All About Allergies.

(From Indian Express)

WHILE food is not the only substance one can be allergic to (there are pollen allergies, drug allergies, sting allergies), it is certainly the commonest trigger, and the one most easily avoided. The bad news is that there is no cure for allergies. The only way to avoid an allergic reaction is to avoid the substance one is allergic to. What is food allergy?Food allergy is basically a hypersensitive response of the immune system to a particular food. The immune system mistakenly considers a food to be harmful and creates specific antibodies that react to it. The next time the individual consumes that food, the immune system releases massive amounts of chemicals, including histamines, to protect the body. These chemicals affect the respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract or skin. What are food allergens?Food allergens are proteins that are not broken down by the heat of cooking or by stomach acids or digestive enzymes. They survive to enter the bloodstream, and go to the target organs, causing allergic reactions. What are the most common food triggers? Adults react most commonly to shellfish, nuts (especially peanuts and walnuts), soya, fish, eggs, dairy products, red wine, avocados and bananas. Children react to many of the same things and, additionally, to wheat. What are the symptoms of ...