Food allergies can be very daunting. Food allergy symptoms often range from mild to life-threatening, and since there is no cure for food allergies, it’s necessary to find ways to manage your diet while avoiding the food that causing you allergy symptoms. Being vigilant about what you consume and what you use in your skincare can prevent you from suffering food allergy symptoms.All across America, over 50 million Americans suffer from a food allergy, and even more from a sensitivity. Do you have a food allergy or think you may have a food sensitivity? There are ways you can manage it. Take a look below.
What is a food allergy?
A food allergy occurs when your body’s immune system mistakes specific proteins for “harmful” substances like bacteria or viruses. A food allergy triggers your body’s immune system. The first time you consume a food you’re allergic to, some cells in your body create IgE antibodies. These antibodies attach to the surface of mast cells. Even though you won’t experience an allergic reaction the first time, you’re set up for an allergic reaction the next time you ingest those similar allergens.
The IgE antibodies that your body makes are specific to the allergen that it recognizes as a “threat.” So the next time you ingest the same allergens, you’ll experience an allergic reaction ranging from mild to severe. You can experience an allergic reaction to any food that you consume.
Even though there are the main common food allergies, you can be allergic to anything, including preservatives and dyes used in processed foods. Food allergies are very common, affecting around 50 million Americans. Even though allergies are common in children, they often outgrow most of these allergens as they grow.
However, if your allergies start suddenly as an adult, it’s impossible to outgrow them, and you’ll have to find ways to manage food allergies. You can experience an allergic reaction to consuming even trace amounts of the food you’re allergic to. That’s why it’s necessary to be cautious about cross-contamination when you share utensils that have had the food you’re allergic to.
What causes food allergies?
Food allergies can be genetic; for example, if one of your parents had a specific food allergy, it’s also possible for some of their children to experience a similar food allergy. You’re more likely to suffer from food allergies if you also suffer from other allergic reactions like hay fever or eczema.
People with asthma also have a high chance of suffering from food allergies. Also, depending on your ethnicity or geographical location, there are specific food allergies that you’re likely to suffer from.
5 Ways to manage food allergies
Even though you may have a food allergy, you can still live a healthy life. The first step you need to take is an Allergy Test to know which foods you’re allergic to. There are tips to help you manage living with food allergies. These include:
Be careful when cooking.
If everyone in your household isn’t following an allergen-free diet, you must be vigilant to avoid cross-contamination. You can even decide on two sets of utensils to ensure there won’t be any chance of cross-contamination. For example, using the same knife to spread peanut butter on another’s toast can be very detrimental to someone with a nut allergy buttering their toast.
Also, you must always check the labels of processed foods to avoid accidentally ingesting an allergen. Often, companies update the interests they use to make their products, and you need to keep up to avoid landing yourself in a situation where you’re suffering from food allergies.
Read food labels at all times.
All foods contain labels that tell you whether there could be cross-contamination or the ingredients are allergenic. When reading labels, you must also have a list of names for the allergen you’re avoiding. Companies often don’t use a name you’re aware of for your allergen. So, you must be cautious about that.
Being knowledgeable about your allergens and their names is a great way for you to read labels when grocery shopping carefully. Most companies create a bold caution for people with common food allergies. So, in that case, you’ll easily avoid foods with ingredients that are also allergens. That can be hard for those with food allergies that aren’t so common. But you’ll be good to go once you know which items to avoid.
Inform others when dining out.
You can always inform the chef or manager of your food allergies and what ingredients to avoid. You can carry a chef card that specifies everything to avoid in your food and even ways to avoid cross-contamination during the food preparation. Always ask questions before eating, even in coffee shops and other establishments. You’re better off avoiding foods whose ingredients need to be clarified.
Create an action plan.
You should create a list of steps others need to take in case you accidentally ingest something you’re allergic to. This action plan can be very helpful for those who experience anaphylaxis as it can save their lives. You can carry this printed list of action plans with you wherever you just as a precaution. You can even wear a medical bracelet showing a list of your allergies.
1) Identify
Importantly, you should always be able to identify your allergy. If you think you may be suffering from an allergy then you should consult your doctor and seek medication and advice about what to do. If it is a food sensitivity that you think you are suffering from, then you can always identify your sensitivities with a sensitivity test from us. A question you should ask yourself is what symptoms you are experiencing? These may be an indication of whether or not you are suffering from an allergy or sensitivity. If you have any of the following symptoms, then it is important that you either take a test to discover your potential sensitivity or consult with a doctor.
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing
- A repetitive cough
- Vomiting and/or stomach cramps
Remember, these are just a few of the symptoms that you may experience as the result of a food allergy. More are listed here.
2) Avoid
Once you have identified the offending item which you are allergic to, you should do your best to avoid it. This, in many cases, is easier said than done. This is because you may have a food allergy to peanuts or milk. Peanuts are everywhere, in bars, pubs and almost any social setting. Milk, however, is a staple of most people’s diet. It is everywhere and is one of the most common ingredients, including hamburgers (sorry!). According to FARE, there is no cure for food allergy. Food allergies are managed by avoiding the problem food(s) and learning to recognize and treat reactions symptoms.
3) Be Careful
One thing to be especially careful of is developing a food allergy at an older age. Many people believe that once they have escaped childhood, they will no longer develop an allergy. This isn’t the case, however, as recently, many people of middle-age have been reporting a rise in allergies. To avoid the risk of developing an allergy, try to avoid common items which are normally associated with allergies, (the most common food allergies for adults are shellfish, as well as tree nuts, peanuts and fish!) If you are weary of hay fever, stay away from pollen!
Always carry medication
If you experience a mild reaction, you can carry antihistamines whenever you leave home. If your doctor prescribes an EpiPen, you must always have about two doses. This will ensure that you’re always prepared. You should never leave home without medications when you suffer from food allergies.
Always ensure that you know how to use an EpiPen and that those around you know this, too. If you have listed someone in your anaphylaxis emergency list, they should know how to administer an EpiPen because it will save your life. You should also always check for your epinephrine expiry date because it may only work well if you do.
Experimental treatments for food allergies
Ongoing research continues to improve allergy treatment and reduce symptoms of food allergies and allergy attacks. Ther is no proven method that can prevent or completely relieve allergy symptoms. Immunotherapy is still being studied for its effectiveness in treating food allergies. However, some allergists use ora immunotherapy to help allergic patients.
The only immunotherapy drug that has been approved is peanut allergen to treat children between 4-17 years old. However, this medication isn’t recommended for those with eosinophilic esophagitis and uncontrolled asthma, among other conditions.
Final thoughts
Food allergies are quite common and affect many people worldwide. Learning about your food allergies through an Allergy Test helps you manage your diet and get proper emergency medication. Even though a food allergy may be hard at first, once you’re aware of foods to avoid and have every precaution in place, it gets easier to manage and not panic when eating out.
Do you think you may have a food allergy? You should check out www.allergytest.co to find out more. Our customer service advisors are always happy to help you with any questions you may have, including which test you should opt for!
