Food Allergy Symptoms
All of us have experienced illness after eating at least once in our lives. Whether it is a new creation from Taco Bell or Auntie Nina’s flack seed yum-yum bars, subsequent illness often leads us to ask, “Am I allergic to this?”
Well the chances are no and in fact, only 1% of adults have true food allergies. The discomfort or sickness that we commonly experience is food intolerance. Intolerance is different from food allergy symptoms because it can be either internally or externally provoked (such as food poisoning or lactose intolerance).
Intolerances to food are bothersome but non-life threatening. It is important, however, to know if you have a food allergy because although preliminary symptoms may be mild, the outcome of an untreated allergic reaction can be fatal.
The most common allergy foods to cause allergic reactions are eggs, milk, wheat, sugar and yeast. So what are the symptoms? Because of the complex nature of the digestion and physical differences between people, food allergy symptoms can vary.
However, the first reaction usually occurs in the mouth or throat in the form of itching or difficulty breathing. More severe facial reactions can be swelling of the lips and face. As the food is digested and travels deeper into the digestive tract, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea can occur. This is the stage at which food allergies and intolerance are often confused.
As digestion continues, the allergen reaches the bloodstream, and eventually the skin, causing hives to break out on the surface. When the lungs are reached, the allergen can even cause constricting of the airways, such as asthma. If experiencing an allergic reaction for the first time, it is important to seek medical care immediately and to recount what you have consumed.
Although allergic reactions typically occur within an hour of consumption, it has been found that a reaction may occur within a week. Of course, once an allergy has been identified, it is imperative to stay away from food containing it (it may be a group of foods). Hopefully, your allergen won’t be something delicious like chocolate.