Food allergy, food intolerance and food sensitivity - it's not the same thing. The similarity between the two, of course. Food allergy, intolerance and sensitivity as the three sisters from bad families: all bad character, but it manifests itself in different ways.
Food allergy - a reaction of the body's immune system to a particular product. In the mild form accompanied by itching or a rash. Symptoms of acute allergies - anaphylaxis - are a threat to life. For example, in anaphylactic shock can swell the larynx or tongue, making it difficult breathing and lead to hypoxia.
Food intolerance means that in the body lack the enzyme required for the absorption of some food. Surely you have heard about lactose intolerance or glutenCausing digestive problems, bloating and abdominal pain, diarrhea. For all the unpleasant symptoms of food intolerance are not capable of causing rapidly developing anaphylaxis, but in the long term, it weakens the small intestine and interfere with the absorption of useful substances.
Food sensitivity - a special category of the body's reaction to food. Appears, for example, severe headaches with overeating chocolate or acid reflux (outflow of stomach acid into the esophagus), provoked spicy food.
Food allergy, intolerance and sensitivity are united by one thing - to be alerted. Enough to stay away from the problem or unknown ingredients you not to know trouble.
Myths about food allergy
Do not panic if you are faced with food allergies for the first time. The main thing - to get rid of the most common misconceptions. The most famous myths dispel professional nutritionist Company BODYCAMPThat nine years of personal nutrition program in view of allergic reactions.
Natalia Nefedova
Dietitian, psychologist, author of scientific papers. Education: Department of Dietetics and Nutrition at McGill University, Canada.
Myth 1. Blood sampling - the most accurate test for allergens
The gold standard for detection of allergy is a double-blind food provocation test (SPT), in which neither the doctor nor the patient know what the allergen tested.
Myth 2. Food allergies in children - is forever
There is no specific age when children outgrow food allergies. It may be 12 months after the birth and five years, and sometimes symptoms last until adolescence. The main thing - to understand the cause of the allergy. And it is a very clean or very dirty environments. For example, during the period of gestation, the immune system of a newborn baby is sterile, it has not been touched by any single antigen, therefore, is seen by many as a hostile agent. In this case it is necessary to wait until the body gets used.
Myth 3. Seafood only cause a severe allergic reaction
The most frequent and most severe reaction is a protein! It may be, for example, nuts, eggs, cow's milk. Also, when we do not know the source of the allergy, in addition to eggs, milk and butter, we immediately exclude from the diet of wheat.
Myth 4. Colorants and flavoring agents harmless
Artificial coloring and flavoring agents also cause allergies. However, scientific studies that tried to determine the presence of allergic reactions to sulfites, monosodium glutamate, azo dyes, sorbates, benzoates, butylhydroxyanisole and butylhydroxytoluene, showed that only sulphites may trigger asthma attacks and anaphylactic shock. Although isolated cases of such a reaction were also seen on the nitrate and carmine. A cream with the content of acetylsalicylic acid may cause a rash.
Remember that many dietary supplements have not been extensive testing, especially in humans, and therefore, we do not know what effect they may have not only on adults but also on the child's body. But one thing for sure is clear: Compared with adults, children, especially pre-school age, do not have good developed biological mechanisms that help at the right time to get rid of unwanted substances. And if a certain dose for an adult may be harmless allergen, then the child can be toxic. So my advice is this: dear parents, take care not to spoil their crumbs of food with lots of additives. themselves do fruit sweets!
How to avoid food allergies
As already mentioned, a reasonable relationship to the unfamiliar food - the only perfect prevention. Be especially careful on vacation in catering establishments. Of course, no one wants to eat potatoes when the menu has fish and seafood, which is usually so lacking in the diet.
But it is better not to risk away from home. Take the time to learn what ingredients contain these or other dishes to make your holiday turning into ordeal far away from their native land.