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A food allergy is an
immune system response to a food that the body mistakenly believes
is harmful. Food Allergies are the most common form of allergies,
and found in many adults and even more commonly found in children.
They however can be outgrown over a period of time. Food Allergies
are the most common, and also the most difficult to manage. They can
be extremely frustrating and time consuming as you will need to be
very cautious with choosing which foods to buy and which restaurant
to dine at. If you have been diagnosed with food allergies, there
are many alternatives and substitutes you can purchase from your local
grocery and nutrition stores to supplement your diet.
Although an individual could be allergic to any food, such as fruits,
vegetables, and meats, there are eight foods that account for 90%
of all food-allergic reactions. They are: milk, eggs, peanuts,
tree nuts (other than peanuts) fish/shellfish, soy, and wheat.
Many of the things we think we know about food allergies
are simply just myths, here are a couple of common myths that may
help you determine fact or fiction:
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|
MYTH
|
FACT |
Most people with food allergies are allergic to strawberries
and tomatoes. |
Although people can be allergic to any kind of food, most food
allergies are caused by tree nuts, peanuts, cow's milk, eggs,
soy, fish, and shellfish.
|
| Some people are allergic
to sugar. |
A condition is called a
food allergy when the immune system (the part of the body that
fights infections) thinks a certain protein in a food is a "foreign"
agent and fights against it. This doesn't happen with sugars
and fats.
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| Food allergy is either lifelong or is always
outgrown. |
Children usually "outgrow" allergies
to milk, eggs, soybean products and wheat. However, people rarely
outgrow allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish.
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| Food allergy is not dangerous. |
Food allergy can be fatal if it is severe
enough to cause a reaction called anaphylaxis. This reaction
makes it hard for a person to breathe. Fast treatment with a
medicine called epinephrine can save your life. If you or your
child has a severe allergy, your doctor might give you a prescription
for epinephrine self-injection pens. Your doctor can show you
how to use them and tell you when to use them. If your doctor
thinks you might need to use this medicine, you'll need to carry
one with you at all times.
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A person having an allergic reaction should be taken by ambulance
to a hospital emergency room, because the symptoms can start again
hours after the epinephrine is given.
Once a true food allergy is diagnosed, avoid the food that caused
it. If you have an allergy, you must read the labels on all the prepared
foods you eat. Your doctor can help you learn how to avoid eating
the wrong foods. If your child has food allergies, give the school
and other caretakers instructions that list what foods to avoid and
what to do if the food is accidentally eaten.
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