Food Allergy Symptoms You May Not Be Aware Of

Food is essential for our bodies, but certain foods can trigger what is known as a food allergy. A food allergy occurs when your immune system mistakes a food as harmful and attacks it. It can occur at any time and is generally followed by various symptoms including rash, itchy skin and hives. In more serious cases it can even be fatal.

Because food allergies affect people differently, it can go unnoticed or simply mistaken as food intolerance.

Food Allergy Vs. Food Intolerance

Food allergies differ from food intolerance in that your body actually digests the food, then views it as harmful, as opposed to simply having the inability to digest it. Food allergy symptoms also differ from food intolerance symptoms, which include heartburn, gas, bloating, cramping, headache and irritability and nervousness.

Some common food allergy symptoms include:

• Itchy ear canal or mouth
• Runny nose
• Sneezing
• Red skin around the eyes
• Nausea or vomiting
• Itchy, dry skin or rash (eczema)
• Diarrhea

Allergy symptoms generally occur within a few minutes after consuming a trigger food. However, sometimes it can take up to several hours to experience an allergic reaction, and it can even affect children. Adult allergy symptoms may differ from child allergy symptoms which can include sensitivity to spicy foods, hot, burning or tingling tongue, swollen or tingling lips, swollen tongue and more. Children may also express their symptoms differently such as "My mouth feels funny," "There's something in my throat," or "It feels like there are bugs in there," to describe itchy ears, etc., so be aware. 

Food Allergy Triggers

We've all seen the movies where the protagonist is out on a date with the girl of his dreams, when, unbeknownst to him, he eats a trigger food. Within a matter of minutes, it causes his face to swell as his date looks on with bewilderment, needless to say, ending the date with a trip to the emergency room.

Though most trigger foods are known, there are also many other foods that trigger an allergic reaction that you may not be aware of. For example, red meat has recently been shown to cause severe allergic reactions in various individuals. Symptoms generally occur within three to six hours after ingesting red meat and can include itching, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Other trigger foods include:

• Chocolate
• Tree nuts
• Wheat
• Fish/shellfish
• Milk
• Eggs
• Raw fruits and vegetables
• Kiwi, avocado, and bananas

What to Do if You Experience an Allergic Reaction

Though most food allergy symptoms are generally non-life-threatening and can usually be addressed with an over the counter antihistamine product, there are some cases in which food allergies require a trip to the emergency room for immediate care. Severe allergic reactions can put you at risk for anaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction. Therefore, it needs to be addressed with an epinephrine shot.

Epinephrine works swiftly to reduce swelling of the lips, face and throat, reduce hives, stimulate the heart, improve breathing and increase low blood pressure. Consult with your doctor to find out if you need to carry epinephrine shots, such as Epi-Pen or Auvi-Q.

Severe allergy symptoms include:

• Chest pain
• Wheezing, shortness of breath
• Faintness/low blood pressure
• Loss of consciousness
• Trouble swallowing
• Sense of impending death

It is estimated that more than 40 million people, including children under the age of 18, in the U.S. have allergies. If you suspect you have a food allergy, consult with your physician who can perform nutrition response testing for the proper diagnosis, as well as recommend a follow-up plan. If you have a food allergy, you should avoid eating the food altogether or scale back on the amount of the food you consume in order to avoid an allergic reaction.

Learn to read food labels for problem foods and consult with your server when dining out. Sometimes foods are prepared with additional ingredients that may not be spelled out in the menu. With the proper diagnosis and care, food allergies can be managed so that you can enjoy a quality of life.

Dr. Donna Sergi is a leading Brooklyn Chiropractor and Practitioner of Nutrition Response Testing. Learn more by visiting her website at: http://www.healthieruny.com