Understanding food allergies

Over the last few decades, the subject of food allergies seems to be echoing everywhere. More and more people are suffering from food allergies, and many are wondering whether they have a food allergy or a food intolerance.

Demystify food allergies with our advice.

Food allergy symptoms

Allergy is triggered when the body identifies a protein as potentially dangerous. In an attempt to attack this protein, an inflammatory reaction takes place, leading to allergic symptoms.

This immune response is innate and very useful when the body has to fight a foreign organism, such as a virus. However, in the case of a food allergy, the immune system misinterprets a food-related danger.

So, when the immune system attacks a food protein, allergic symptoms may emerge, such as..:

• Itching, hives, swollen lips or reddening of the skin;
• Breathing difficulties and/or a feeling of suffocation;
• Digestive disorders, including nausea and vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea and gastric reflux;
• In more severe cases, the allergic reaction may cause paleness, dizziness, loss of blood pressure or fainting.

Only in cases of anaphylactic shock is food allergy life-threatening. This shock is caused by an anaphylactic reaction, a type of severe allergic reaction that leads to serious symptoms, including respiratory and cardiovascular problems.

In children and infants, the allergic reaction is more often accompanied by :

• projectile vomiting
• Abdominal colic
• Liquid stools with or without traces of blood
• Severe eczema
• Acute diaper rash

Main culprits of food allergies

Any food can trigger an allergic reaction if the body decides to attack one of its proteins. The first allergic reactions generally appear before the age of 4. In Canada, the most prevalent food allergies are to¹ :

• Peanuts
• Nuts
• Dairy products
• Eggs
• Fish
• Seafood
• Soya
• Wheat/gluten
• Sesame

It's possible to react to several foods in the same family as a result of a cross-allergy. This type of reaction emerges when the body attacks similar proteins. For example, allergy to cow's milk can lead to cross-allergy to goat's milk, due to the similarity of the proteins.².

Food allergy or intolerance?

It's sometimes difficult to distinguish between a food allergy and a food intolerance. In fact, both forms of reaction cause similar symptoms.

What we do know, however, is that an allergic reaction is triggered rapidly after ingestion of a food, from a few minutes to a maximum of two hours after ingestion.

In the case of intolerance, the reaction is delayed, starting 4 to 72 hours after ingestion. This delay complicates the diagnosis of food intolerance, which is why it's advisable to keep a detailed food diary in case of suspicion.

Skin or laboratory tests are good ways of distinguishing allergy from intolerance, and can clear up any doubts.

In both cases, there seems to be an increase in the number of cases reported. Several hypotheses have been put forward on the subject, but the most plausible is that the Western diet is pro-inflammatory, making the immune system more likely to react to food.^3,4

Preventing food allergies

A great deal of research is currently underway in the field of food allergies. For now, researchers believe that the mother holds many keys to prevention.

In fact, to reduce the incidence of food allergies, babies should be exposed to omega-3 during pregnancy. They should not come into contact with second-hand smoke, and should ideally be exclusively breastfed until 6 months of age.

By supporting pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, as well as young children, in a diet rich in natural sources of omega-3 fatty acids, we can help to ensure a healthy, balanced diet. of omega 3especially fatty fish, hemp hearts, chia seedsavocados and seaweedcan help reduce the rate of food allergies.³

Living with a food allergy

The daily life of a person with a food allergy is more complicated than that of a person without food allergies. In addition to having to constantly monitor nutrition labels, warn family and friends and ask questions in food establishments, you also need to be informed about allergen-free brands.

La Boite à Grains is proud to offer you products with little or no allergens.

Discover our MegaFoodnatural, allergen-free supplements made with 100% whole foods. MegaFood designs products with clinically proven results and offers impeccable control over ingredient quality and allergen monitoring.

If you have food allergies, MegaFood is the supplement brand for you!

About the author

Naturopaths of La Boite à Grains

Team of licensed and certified naturopaths (ND) in Gatineau, Outaouais.

Original article written by Véronique Cousineau, Naturopath

Sources

1 : Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Food Labelling - Food Allergens, CFIA.

2 : Quebec Allergy Association

3 : Dunstan JA, Prescott SL. Does fish oil supplementation in pregnancy reduce the risk of allergic disease in infants?Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2005 Jun;5(3):215-21. Review.

4 : Food allergy among children in the United States. Branum AM, Lukacs SL. Pediatrics. 2009 Dec;124(6):1549-55. Epub 2009 Nov 16.