Top Food Allergens You Need to Know.

Top food allergens you need to know are hereby highlighted for you in case you want to be careful of the kinds of food to eat and the kinds to avoid. In the world, there are people who are quickly prone to the antigens produced by certain consumables in the body. Many of these antigens may or may not be dangerous and as so they easily cause negative or positive reactions. However, any of these occurrences cannot be necessarily a general problem which should disturb. Rather, they should serve only as awareness of their possibilities.

According to general understanding of allergens, it is a type of antigen that produces an abnormally vigorous immune response in which the immune system fights off a perceived threat that would otherwise be harmless to the body. Such reactions are called allergies.

Allergies are ordinary reactions which some atopic humans have against certain types of food. As explained above, these allergies are not importantly negative reactions or responses. They are sometimes simply normal responses which the human system of some body make to inform the immune system about the possible corrections that can be made.

Top Food Allergens You Need to Know.

Even though there are several examples of food allergens you need to know, it becomes important that you have knowledge of the popular eight. Food allergens are experientially understood to be eight and this is because they are the common types of food that most human body systems, after they are consumed, react over. The eight examples of the food allergens which the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 (FALCPA) identifies as the eight top food allergens you need to know are recognized below:
1. Milk

As one of the top food allergens you need to know, milk can cause adverse immune reaction through one or more proteins in cow’s milk. Among the possible symptoms is anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening condition that requires treatment with epinephrine, among other measures. However, symptoms may take hours to days to manifest, with symptoms including atopic dermatitis, inflammation of the esophagus, enteropathy involving the small intestine and proctocolitis involving the rectum and colon

2. Eggs

Eggs are an immune hypersensitivity to proteins found in chicken eggs, and possibly goose, duck, or turkey eggs. It is one of the top food allergens you need to know. Its symptoms can be either rapid or gradual in onset. The latter can take hours to days to appear. The former may include anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening condition which requires treatment with epinephrine. Other presentations may include atopic dermatitis or inflammation of the esophagus.

3. Fish (e.g., bass, flounder, cod)

Many species of fish are caught by humans and consumed as food in virtually all regions around the world. Fish has been an important dietary source of protein and other nutrients throughout human history. However, the consumption of this kind of food causes reactions such as itchiness, swelling of the tongue, vomiting, diarrhea, hives, trouble breathing, or low blood pressure. This typically occurs within minutes to several hours of exposure. When the symptoms are severe, it is known as anaphylaxis.

4. Crustacean shellfish (e.g., crab, lobster, shrimp)

The reactions in this is the same as in the reactions that could be inspired by the consumption of fish above.

5. Tree nuts (e.g., almonds, walnuts, pecans)

The tree nuts type of food allergen causes the tree nut allergy is a hypersensitivity to dietary substances from tree nuts and edible tree seeds causing an overreaction of the immune system which may lead to severe physical symptoms. Tree nuts include, but are not limited to, almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, chestnuts, filberts/hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pecans, pistachios, shea nuts and walnuts.

6. Peanuts

This one of the top food allergens you need to know is a type of food allergy to peanuts that is different from tree nut allergies, because peanuts are legumes and not true nuts. Physical symptoms of allergic reaction can include itchiness, hives, swelling, eczema, sneezing, asthma attack, abdominal pain, drop in blood pressure, diarrhea, and cardiac arrest. Anaphylaxis may occur. Those with a history of asthma are more likely to be severely affected.

7. Wheat

The consumption of wheat also causes an allergy to wheat which typically presents itself as a food allergy, but can also be a contact allergy resulting from occupational exposure. Like all allergies, wheat allergy involves immunoglobulin E and mast cell response. Typically the allergy is limited to the seed storage proteins of wheat. Some reactions are restricted to wheat proteins, while others can react across many varieties of seeds and other plant tissues. Wheat allergy is rare. Prevalence in adults was found to be 0.21% in a 2012 study in Japan and some other parts of the world.

8. Soybeans

Soy beans and Soy vegetable oil contain significant amounts of phytic acid, dietary minerals and B vitamins. It is the most important protein source for feed farm animals (that in turn yields animal protein for human consumption). This food causes an overreaction of the immune system, typically with physical symptoms, such as gastrointestinal discomfort, respiratory distress, or a skin reaction. Soy is among the eight top food allergens you need to know which induce allergic reactions in both children and adults.

It has a prevalence of about 0.3% in the general population. Soy allergy is usually treated with an exclusion diet and vigilant avoidance of foods that may contain soy ingredients.

Some of the Indications That Show You Have Taken Food Allergen

More easily, however, there are reactions by the body when allergenic foods are consumed. These reactions appear as indications that can easily be recognized in the general body system of the person who have eaten such examples of food allergens above:

  • Hives
  • Flushed skin or rash
  • Tingling or itchy sensation in the mouth
  • Face, tongue, or lip swelling
  • Vomiting and/or diarrhea
  • Abdominal cramps
  • Coughing or wheezing
  • Dizziness and/or lightheadedness
  • Swelling of the throat and vocal cords
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Loss of consciousness

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