Food allergies are severe illness and cause reactions depending on the severity of the food allergy. The major allergenic foods are wheat, nuts, eggs, soy, cow’s milk, fish and sesame seeds.

Data suggests that more than 50 million people in America have an allergy. Food allergies are estimated to affect 4% to 6% of children and 4% of adults. The seven allergenic foods are wheat, nuts, fish, eggs, soy, cow’s milk, and sesame seeds. Together they makeup around 90% of all food allergies and vary from mild to severe.  A food allergy affects the sufferer’s immune system, and intolerance is an adverse reaction to a food allergy. Both are an indication of sensitivity to food. A food allergy can be life threatening at times.  Therefore, it is important that everyone with a food allergy should practice a high level of food safety. Be careful while preparing food; make sure you know what each ingredient is made up of and ignoring those that triggers your allergy should be avoided. It is vital so that you do not become ill. However, allergy medicine is available to treat severe conditions. You can get the best medications for skin allergy online at the best price.

Common Food Allergies

Here are the seven foods that account for about 90% of all reactions:

  • Wheat & Gluten- Wheat comprises of gluten, a protein which causes allergy in people who have coeliac disease. In many cases, an individual suffering from the coeliac disease can tolerate rice but not the other wheat-related grains such as rye, oats, and barley. The disease can’t be cured, but those who are suffering from it are recommended not to eat foods that contain gluten. If a person is allergic to gluten and eats gluten by mistake, he/she can experience various symptoms ranging from mild to life-threatening, and these include mouth ulcers, muscle pains, skin irritations, diarrhea, cramping, bloating, inflammation in the abdomen which is often painful.
  • Cow’s milk- Allergy to cow milk is one of the most commonly reported food allergies worldwide, and according to studies, it is the highest cause of food allergy in infants. It has estimated that an allergy to milk affects more children than adults and it disappears after a child reaches six years of age. People who suffer from cow milk’s allergy are likely to get affected with the presence of lactose or the proteins, though in some cases both. An allergy to milk can cause the sufferer to find difficulty gaining weight or height. The symptoms of an allergy include skin irritations, diarrhea, anaphylaxis, a runny nose, abdominal pain, and vomiting.
  • Fish- Fish allergies are more common in people who eat large amounts of seafood, and they primarily affect adolescents and adults.  Symptoms of an allergy to fish depends on the type of fish ingested. The common symptoms include breathing difficulties, skin irritations, vomiting, diarrhea, a severe drop in blood pressure, swelling of the throat mouth, or nose. People who are allergic to fish can also be allergic to shellfish.
  • Nuts- Nuts are one of the common food allergies worldwide. Nuts including chestnuts, brazil nuts, pine nuts, hazelnuts, pistachios, and walnuts cause an allergic reaction on consumption of those who are allergic to any of these nuts. The tree nut family including cashews, almonds, peanuts, coconut, and pecans are also considered allergic. Nut allergies are commonly found in children and cause symptoms like litchi mouth, shortness of breath, skin irritations, abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting.
  • Eggs– Eggs are found in many meals but, it is essential to know that they are also responsible for a range of allergic reactions. An allergy to egg mainly affects children and disappear after the child’s first six years. An allergic reaction to egg occurs in the digestive system.
  • Soya- An allergy to soy can be uncomfortable and life-threatening. In severe cases, an allergy to soy is more likely to cause an individual to suffer from asthma. The symptoms of soy allergy include tingling in the mouth, skin redness, nausea, vomiting, skin irritations, breathing difficulty, swelling of the lips, tongue, face, or throat.
  • Sesame seeds- An allergy to sesame seeds are most often a lifelong allergy. It is difficult to control the allergy as the food label does not always say sesame seeds. People suffering from sesame seed allergy should exercise caution while choosing a food item from the grocery shop.

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