More than a third of the world's population suffers from various allergic manifestations. The main reason for the development of such symptoms are allergenic foods. The food that we consume daily contains thousands of not always useful additives. For this we pay with all sorts of skin rashes, swelling, asthmatic attacks and other undesirable manifestations.
What is an allergy
An inadequate reaction of the body to the introduction of any allergen, characterized by internal or external symptoms with the involvement of the immune system in the pathological process, is considered an allergy. Usually such phenomena occur inside the human body. External manifestations are only warning symptoms, which, however, cause considerable concern.
The reaction of the body to the use of any substance from the list of allergenic products is manifested in the form of the production of antibodies by the immune system. When interacting with a stimulus,release of histamine and serotonin into the circulatory system. It is these biologically active substances that provoke spasms in the bronchi, intestines and other organs. These same components increase the permeability of blood vessels and provoke the development of inflammatory reactions on the skin, mucous membranes and internal organs.
What might cause a reaction
Allergenic foods can be any components of the diet, however, simultaneous reactions to all foods almost never happen at once. Most often, 1 or 2 products become the culprits of unwanted symptoms, less often there are allergies to several products. It is not always possible to quickly identify the allergen.
If a person has a food allergy, it is important to follow a hypoallergenic diet. All foods included in the list of allergenic foods are divided into different categories depending on the degree of impact on the body.
Highly allergenic food is considered to consist of protein compounds. This includes some berries, fruits, dried fruits, nuts, and honey. An undesirable reaction of the body can be provoked by spicy, canned and pickled foods, sweet juices, carbonated and alcoholic drinks.
Moderately allergenic foods include cereals (excluding gluten allergy) and dairy products (excluding lactose allergy).
violations of the production of enzymes. They help increase permeability to large molecules, which are considered products of incomplete protein breakdown.
Protein food
Allergies are most often caused by proteins of animal and vegetable origin, rarely by certain carbohydrate compounds. These allergenic foods include seafood, milk, meat, eggs, certain grains, fruits, vegetables, honey, and nuts.
Highly allergenic proteins are considered to be contained in fish, especially marine, as well as any crustacean seafood: shrimp, oysters, lobsters, squid and other inhabitants of the underwater depths. In addition, they contain a lot of the amino acid histidine.
Milk allergy is common in children and adults. This product contains about 4% protein compounds, most of which are casein and globulins. However, when heated, the globulin is destroyed, and the allergenic properties of the product are somewhat reduced.
In the egg, less allergenic activity is found in the yolks. However, if the patient has an intolerance to chicken eggs, then most likely it accompanies an allergy to chicken meat. In general, of all varieties of animal meat, pork, goose and duck are considered the most allergenic.
Carbohydrate compounds
If we consider adverse reactions to vegetables and fruits, then the main allergen is any kind of citrus. Oranges and tangerines will be especially dangerous in this regard.
Leadersthe list of allergenic foods for children and adults often become strawberries, wild strawberries, raspberries, black currants.
Ordinary vegetables can also become powerful allergens: carrots, tomatoes, beets, celery. Potatoes, cabbage and cucumbers have a lesser sensitizing effect. It must be remembered that the allergenic properties of such products are reduced when they are cooked.
If we consider cereals, then the most allergenic of them are oats, rye and wheat. Accordingly, dishes prepared from these grains also have a high and active intolerance. Rice, millet, corn, buckwheat, barley will be less safe in this regard.
Quite strong allergens are nuts and cocoa beans, and, therefore, they can provoke an allergy to sweets and coffee.
Allergies
There are many forms and varieties of allergic reactions, which means that the symptoms of this disease can be different. It is easy to confuse the symptoms of an allergy with the symptoms of certain diseases.
Patients and doctors who deal with its manifestations every day know firsthand how food allergies manifest themselves. All kinds of dermatoses, rhinoconjunctivitis, enteropathic manifestations, asthma attacks - these and many other non-specific symptoms are the main indicators of the disease.
However, signs of an unwanted illness are easily confused with other diseases that have similar symptoms.
Signs of a food allergy
The aggressive reaction of the body to certain foods is the powerful production of histamines. Usually, the patient knows about the presence of hypersensitivity to certain products from early childhood, since it is then that the first allergic manifestations develop. Intolerance can be external and internal, often requiring emergency medical attention.
Most often, allergy symptoms appear within four to five hours after eating the allergenic product. However, in severe pathology, only the smell or touch of an intolerable product is enough to start the reaction.
The initial symptoms of a food allergy are most often swelling of the face and extremities, itching, discomfort in the abdomen, redness and rashes on the skin. Sometimes allergic rhinitis and tearing occurs.
From what occurs in babies
The main causes of food allergies in infants are short-term breastfeeding and early or inadequately initiated first complementary foods. Very often, the development of intolerance contributes to a genetic predisposition or maternal malnutrition during breastfeeding.
Wrongly selected milk formulas and fermented milk products often cause a negative response of the immune system and contribute to milk allergy. Another factor causing the development of such a pathology is the excessive volume of the first complementary foods. At the initial stages, it is necessary to gradually introduce newfor the baby products, and they should be given in small doses. Here it is important to control the reaction of the baby's body, and if any allergic symptoms occur to a certain product, immediately remove it from the menu and contact the pediatrician.
Allergy to sweets
Typical forms of allergic reactions to chocolate, candy and other confectionery products usually present the same symptoms as most other food reactions. Therefore, in order to identify the true culprit of the allergy, it is necessary to undergo a special examination.
Anaphylactic shock
Life-threatening manifestations are considered in the form of swelling of the respiratory tract and the central nervous system. Similar allergic reactions can occur after the use of any ingredients included in the list of allergenic products for a particular patient. They usually develop rapidly and occur in a period of time from a few seconds to four hours.
Most often cause such an aggressive reaction of the body food or drugs. Threatening symptoms of anaphylactic shock are recognized by signs such as:
- the occurrence of severe shortness of breath;
- lower blood pressure;
- stuffiness in the ears;
- convulsive states;
- unexpected rashes all over the body, rapid redness or pallor of the skin;
- loss of consciousness;
- uncontrolled bowel movements and urination;
- vomit.
Allergy can manifest itself in such formsfor milk, seafood or exotic food.
What to do
If symptoms develop rapidly, take an antihistamine and seek immediate medical attention. If anaphylactic shock has occurred, in no case should you hesitate, otherwise it will lead to death.
He alth food
An allergen that enters the body contributes to the violation of its absorption and provokes an increase in the absorption of other allergenic molecules. This phenomenon exacerbates the undesirable process even more, so the main goal in nutrition is to prevent the allergen from entering the body.
What foods are considered allergenic for a patient, a person most often knows from childhood. However, if the food allergy started unexpectedly, an elimination diet should be followed. This approach implies the complete elimination of any allergens from the diet. A full daily menu can only be selected by a doctor.
It has been proven that many patients completely got rid of allergic symptoms due to conscientious observance of all doctor's prescriptions. If allergenic foods are completely excluded from the diet, then the body will be able to defeat the disease in 1-2 years.
