| Food allergies affect approximately 4 million | | | | Food allergies are so serious in some people that |
| Americans with symptoms that can include | | | | even smelling the food can trigger an allergic |
| difficulty breathing, an outbreak of hives, asthma, | | | | reaction. However, food allergies mostly become |
| vomiting, and even death. Oftentimes food | | | | an issue after a person has eaten a food to |
| allergies are confused with an inability to tolerate | | | | which he or she is allergic. Symptoms can begin |
| certain foods. Food intolerance usually brings about | | | | right at the point of entry with lips that begin to |
| an entirely different set of symptoms including a | | | | tingle or a tongue that begins to itch. |
| bloated feeling, gas, or other similar type of | | | | Gastrointestinal trouble follows with cramping, or |
| discomfort. | | | | the need to vomit, or the development of |
| Food Allergies or Food Intolerance | | | | diarrhea. As the troublesome food breaks down |
| An easy way to distinguish food allergies from | | | | and enters the bloodstream, it travels towards |
| food intolerances is to understand that an allergic | | | | the lungs and at that point conditions such as |
| reaction actually originates in a persons immune | | | | asthma, eczema, shortness of breath, or low |
| system. A severe allergic reaction can result in | | | | blood pressure can all develop. |
| suffocation when the throat or the tongue swells | | | | Dealing with Food Allergies |
| so much that a person cannot breathe. Given the | | | | To protect themselves, people with known |
| fact that approximately 150 people in the United | | | | allergies to food simply have to avoid coming into |
| States die each year from food allergies, this | | | | contact with these foods. That sounds easy |
| condition is no laughing matter. | | | | enough, however the reality is that it is not |
| Individuals with known food allergies usually inherit | | | | always possible to avoid the foods that cause |
| this condition from another member of the family. | | | | problems. Processed foods can contain so many |
| When food allergy patients are studied, it is | | | | ingredients that sometimes the food culprit is |
| common to see that conditions such as eczema, | | | | buried deep in the fine print. Legislation aimed at |
| hay fever, and asthma affect other family | | | | improving food labeling as it pertains to food |
| members. | | | | allergies has recently been enacted and hopefully |
| Foods That Cause Allergies | | | | these new labeling requirements will better protect |
| A few different kinds of foods seem to trigger | | | | those with food allergies. |
| the most allergic reactions. And it seems that | | | | Keeping children away from food allergens is |
| adults and children each have a different set of | | | | difficult unless a parent is vigilant about what goes |
| foods that cause problems. The majority of food | | | | into the childs mouth. Parents of children with food |
| allergy cases in children involve peanuts, milk, | | | | allergies must inform everyone from school |
| eggs, soy and wheat. In adults, the foods most | | | | officials to neighbors about the childs food allergies |
| involved with allergies include shellfish (such as | | | | and even then, accidents happen. Fortunately for |
| shrimp, crab and lobster), peanuts, walnuts, eggs, | | | | children with food allergies, most will outgrow this |
| other fish and nuts that grow in trees. | | | | condition. |