Basics of Food Allergies

If you or someone you know has food allergies, it will be very important for you to learn the basics of food allergies. If you're going to be working in a profession with people eating foods, it will also be important to understand food allergy as well.

The first thing you need to understand is exactly what these types of allergies are. It's also important to understand the difference between food allergies and food intolerance. There are also many different types of symptoms that can come from food allergy.

Technically a person can be allergic to any food that exists but there are certain types which are more common than others. Peanuts, shellfish, tree nuts and dairy are common allergies to foods. Some babies and small children have allergies that they usually outgrow but adult food allergies are usually not outgrown.

There are two basic types of food allergy- hypersensitivity and food intolerance. Food intolerance is not as severe and is not technically the same as a full blown food allergy. Hypersensitivity from food allergy is an adverse reaction of the immune system and it is unrelated to any physical effect from the food.

The exposure to the allergic food releases histamines in the body which causes excess mucus secretion, muscle contraction and more. One way to test for food allergies is with skin testing done in an allergist clinic. There is no cure for allergies to food, however.

Allergic reactions to food can be fatal almost immediately after ingesting the allergic food. One of the most common of these allergies is peanuts. If emergency treatment is not provided right away, a person can easily die from this. The best course of treatment is to identify the allergen, the type of reaction it causes and then avoid that food or additive.