Common Food Triggers For Allergies
Food allergies, like many other allergies, are an immune system reaction to a substance referred to as an allergen. A common seasonal allergy, for instance, is to pollen. Food allergies occur when someone eats a particular food. The most common signs of a food allergy include itching in the mouth, hives, eczema, itchy skin, swelling in the lips and face, trouble breathing, and wheezing. Many also deal with gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
No one likes dealing with allergies of any kind! Those with seasonal allergies typically turn to seasonal allergies medication to handle their symptoms. It is fairly easy to get pollen allergy relief this way. Of course, things are a bit different for food allergies. Food allergy testing is important to get a complete view of the situation. Looking for allergen labels on food and in restaurants is also crucial! Avoiding allergens is the best way to manage food allergies. Of course, it helps to know what the most common triggers are!
Peanuts
An allergy to peanuts is the most common food allergy out there, and reports have shown peanut allergies in kids have been on the rise. The good news is many children do outgrow their peanut allergy, though it can stick around for their life. This makes things quite scary! It also requires paying close attention to food labels, even ones you wouldn’t expect.
Those with a severe peanut allergy will often need to avoid eating food that has been prepared in a facility that handles peanuts. In restaurants, this means requesting their food to be prepared with different instruments and in a different area than anything with peanuts. Parents need to sort through their child’s candy and chocolate on Halloween to make sure it’s safe for them!
Anaphylaxis is the most serious allergic reaction to peanuts. Symptoms of this include throat swelling, impaired breathing, and even blue lips and pale skin. Those affected even faint or feel dizzy! Prompt medical attention is key, even after administering an emergency injection of epinephrine.
Milk
Countless people out there are lactose intolerant, which is when their body doesn’t digest milk properly due to lactose. However, a true milk allergy is different and far more severe than lactose intolerance. For instance, someone with lactose intolerance may still be able to consume some dairy products, especially if they take special lactase supplements before doing so. This isn’t the case with a milk allergy. Symptoms of this allergy include vomiting, diarrhea, hives, trouble breathing, throat swelling, and colic in babies. Reactions in a milk allergy can occur up to 7 days after exposure in some cases!
Milk allergies mean those affected must look at food labels to see if there is any milk in packaged foods. It also means looking for milk alternatives, such as almond, soy, oat, or coconut milk. Different cheeses and yogurts will be needed too. Of course, the chosen alternative will depend on personal taste, need, and even other allergies!
Tree Nuts
Tree nuts are different than peanuts. Peanuts, it will surprise some to learn, are considered a legume! Regardless, however, tree nuts are another common food trigger for allergies. They are also one that can influence choices made due to other food allergies! Common tree nuts are pine nuts, almonds, pecans, cashews, and walnuts. People can be allergic to only one of these, but often experience reactions to more than one!
Symptoms of a tree nut allergy are very similar to other food allergies. They include itchy eyes, swelling around the eyes and mouth, throat swelling and difficulty swallowing, shortness of breath, and nausea. Tree nut allergies are particularly severe and next to peanuts, are the most common trigger for anaphylaxis. Of course, reading food labels is the best way to avoid a reaction! It is also key to note those with a milk allergy and a tree nut allergy need to avoid almond and cashew milk! They’re best off looking at oat milk, rice milk, and similar alternatives.