Food Intolerance versus Food Allergy

Whether you are simply unable to tolerate certain foods or liquids versus a person who is allergic to a certain food is sometimes not properly diagnosed. Can adults develop food allergies are not as likely, as you are born with the food intolerance. A food allergy is far more complex of a disorder, as food intolerance is generally masked by similar symptoms of an allergy. Food intolerance inside your body mimics a food allergy as the intolerance builds up toxic byproducts and histamine, which in turn can lead you to believe you are actually allergic to a food, but simply have the intolerance to.

Common Reactions

Some of the more common allergic reactions vary in their numbers and severity working their way up through the digestive tract. Some of the common symptoms can start with the tingling, or numbness, of the lips and mouth. The course of the allergen flowing down the digestive tract will produce symptoms in the same manner, with stomach cramping and an upset digestive system. As the allergen works its way into the blood stream, the results can vary from rashes to hives. For those who suffer from a severe blood stream reaction, adults can suffer from anaphylaxis, where a person’s blood pressure drop leading to their tongue and throat swelling. Ultimately this will stop the airflow reaching the lungs, leading to the person’s untimely death.

Posted on February 14th, 2008 by Samuel Lucas
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What else is that chemical pill doing to your body? What is the path of the chain reaction? That chemical is going to do something to every single function in your body, and since science as yet does not fully understand the careful balance of the human body, those effects are much more likely to be adverse than positive. Of course, that much is obvious, just read the labels on medicine for side effects. Every food you eat, every drop of water, every molecule of oxygen, will affect your body somehow. If that food is toxic, if that water is contaminated, if that oxygen is polluted, obviously it will do something negative to your body. Maybe the obvious effects are not immediate, but over time, as you continue to poison your body, it will eventually break down and not be able to handle everything you put it through.

Thought for the day - the only thing that cures illness is your body. Everything you do to it, can only help or hinder that process. When your body is out of balance, it becomes sick. When your body is in balance, it can ward off illnesses more readily.

Posted on January 18th, 2008 by Vikas Salim
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Allergies is the most common and probably the most complex cause for red eye symptoms. In general allergies are poorly understood, for example we can not fully explain or cure many allergy induced disorders such as asthma, rosacea or chronic urticaria.

The first line treatment is identifying allergens and avoiding them. The most popular medicines used in ocular allergy treatment are artificial tear drops (such as systane, theratears or refresh endura) and Patanol which is a combination of anti histamine and mast cell stabiliser. People who do not respond well to first line treatment may be prescribed with Alrex, which is a corticosteroid approved by FDA for the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis. Long term use of corticosteroids have serious side effects such as elevated eye pressure or a possible development of cataract, therefore some specialists use Restasis (cyclosporin) for long term anti inflammatory effect, especially when dry eye symptoms are observed. A new possible trend in allergic eye inflammation treatment may be anti - immunoglobulin E medicine (such as Xolair), which is currently only approved for asthma.

Posted on December 17th, 2007 by Frank Andrew
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It is the end of the year, and it is time to plan for Christmas. With great food and festive spirit, Christmas is a joyous celebration we look forward to. However, if you are on of those who are allergies prone, it is a different story. Christmas is also associated with seasonal allergens such as the pollen from Christmas trees, the scent from Christmas candles, the mold from old Christmas ornaments. Most of all, the allergy prone has to combat with food allergies in all the Christmas goodies. Currently, the only cure for people who are allergy-sensitive is to prevent intake of foods which makes them allergic or what is termed as “allergens.” To avoid food allergy attacks, it is a must to carefully prepare the food that will be consumed by allergy-sensitive people. Here are some tips if you are preparing “allergen” free food.

Egg-free Diet

Over reaction of the immune system in the body when proteins from the eggs are ingested causes egg allergy.

You need to avoid prepared foods wherein albumin, egg, and other egg substitutes are present if you have allergies with egg. There are different egg substitute which you incorporate on your cooking recipe such as:

- Puree from apricot - Plain gelatin with warm water - Mix of baking powder, vinegar and liquid

You need to check the appropriate amount of each item before you prepare the above-mentioned substitutes.

Peanut-free Diet

All kinds of nut as well as foods that may contain “peanut protein” should be prevented for consumption if you happen to belong to people who have peanut allergies.

These days, there are a lot of peanut-free recipes you can prepare. To name a few of peanut-free recipes are: (1) SoyNut Butter Cookies; (2) Smoothie made from Super Soy; (3) Tofu Pie made from SoyNut and Banana; (4) Ginger soup; and (5) Sauce prepared from SoyNut.

It has been discovered that “soy nut” is the best substitute for food preparation which is free from peanut. A soy nut does not belong to the “nut” family since the term is coined for soybeans that are drenched and baked for a crispier taste.

Milk-free Diet

Milk allergy is an allergic response of the immune system when an individual has consumed one or more proteins acquired from cow’s milk.

If you are allergic to milk, you need not consume foods or beverages which contain milk, butter, different types of cheese, and sour creams. Some of dairy-free recipes which you may want to prepare are: (1) Potato Soup which are homemade; (2) Grilled Salmon; (3) Shrimp which is marinated then grilled; (4) Pecan snack; and (5) Spaghetti with No Red Sauce.

The complete information with regards to the recipes of some cited examples may be searched at the internet. The ingredients as well as the cooking procedures are also available through the internet. All you need to do is type in the keyword. The internet is a good source of recipes.

Eating should not be boring for people with food allergies. It takes a lot of creativity and resourcefulness so that you can eat the foods that you want using different food substitutes.

Posted on December 12th, 2007 by Henry
Filed under: Food Allergies | No Comments »

Common food allergies happen most often with children, but it is conceivable for grownups to develop them too. Symptoms of food allergies could include prickling around the mouth, swelling of the lips or a rash. It could likewise include the more common allergic reaction symptoms like a runny nose and congestion. Stomach upset is characteristic of a lot of of the common food allergies, and could include symptoms similar to spasms or looseness of the bowels. In a few examples, dizziness could also be a symptom. More intense allergic reaction symptoms, also called anaphylaxis, could include swelling of the mouth and air passages, trouble breathing, regurgitating or passing out. These symptoms call for prompt medical care, since anaphylaxis can become life threatening very rapidly.

It is always a good idea to see your doctor if you believe that you are enduring a common food allergic reaction. Even if your initial response was moderate in nature, it is conceivable that succeeding vulnerabilities to the allergen can induce a more serious reaction to germinate. Your doctor can use a quantity of dissimilar techniques to try to learn whether you do indeed have a common food allergy and what precisely you are allergic to. This could be done through skin tests, blood tests, an overview of the things that you have consumed, and an elimination plan of taking specific foods out of your diet. Some of the times the precise culprit of a common food allergy can be discovered, but other times it can be more challenging to pinpoint. One piece of fact that arrives at accurate diagnosing a tiny bit simpler is a list of the most common food allergies. This is frequently a dependable place to begin in the examination procedure.

The Foremost Eight Foods that Cause Allergies

Eight foods have nowadays been discovered as the most common food allergies. These include milk and eggs, peanuts and tree nuts, fish and shellfish, and wheat and soy. This list of the top eight most common food allergies can explain approximately 90% of all of the food allergies that are diagnosed today. The good news is that the FDA has now required food manufacturers to list these eight allergens as ingredients in all food products so that people with these common food allergies can more effectively avoid their triggers in the food they consume. This is crucial because avoidance of allergens is typically the most beneficial treatment alternative for the common food allergies. If you recognise that you have an allergy to one of these foods, it is essential to get in the habit of reading the labels on the foods that you eat, so that you can effectively avoid ingredients that you know you will have a reaction to.

Posted on November 22nd, 2007 by John
Filed under: Food Allergies | No Comments »

Having dog allergies can be a difficult thing to deal with. Many people live with dog allergies for years suffering and then when they finally get diagnosed with the allergy they have to decide what to do with a beloved pet dog.

Most people will opt to continue suffering with the allergy rather that to get rid of their pet. Finding ways to alleviate the symptoms of dog allergies and to reduce the effects of the allergies will make living with dog allergies easier.

Decreasing The Dog Allergy Symptoms

There are some steps that can be taken that will help any dog owner reduce the problem of dog allergies. Some of these steps will require a diligent effort on the part of the dog owner but will be worth it to help with the allergies and allowing the pet to remain in the home.

The first thing is to keep the dog clean and groomed. Frequent bathing will reduce the amount of pet dander on the dog and in the air. A pet can be bathed once a week without any harm and sometimes even more frequent bathing may be helpful and necessary.

Another step to help alleviate dog allergies is to keep the home and dog areas extremely clean. A vacuum with allergy filtration will help immensely and keeping dust and dog hair cleaned up will be very beneficial. It is a good idea to keep the dog out of the bedroom areas but if they are in frequently in these rooms the bedding should be washed with increased frequency.

Purchasing a HEPA filtration system for the home is a great idea for someone with dog allergies. These units are easily found at many department and home improvement stores. They will run continuously removing dust and allergens from the air. The owner will need to make sure they change any filters and clean the units as recommended by the manufacturer. These units will require a small financial investment but will make a big difference. The systems come in various sizes for the treatment of a single room or for several rooms.

One last step worth mentioning in treating dog allergies is for the person to see an allergist. There are many medications and allergy shots which can help most people’s allergies to be manageable. The allergist will be able to recommend the best measures to be taken by the patient. If a person follows the advice of their allergist and uses the steps mentioned above living with a dog and dog allergies should be bearable.

Posted on October 31st, 2007 by Alexander
Filed under: Pet/Animal Allergies | No Comments »

Most often the summer is the time for the pollen count to increase which will increase the suffering for most allergy sufferers. For years people have been looking for effective treatment options for the allergies that they have. This has been a big problem for a lot of people and sadly there is not much that modern medicine is doing for it.

There are several medical practices, like medications on the market for treatment but many of these have horrible side effects. This is the biggest complaint that most people have when it comes to the medicine that is used to treat allergies. Overall the side effects are known to be worse than the allergy is to begin with. This is the reason why many people will not seek treatment for their allergies.

In many cases the symptoms that they have for the allergies are nothing more than bothersome to say the least. The most common are runny nose, itchy eyes and sneezing. These symptoms can continue until the end of the pollen season or they may come and go as time moves on. Whether or not the symptoms are relieved is not the real issue. The adverse effects that the allergies have on the person’s body are the main issue. People start to find that they are not able to sleep or they are sleeping too much. This is also the main side effect that most of the allergy treatment medications have. They will cause the person to fall asleep at the wrong time which can mean a danger to the person and others around them.

Thankfully there are some new things that have come on the market to treat the many allergies that people have. The new treatments are considered to be better for people because they are all natural and therefore they do not have any side effects. If you have the natural cures or treatments you are more likely to have some relief without all the problems that come with the more accepted and modern medications.

In the area of treatments you will find that the natural treatments are a bit more expensive but they are also known to be far more effective for most of the people that use them. There are problems in most areas with this because of the fact that most of the natural health related treatments are not regulated by the government. So the medical community believes that there is nothing to stop the people from scamming those that are looking to find treatment.

For those that suffer with the seasonal allergies there is also the fact that you can avoid the high pollen areas, such as fields and forests, during the time of the year where it could irritate the allergy. This may be difficult for some who happen to enjoy the outdoors but you should give it serious consideration if you do not want the side effects that come with the medications on the market.

Posted on October 31st, 2007 by Petras
Filed under: Medications | No Comments »

Latex allergies were first recognized about 35 years ago. It is an alarming allergy and incidence of latex allergies are on the rise. The majority of people at risk for a latex allergy are people who have to wear gloves such as in a medical workplace or in a restaurant. Allergic reactions to latex can be very serious. Exposure to latex has been implicated in many deaths in the past decades. The FDA has reports of more than a thousand complaints attributed to latex and about fifteen deaths.

Latex is contained in over 40,000 products. It is very prevalent and many people have found that the latex can burn their skin. If you are unfamiliar with latex, it is a milky substance made from the natural rubber harvested from a rubber tree. There are some latex gloves that do not contain natural rubber. The allergy symptoms result from a reaction to the natural rubber.

Latex allergy comes in two different forms. Delayed hypersensitivity refers the development of a rash that following the use of gloves or touching products containing the allergen. Though your rash may be severe and uncomfortable, it is nothing to worry about. You should consult your doctor and to get help for the rash and any anti-bacterial medication needed to keep the rash from getting infected. The second type of allergy is much serious. The initial reaction is called anaphylaxis. This results in a lowering of the blood pressure, difficulty breathing, and potentially even death. Many patients with the second type are also affected by severe hay fever.

You can be tested for latex allergy by your doctor. He or she will usually conduct a blood test and skin test. Some people are highly prone to the severe, immediate reaction; therefore, it is important to conduct a blood test to determine the severity of an allergy. An immediate reaction can cause inability to breathe and eventually cause death by suffocation. If you are interested in being tested, you should contact your doctor to determine if you are at risk for immediate reaction or if you have a delayed hypersensitivity reaction.

Posted on July 16th, 2007 by Maximilian
Filed under: Latex Allergy | No Comments »

        Do you suffer from allergies? Do you dread spring and fall time because your allergies flare up. Tired of the sneezing, coughing, runny nose and watery eyes? Do you dread having to take allergy medications because of their side effects?
Modern medicine has made many advances of the years in treating allergy symptoms. Unfortunately, the cure comes with some unpleasant side effects. Antihistamines tend to make you drowsy and groggy. Many decongestants will lead to a dry mouth and a rise in blood pressure.
Are there any natural herbs that will help treat the symptoms of allergies without all of the unpleasant side effects? The good news is that you can find many natural herbs for allergies that will offer relief from your symptoms the holistic way. Many natural herbs for allergies will actually help to prevent the symptoms rather than treating them once they start. This can be an effective way of managing many of the seasonal allergies that a number of people suffer from.

What are histamines and antihistamines?
Antihistamines reduce the ability of the body to produce histamine. Histamine is the chemical produced by the antibodies in the body to fight off substances that the immune system has mistakenly identified as harmful. These substances are called allergens, and the histamines are produced to fight them. Histamines also create the allergy symptoms like runny nose, watery eyes and coughing, so when your body cannot produce as many, your symptoms are reduced as well.

Lifestyle Changes to Reduce Allergens
Before moving into the natural herbs for allergies, it is a good idea to try some lifestyle modifications that will reduce your exposure to known allergens. These modifications can include keeping windows closed and using air conditioning systems instead, especially at night when allergens tend to run rampant. It can also mean staying indoors as much as possible during the times of the year when your allergies appear to be at their worst. If these changes do not have the desired effect in reducing your allergy symptoms, it might be time to learn which natural herbs for allergies tend to work the most effectively.

Herbal Antihistamines
Stinging Nettle - This herb works very well as a natural antihistamine, without the drowsiness that comes from using many of the over-the-counter medicines that are available. Stinging nettle can be purchased in capsule form from many natural food and vitamin stores today.
Butterbur - Another herbal antihistamine, which is a harder herb to come by in the United States, but nevertheless effective as a natural means of treating allergies.
Quercetin - Is another good natural herb for allergies, and has the added benefit of acting as a natural antioxidant that can reduce the risk of some types of cancer.
Before taking a natural herb to treat your allergies, consult with your allergy doctor before taking anything. Some herbs can have side effects with other herbs. They can also have potentially dangerous interactive effects when taken with other over the counter and prescription medicines.

Posted on July 16th, 2007 by G.Harry
Filed under: Natural Therapies | No Comments »

Food allergies continue to get a lot of press. Many people wonder why it is getting so much attention. Statistics continue to show that food allergies are on the rise. As an example of that it can be noted that the number of children with peanut allergies doubled in a five-year period ending in 2002. This is significant because food allergy is the leading cause of anaphylaxis which can be fatal in some cases. Most of the press coverage focuses on the young victims of food allergy reactions.
Peanut allergies can be the worst type of allergies. Peanut oil can be found in many ingredients and under many circumstances. Tragically an incident that received a lot of coverage in the last few years was when a teenage girl died after kissing her boyfriend who had just eaten a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Her throw was swollen shut. This tragic type of event happens more commonly than you think.
The danger of food allergies is that the reaction of the sufferer can be quite varied. Some people might feel sick to their stomach after they eat something that they’re allergic to. While others may experience swelling in the face, the body and the lips. The swelling can affect the sufferer’s airways (anaphylaxis). Rashes and hives are also some common reactions.
What type of foods cause allergies?
*Milk/dairy *eggs *peanuts *wheat *fish *shellfish *sugar *yeast
Since food allergies can cause the extreme allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. Many sufferers end up in the emergency room. The key to avoiding those types of incidents is to make sure you do the most you can to educate yourself about possible food allergies that you or your family may be exposed to. Something as simple as an epinephrine pen can save your life.
If you have very young children you need to make sure to tell everyone that takes care of them of any food allergies your child may have. It is very common nowadays to have nut free childcare facilities. Not only should you make sure that you inform people about your own child you also need to be aware of any food policy that may be in effect to safeguard other children. Nut allergies like many of the food allergies can be tricky since not only are they found in the main food itself they can be used as ingredients in other foods. A sugar allergy and the yeast allergy are good examples of that. Keep in mind though that many people are confused by food intolerance and a natural food allergy. A true allergy involves the immune system.
So now that you know what the drama all about is up to you to make sure you get the most information you can regarding any issues that may come up for you and your family regarding food allergies. The best source is definitely your doctor though there is plenty of information available online to help you get started. If you suspect that you or a loved one are suffering from some sort of reaction to food schedule a visit with your doctor. They may also further direct you to an allergist.

Posted on July 16th, 2007 by Steven
Filed under: Food Allergies | No Comments »