I am allergic to SHRIMPS!!!. Well, I was not, but as i grow older i suddenly became allergic. I remember my last trip to UK, I was served food containing shrimps and decided to eat. Trust me, it was a terrible experience.
For most people, eating is a pleasant experience. There are some,
however, who are compelled to treat certain foods as “enemies.” Like
Emily, quoted earlier, they suffer from food allergies.
There has been a rise in reported food allergies and intolerances. However, only a small portion of those who think
they have a food allergy have been definitely diagnosed.
What Is a Food Allergy?
Most experts believe that allergic reactions are primarily triggered by the immune system.
An
allergic reaction to a certain food is typically a response to a
protein in that food. The immune system erroneously identifies that
protein as harmful. When a particular protein enters the body, the
immune system may create a type of antibody known as IgE to neutralize
the perceived invader. When the food allergen is again ingested, the
antibodies that were created earlier can trigger a release of chemicals,
including histamine.
Under
normal circumstances, histamine plays a beneficial role in the immune
system. But for reasons not clearly understood, the presence of IgE
antibodies and the subsequent release of histamine provoke an allergic
reaction in people who happen to be hypersensitive to a particular food
protein.
This
explains why you could eat a new food without any apparent reaction but
eat the same food again and experience an allergic reaction.
What Is Food Intolerance?
A
food intolerance, like a food allergy, may be an adverse reaction to a
food item. But unlike a food allergy (which is triggered directly by the
immune system), a food intolerance is a reaction of the digestive
system, and thus no antibodies are involved. Basically, a person may
have trouble breaking down a food, perhaps because of enzyme
deficiencies or because of chemicals
found in the food that are difficult to process. For example, a lactose
intolerance occurs when the gut does not produce the needed enzymes to
digest the type of sugars found in milk products.
As
it is not a matter of the production of antibodies, a food intolerance
can manifest itself the first time the food is ingested. Quantity may be
the determining factor
What Are the Symptoms?
If
you suffer from a food allergy, you could have itching; hives; swelling
of the throat, eyes, or tongue; nausea; vomiting; or diarrhea. And in a
worst-case scenario, you could have a drop in blood pressure,
dizziness, fainting, and even cardiac arrest. An anaphylactic reaction
can progress rapidly and be fatal.
Potentially,
any food could cause an allergy. However, the most severe food
allergies are commonly caused by just a few foods: namely, milk, eggs,
fish, crustaceans, peanuts, soybeans, tree nuts, and wheat. A person can
develop an allergy at any age. Studies show that genetics play an
important role, and a child is more likely to develop an allergy if one
or both of his parents have allergies. It is not uncommon for children
to grow out of allergies.
Symptoms
of food intolerance are generally less alarming than those of extreme
allergic reactions. Food intolerance may cause stomach pain, bloating,
gas, cramps, headaches, skin rash, tiredness, or a general feeling of
malaise. An intolerance may be related to a variety of foods
Diagnosis and Treatment
If
you think you may suffer from a food allergy or a food intolerance, you
may decide to get checked by a specialized health professional.
Self-diagnosis and autonomously deciding to eliminate certain foods can
at times be harmful, as you may inadvertently deprive your body of
necessary nutrients.
There
is no widely accepted treatment for severe food allergies other than
the total avoidance of the particular foods that trigger the allergy. On the other hand, if you have milder food allergies or food
intolerance, you may see some benefit from simply reducing how often you
eat certain foods and the amount. In some cases, however, sufferers are
compelled to avoid the foods in question altogether, or at least for
some time, depending on the severity of the intolerance.
So
if you have a food allergy or a food intolerance, you may find comfort
in knowing that many sufferers have learned to manage their condition
and still enjoy a wide variety of nutritious and delicious foods.