When following a healthy eating diet plan and preparing healthy eating recipes, it’s good to know what to look out for if you or others you know have food allergies or intolerances.
A severe food allergy differs from a food intolerance. A food allergy is the most common cause of anaphylaxis, where allergic symptoms can affect several areas of the body and may threaten breathing and blood circulation. A food allergy is an immune system reaction to a food, whereas a food intolerance is the inability to digest a food, causing bloating and other digestive issues.
Food allergies occur in around 1 in 20 children and in about 1 in 100 adults in NSW alone. That’s approximately 65,000 children and 96,000 adults. In fact, Australia has one of the highest allergy prevalence rates in the world and it tends to run in families. Food intolerance is even more common. Surveys indicate that up to 25 percent of the population believe they have some sort of food intolerance.
The most common foods which cause the most severe allergic reactions come from peanuts and other nuts, seafood, milk (dairy), eggs, wheat/gluten and soybeans. These foods may be hidden in a variety of supermarket goodies such as Condiments, Jams, Spreads, Sweets, Confectionery, Desserts, Biscuits, Bars, Snacks, Crisps and other takeaway foods.
What to look out for?
Anaphylaxis is highly likely to be occurring when any ONE of the following happens within minutes to hours after ingestion of the food allergen:
A person has symptoms that involve the skin, nose, mouth or gastrointestinal tract and either:
- Difficulty breathing, or
- Reduced blood pressure (e.g., pale, weak pulse, confusion, loss of consciousness)
A person was exposed to a suspected allergen, and two or more of the following occur:
- Skin symptoms or swollen lips
- Difficulty breathing
- Reduced blood pressure
- Gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g., vomiting, diarrhea, or cramping)
A person was exposed to a known allergen, and experiences:
- Reduced blood pressure, leading to weakness or fainting
Checking labels religiously and being extra careful when eating out can immensely reduce the risk of a food allergy episode, so be extra vigilant when it comes to the most common allergens to stay safe. For more information about food allergies, take a look at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Elimination Diet.
Written by Elisha Danine, Natural Medicine Practitioner (Adv. Dip. Nutr. Med).
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