Know what causes Food Allergies

In today’s time it is impossible to picture a world without food allergies. Allergies associated Gluten, Peanuts, Milk, and Seafood are very common among people in developed countries. Statistical data suggests in USA, 1 in 13 children are allergic to the foods from the Big 8. Not only children, even adults are prone to suffer food allergies. People may tend to develop allergies to foods which they have been consuming for years. So it is really difficult to identify and validate, which food or substance may cause allergic reaction.

Food allergies are caused when our immune system react to certain food by triggering an immune response; for example, in case of milk allergy the immune system recognizes the protein casein and reacts to it. These allergic reactions may range from mild allergies like coughing, hives to life threatening like difficulty in breathing, anaphylaxis.

Perhaps, early allergies can be controlled, but if you happen to be in the later stages it can turn out to be dreadful. Literature states that allergies are not always genetic, also could be due to environmental factors hence, may be observed in adults. Human diet consists of a spectrum of cuisines depending upon the location, Nutritional needs, culture and history; out of which barely few are the frequent cause of allergies. Based on geographical location the frequency and occurrence of allergies may differ among infants and adults.

Infamous Big 8 list that consists of –

1. Milk
2. Soy
3. Wheat
4. Peanut
5. Eggs
6. Tree Nut
7. Shellfish
8. Fish

I reckon, due to the change in lifestyle and dependence on synthetic and processed food intake, we tend to lose our dear gut bacteria. Gut bacteria enables smooth functioning of the human body, and keeps us away from allergic reactions and dreadful diseases. The use of antibiotics and vaccines are one of the reason that decrease the population of gut bacteria. We need microbes in our body, the good microbes (Remember they are our friends).

Allergies are ubiquitous, so the best way to prevent them is try all sorts of Food, learn which food causes uneasiness on consumption. Visit your allergen specialist, you could probably take the Skin Prick Test. For infants, feed them foods like peanuts, wheat, eggs since early ages. So that their gut and immune system may develop to consume these foods.