Eating and drinking is not only one of the favorite and desirable activities of man, but it is also our basic need. Although we eat every delicious thing with great passion but unfortunately many things are not compatible with our nature and we face various problems by eating them. While there may be many other reasons for this, one of the main reasons is allergies.
Food allergies can range from moderate to severe, which can land the affected person in the hospital. Therefore, every person should know or try to find out if he is allergic to something so that he can avoid those things.
According to experts, in the past few years there has been an increase in the number of people who think they have food allergies or intolerances. But research has shown that only a few of them are actually allergic.
Causes of food allergies
According to a report published in an international medical journal, experts have different opinions regarding food allergies. But most experts believe that allergies are triggered by the immune system (the disease-fighting system). A food allergy is caused by the protein in the food. The immune system mistakenly thinks that this protein is harmful to the body.
So when this protein enters the body, the immune system makes an antibody (a type of protein) called immunoglobulin E. These antibodies fight against proteins that enter the body. Then when a person again eats food that contains that protein, these antibodies make certain chemicals, including a chemical called histamine. Histamine, in general, plays a beneficial role in the immune system.
So experts still don’t understand why the production of immunoglobulin E and then histamine causes allergy symptoms in people. This information suggests that a person may not be allergic to a food the first time they eat it, but may develop an allergy when they eat the same food again.
Effect of various foods on the stomach
Just as some people are allergic to certain foods, there are also some people whose stomach cannot tolerate certain foods. This problem is related to the digestive system, not the immune system because it does not produce any antibodies. Indigestion can be caused either by a lack of an enzyme (a chemical substance) or by certain chemicals in the food that are not easily absorbed in the stomach. An example is that some people cannot digest the sugars in milk because their stomachs do not make the enzymes needed to digest the sugars in dairy products.
Since antibodies are not formed when food is not digested, symptoms appear when a person first eats a food. Sometimes it happens that the stomach digests a small amount of this food, but if it is eaten in large quantities, it cannot tolerate it. Conversely, for people who are allergic to a food or drink, even a small amount can be fatal.
Symptoms
Symptoms of a food allergy may include: swelling of the throat, eyes or tongue, rash, itching, nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea. People with severe allergies may experience very low blood pressure, dizziness, fainting, and even cardiac arrest. These allergy symptoms can quickly become severe and can be life-threatening.
What things can cause allergies?
Allergies can be caused by any food. But it’s usually caused by: milk, eggs, fish, shellfish (eg shrimp, crab), peanuts, soybeans, nuts (eg almonds, walnuts, pistachios, cashews) and wheat. A person can develop allergies at any age. Research has shown that if one or both of the parents have a food allergy, the child is more likely to have the same allergy. But it has also been observed that many children are no longer allergic to this substance when they grow up.
When the stomach can’t tolerate something, the symptoms are usually less serious than the symptoms of an allergy. Symptoms may include: abdominal pain, bloating, gas, cramping, headache, skin rash or fatigue and restlessness. People’s stomachs are generally intolerant of: milk, wheat, gluten (the protein found in wheat flour), etc.
Allergy treatment
If you think you have a food allergy or intolerance, consult a medical professional. If you start avoiding certain foods without checking with your doctor, it can also be harmful for you because your body is deprived of some essential components like vitamins and proteins.
There is no specific treatment for people who have severe food allergies, except to completely avoid the things that cause the allergy. But people who do not have severe allergies or whose stomach can tolerate small amounts of foods can consume these foods infrequently and in small amounts. But in some cases a person has to abstain completely or for some time from food which his stomach cannot digest.
So if you have a food allergy or intolerance, don’t despair because many people with this problem have found that they can enjoy many foods that are also delicious. And healthy too.
