Did you hear about Food Allergy
What is Food Allergy?
An allergy is an oversensitivity or abnormal response of the body’s immune system to exposure to certain substances that may otherwise be harmless. These substances, called allergens, may include food, drugs, pollen, dust, microorganisms, insect venom, mites, or other causes.
Exposure to these substances through ingestion, inhalation, or bodily contact alters the body’s response and results in specific symptoms.
What Causes Food Allergy
Food allergy is an adverse immune response to food intake, particularly to protein, the most common allergenic component. This type of allergy occurs when the body’s immune system mistakenly identifies a protein as harmful. Some proteins or protein fragments are resistant to digestion and do not break down during digestion. They are labeled with the antibody immunoglobulin E (IgE).
This label tricks the immune system into believing that the protein is harmful. The immune system, thinking that the individual is under attack, triggers an allergic reaction ranging from mild to severe.
Symptoms of Food Allergy
Mast cell allergy is characterized by excessive activation of specific white blood cells called mast cells and basophils by the Immunoglobulin E (IgE), resulting in an extreme inflammation response. The initial symptoms of food allergy are often.
- Sneezing
- Running
- Nose Itching
- Burning Swelling around the mouth
- Dermatitis Rashes
- Difficulty in breathing
- Slightly severe allergic reactions include eczema, hives, and hay fever.
Due to no awareness, many people consider food intolerance a food allergy.
Causes of Allergic Response
In several cases, allergic responses may cause gastrointestinal and respiratory distresses, requiring immediate emergency intervention. In some people, severe allergies to environmental or dietary allergens or medication result in life-threatening hypersensitivity reactions that may be fatal. The occurrence of IgE antibodies plays an essential role in this regard.
What is IgE?
In a true food allergy, the body’s immune system incorrectly identifies a particular food or a substance in the food as harmful. As a result, the immune system triggers the cells to release IgE antibodies to fight the invader or allergen.
The next time when even a minute quantity of the same food is eaten, the IgE antibodies sense it and signal the immune system to release into the bloodstream histamine as well as other chemicals. These chemicals cause a range of allergic signs and symptoms.
Existence of Histamine
Histamine, found in virtually all animal body cells, is an organic nitrogen compound involved in local immune responses, regulating physiological function in the gut, and acting as a neurotransmitter. It increases the permeability of the capillaries to white blood cells and other proteins to allow them to engage the “intruders” in the infected tissues.
Effects of temperature on Food Allergy
An allergic reaction to food can be caused by eating a specific food and then exercising. When you exercise, your body temperature rises and starts to itch, causing an allergic reaction. It is pretty standard among teenagers and young adults.
Prevention of Anaphylaxis
This type of allergy can prevent Anaphylaxis by not eating for at least 2 hours before exercising.
Food allergy is an overreaction of the body’s immune system to a specific food ingredient, usually a protein. Allergens, or allergens, cause an allergic reaction in the body. Almost everyone is allergic to something. However, not everyone reacts the same way. The most common animal products are
- Eggs, milk, fish, and other seafood.
- Fruits and Vegetables (many people are allergic to garlic, tomatoes, cucumbers, white potatoes, and bananas)
- Grains (many people are allergic to rye, wheat, and oats), gluten, mustard, soybeans, tree nuts, peanut, and sesame seeds.
- Food additives (benzoate, salicylate, monosodium glutamate, and sulfite derivatives) also cause allergic reactions.
What is Egg Allergy?
Egg allergy is an intolerance to egg yolk or egg whites components, including nearly four types of protein that the immune system attains. Egg Yolk Proteins Egg Yolk Antigens Egg yolks contain several potential antigens, such as libetin, amoxicillin, and Boston.
What is Peanut Allergy?
Peanut allergy occurs within minutes of eating. The most common peanut allergens are 7S seed storage globulin, 11S seed storage globulin, and 2S albumin.
What is Milk Allergy?
There are two types of proteins in milk that can cause allergic reactions. Casein Whey Protein Banana contains the protein chitinase, which can cause allergic reactions.
Soy Allergy
Soy allergy is common in Western countries, especially in children. Common soybean allergens are 7S seed storage globulin, 11S seed storage globulin, and an inactive thiol protease related to papain.
Prevention of Food Allergy
People with food allergies should avoid eating certain foods. Some medicines can prevent, minimize, or treat allergic reactions to proteins.
Diagnosis of Food Allergy
There are several methods for diagnosing allergic reactions to foods and other substances. Two standard diagnostic tests for allergens are the skin prick and blood tests.
Skin Prick Test for Food Allergy
This test is simple and provides results in minutes. In addition, allergies can determine by the reaction of a person’s skin to various substances. In this test, a small amount of the suspected allergen going to inject into the top layer of the skin. Allergies to specific allergens appear as swelling and redness at the injection site within minutes.
Sources
healthline.com/nutrition/common-food-intolerances
healthline.com/nutrition/foods/milk
ealthline.com/nutrition/foods/peanuts
healthline.com/health/anaphylaxis
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