Food allergies include any allergic reaction that follows exposure to a food substance. In the case of severe
food allergies, the allergic person does not need to eat the food;
allergies can be triggered by using a utensil that also has been used on the allergen, for example.
The most common food allergens are: Eggs, peanuts, milk, shellfish, tree nuts, soy, and
wheat. Many people also are allergic to tomatoes, peppers, corn, berries,
chocolate, citrus, yeast, alcohol, and food dyes. Any food can cause an allergy.
Reactions to food vary greatly by person and by the amount of exposure.
Food allergies can cause sensitive individuals to experience
abdominal pain,
diarrhea,
nausea,
vomiting, itching,
hives or
rashes,
swelling, and in severe cases, difficulty breathing and shock; the common factor in all symptoms is
inflammation. Anyone with an allergic reaction to food that includes loss of consciousness or difficulty breathing should receive emergency care immediately.
Some health care practitioners believe that half of all Americans suffer from less severe allergic reactions to at least one food, which can lead to chronic health problems such as
asthma,
acne,
obesity, and auto-immune conditions. It is not uncommon for a person to crave a food to which he or she reacts allergically, because part of the body's response to an allergen involves a release of endorphins and blood pressure fluctuations that the subconscious may come to experience as enjoyable. Allergic "highs" to foods are often followed by "crashes" during which the allergic person feels nauseous, dizzy, and fatigued.
Leaky gut syndrome, in which partially digested food leaks into the bloodstream, can cause multiple
food allergies beginning later in life. The safest way to test for
food allergies may involve eliminating all of the common food allergens from your diet for one month, then slowly reintroducing the possible allergens one at a time, waiting for at least three days to see if your body reacts allergically before adding the next food.
The
least allergenic foods are:
Fruits:
- apples
- apricots
- cranberries
- dates
- grapes
- mangoes
- papayas
- peaches
- pears
- raisins
Vegetables
- asparagus
- avocados
- beets
- broccoli
- carrots
- cauliflower
- lettuce
- poi
- squash
- sweet potatoes
Grains
Meats
- chicken
- lamb
- salmon
- turkey
- veal
Oils
Sweeteners
