The ripeness of that fruit or vegetable can also affect the severity of the reaction.

An allergic reaction to a food is a manifestation of your immune system trying to defend itself from what it mistakes as an attacker.

Food intolerance on the other hand is likely to bring on gastrointestinal responses such as diarrhea, vomiting and stomachache. This is your body reacting to not being able to properly digest that food.

Vegetables That Cause Intolerance and Allergy

  • Tomatoes: For some, the intolerance or rash associated with tomatoes is mild and means avoiding handling or eating very much of foods that contain it. For those who are truly allergic however it can close the airways and through anaphylaxis could result in death. Avoiding tomatoes can be difficult because it is commonly used in several sauces and soups.
  • Avocados: Allergy o avocados can be a result of prolonged and consistent exposure. There are actually two forms of avocado allergy. One is part of the oral allergy syndrome and the other is allergic reaction brought on by the similarity of avocados to latex. If you have a reaction based on skin contact that doesn’t occur in the mouth or digestive system, it is likely because you are allergic to latex.
  • Carrots: Carrots can cause a mild reaction in those that eat them. Usually they are the symptoms of oral allergy syndrome to the stomach reactions of food intolerance. Carrot allergies are more common in Europe where eating them is more common.
  • Celery: This food allergy is especially common in France, Germany and Switzerland. While most people are typically allergic to the root of the plant, any other part of the plant could also bring on allergic reaction including the seed, which is used as a spice.

Fruits That Cause Intolerance and Allergy

  • Apples: Most allergic reactions to this fruit are brought on by birch pollen allergies. Apples are one of several fruits that share similar basic structures to that of birch. Peaches are also part of this group. Apples can have a severe enough affect on the digestive system that they can bring on bloody stools in some who are allergic or intolerant.
  • Cherries: Cherries are found in several foods and even cosmetics, shampoos, perfume and soaps and even medication. Being allergic to this fruit can be difficult as it’s one of the most common flavorings.
  • Bananas: Chitanase, a protein found in bananas is generally the cause of this food allergy. Vaso active amines cause intolerance from the food.
  • Strawberries: Allergy to strawberries is one of the most common of all fruit and vegetable allergies. When a person is allergic to this fruit, it is likely they are reacting to the birch pollen allergen that apples and peaches bring on. However strawberry allergies do not extend to other fruits as the protein that brings them on is only found in this fruit. While the common use of strawberries is widespread in foods, beverages, cosmetics, shampoos, lotions and a host of other household items, it is generally listed on the bottle as a precautionary measure.

Most Common Nuts That Cause Food Intolerance

Thursday, November 5th, 2009

What is a Nut Allergy?

Being allergic to nuts means that your body reacts to peanuts and tree nuts (like those below) differently than other people. Instead of eating them without a reaction, your body reads the protein from these nuts as an invader and reacts accordingly. It creates specific antibodies called immunoglobin E as a defense against harmful proteins. When these antibodies are released, they trigger the release of chemicals in the body among them histamines.
The release of this chemical affects the skin, gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular system and respiratory system causing allergy reactions such as wheezing, stomachache, itchy hives, vomiting and swelling. In extreme cases, the body can go into anaphylaxis a sudden and potentially life threatening reaction that along with the other symptoms listed can cause the airways to swell shut and blood pressure to drastically drop. At this point the person may have trouble breathing and even fall into unconsciousness.

Most Common Nuts That Cause Food Intolerance

Below is a list of nuts that commonly trigger off food intolerance:

  • Peanut: The peanut is in fact a legume that simply has a similar protein structure to that of tree nuts but it is the most common nut allergy among those who are affected by nut food intolerance. Common foods that contain peanuts are peanut oil (often used as a deep frying oil at restaurants), peanut butter, peanut flour, most candy bars, some seasoning mixes and many sweets and sweet mixes. If you are allergic to peanuts, it is absolutely critical that you should look for a nut allergy warning label on the packaging or these ingredients: hydrolyzed plant protein and hydrolyzed vegetable protein.
  • Hazelnut: (aka filberts or cob nuts) are a type of nut that is used in many sweets and flavorings such as in coffee. Its oil is sometimes used for cooking. Allergic reactions to hazelnuts are one of the more severe forms of nut allergy and need to take the proper caution is critical. While many foods list the nuts that they contain, alcohol and flavorings aren’t required to do this, making it important to read ingredient lists. Hazelnuts are a particularly common ingredient in flour, chocolate and many varieties of sweets!
  • Pistachio/Cashew: Both of these nuts are related and commonly found in many foods. Those with allergies to these nuts are also often allergic to birch pollen.
  • Almond: Almonds are one of the most commonly used tree nuts and can be found in many different forms of flavoring, sweets, curry, chewing gum, marzipan, drinks and ice cream. Be especially careful to look for almonds in oils, baked goods and even many beauty products!
  • Walnut: Many people who are allergic to walnuts are also allergic to other tree nuts so caution when eating any tree nut is safest. In some cases, this food allergy is limited to the uncooked nut; this means that when the nut has been cooked, roasted or baked, it no longer causes an allergic reaction.

If you have an allergic react to any nut, it is best to have an allergy screen done to determine how many nut allergies you have and to what severity. Carrying an over the counter allergy medication would be wise. It is also a good idea to get a prescription to carry an epi-pen in case of an emergency.

Most Common Spices That Cause Food Intolerance and Food Allergy

Thursday, November 5th, 2009

As with almost all food allergies, allergic reaction to spice often involves a combination of symptoms. Some of these symptoms include hives, swelling of the throat and skin, rash, stomach ache, diarrhea, indigestion, asthma, vomiting itching of the tongue, lips and/or face, severe lowing of the blood pressure, trouble breathing and the risk of unconsciousness or death in severe cases where anaphylaxis occurs. Allergies of this type are rare and serious reactions to these allergens are even rarer. However it’s always best to evade any spice or food than will bring on food intolerance or allergic reaction. The trouble is that to date most herbs and spices don’t warrant food label warnings by FDA standards and therefore close attention to ingredients is absolutely necessary.

Spices That Amy Cause Allergy or Food Intolerance

  • Anis: Anis is widely used as a flavoring for drinks, candies and pastries. Alcoholic drinks like Ouzo, Raki, Pernod and Anissette all use this spice to flavor the drink. Licorice is one of the most common candies found with it as an ingredient. It’s also very common in a wide variety of Indian and Middle Eastern cooking. It’s also a very common ingredient in shampoos, toothpaste and other health and beauty aids we use every day.
  • Curry: This spice is actually a blend of spices and other ingredients making it difficult to be sure exactly what might causing the reaction. Evading any foods that might contain it is often the best way to avoid a reaction.
  • Paprika: Paprika can have a severe reaction for some who suffer allergies to it. If you have an allergic response to it’s best to avoid it altogether. It’s hard to do this however because many seasonings contain the spice under the label of ‘spices’, natural flavors, and natural seasonings. Seasoned snacks, especially those labeled as barbecue often carry it as an ingredient. A good way to look out for is to avoid anything that is red in color from seasonings as often paprika causes the coloring (also another use for the spice).
  • Fennel: This flavoring is found is some foods and yellow and brown food dyes, perfumes, soaps, toothpastes, and air fresheners. Those who are allergic to fennel are also more likely to be allergic to celery, carrots, dill and anise.
  • Garlic: Both the fresh and cooked varieties of garlic can cause an allergic reaction. It may also mean having to avoid similar food additives like chives and onions. Symptoms can be mild (where a person can eat them but deal with light symptoms) or severe (in which case garlic and it’s relatives must be avoided totally). This food allergy makes keeping the sufferer safe from exposure very hard as garlic is an ingredient found in thousands of foods.
  • Celery Seed: This herb is found in many soups, salad dressings, broths and spice mixtures.
  • Mustard: Mustard is particularly prone to anaphylaxis in those who are allergic to it. With this in mind, use it carefully and avoid offering it to small children in any form.

Wheat and Gluten Food Intolerance vs. Food Allergy

Thursday, November 5th, 2009

Many people who deal with an inability to eat wheat and other grains may think that they are dealing with a simple allergy but this isn’t always the case. While if taken at face value, allergies to wheat and gluten food intolerance may appear to be the same condition there are many things that separate them. Below are two lists of the many differences and similarities between these two very important diet changing food limitations.

Differences:

  • Gluten intolerance (also known as celiac disease) means that the sufferer has an extreme sensitivity to the protein known as gluten in wheat based products and their body is literally unable to process it. Allergies to wheat mean that your immune system wrongly considers wheat an invader and reacts accordingly to get it out of your system, if your body didn’t form these antibodies you could eat it.
  • Wheat allergy is an abnormal immune response to a protein in food. Gluten intolerance is an inherited autoimmune disease which can damage the small intestine and its ability to absorb nutrients causing malnutrition ( it can also raise the risk of developing diseases like osteoporosis and anemia.
  • Gluten intolerance can be diagnosed in people of any age and is life long while wheat allergies are generally a childhood allergy that is grown out of.
  • Intolerance doesn’t trigger the immune system and a food allergy is caused by that trigger.
  • Allergic reactions are within a 2 hour period of the ingestion. Food intolerance can take as long as 24 hours to develop.
  • Those who are allergic to wheat may be able to eat other forms of grain, those who have food intolerance must avoid all grains.

Similarities

  • Both are reactions to the ingestion of wheat which isn’t digested normally and risks making the person ill.
  • Sufferers of both are best helped by avoiding wheat and products that could contain wheat in their diet.
  • Both what allergies and gluten intolerance cause the sufferer to be sick only when they’re eating wheat.
  • On a diet without wheat both types of sufferers feel much better and unaffected by their condition.
  • Eating out and traveling are both hard for the person allergic to wheat and the person who is intolerant of gluten, many foods contain these ingredients and could bring on a reaction at any time.

The best way to treat either of these conditions is to cut wheat and foods that may contain it in any way from your diet. There are many types of food that are made for those with these conditions and so the change doesn’t have to be as drastic as it was for sufferers even ten years ago. There are also starting to be gluten free restaurants that cater to those who can’t eat without having a reaction. Avoiding these foods may seem difficult in the beginning but over time you will learn that there are many delicious meals that don’t require the presence of wheat or other grains to be filling and nutritious.



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Answers, comments, information, articles and opinions provided on all TestCountry related webpages are general information, and are not intended to substitute for informed professional medical, psychiatric, counseling, psychological, or other professional advice. You should not use the information on TestCountry for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication or other treatment. You should always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement, rehabilitation or detoxification from any substance abuse or adopting any treatment for a health or drug problem.

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