Common Food Triggers For Allergies

Wheat

Wheat allergies are a lot more common than people realize. Of course, most people mistake a wheat allergy as celiac disease, but the two are different! Wheat allergies mean the body produces antibodies when the person consumes wheat. This is in response to different proteins found in wheat. Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition and produces a different immune system reaction to gluten than a wheat allergy does.

Gastrointestinal symptoms are by far the most common in wheat allergies. Those with this kind of allergy will experience diarrhea, constipation, bloating, and abdominal pain if they consume something with wheat. Skin rashes do still occur with this allergy as well. Many people with wheat allergies can get by with a gluten-free diet. Gluten-free bread, pasta, pizza crusts, and cereal are a few examples. However, they will still need to read food labels carefully!

Shellfish

Shellfish allergies are fairly common food allergies, but they are also different from many others. Specifically, shellfish allergies typically develop in adulthood, whereas most other food allergies occur during childhood! Shellfish include lobster, shrimp, crab, oysters, clams, scallops, and squid. Of course, like other food allergies, common warning signs of a shellfish allergy include tingling in the mouth, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, wheezing, hives, and swelling of the throat and face.

It is important to note while some people with a shellfish allergy may not be allergic to all types of shellfish, they should still avoid all of it since being allergic to more than one kind is incredibly common. Of course, fish and shellfish are different, and those with a shellfish allergy don’t react to fish. The exception, of course, is if they also have a fish allergy. In these cases, people often say they have a seafood allergy!