Approximately 30 percent of all people experience a food allergy during their lives. When we have a food sensitivity, our immune system works overtime to address the toxic inflammation created by that food. Sometimes the reaction can be immediate, as in anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock. Anaphylaxis can be fatal. Typically, a person entering into anaphylaxis experiences:
● Swelling
● Hives
● Difficulty swallowing (call 911 immediately)
● Abdominal pain
● Vomiting
● Diarrhea
● Lowered blood pressure (call 911 immediately)
● Dilated blood vessels (call 911 immediately)
● Unconsciousness (call 911 immediately)
Call 911 immediately when in doubt. It should be noted that anaphylaxis can be caused by bee stings also. Anaphylaxis must be treated immediately, regardless of the cause.
Our immune system develops a specific allergen-fighting antibody to address a specific bacterium, virus, pollutant, etc. Our immune system should not be responding to normally harmless foods, such as:
● Peanuts
● Shellfish
● Egg white
● Sesame seeds
● Dairy products
When we have a food allergy, our immune system treats it like any other unwanted molecule in the body. Sometimes the reaction to a food allergy can take a day or two to manifest with symptoms of:
● Fatigue
● Gas
● Bloating
● Mood swings
● Migraines
● Eating disorders
Food allergies are difficult to diagnose. There are two categories of food allergies – allergic responses and food intolerances. Our immune system responds to allergies. Symptoms vary with:
● Age
● Type of food
● Amount of food
My wife is allergic to pork. It takes less than a few seconds for her to be physically ill when she eats pork, however, other people might just have a slight skin rash or a runny nose. The difficulty in determining what food allergy you might have relates to the variety of symptoms and the delay in reaction.
