Avoiding Foods that Cause Summer Allergies

What is a food allergy?
A food allergy is an exaggerated immune response triggered by eggs, peanuts, milk, or some other foods.

Food allergies normally start during childhood, but it can began at any age.

Common foods that people are allergic to:
Milk
Eggs
Peanuts
Soy
Wheat
Tree nuts (such as walnuts and cashews)
Fish
Shellfish (such as Shrimp)

Milk allergy is caused by a reaction to allergens in the cows milk, such as casein and whey. Casein is the curd that forms when milk sours, and whey is the watery part that's left when the curd is taken out. That is why it's better to buy pasteurized milk, because the milk is heat treated. The heat treatment make it better for some people who are allergic, but not all people.

Eggs allergy is caused by three proteins in the egg whites called ovomucoid, ovalbumin and conalbumin. I know you thinking just cook the egg, but cooking the egg doesn't destroy all the allergens.

Peanut allergy is the most common cause of food allergens. Some people only need to smell the peanuts in the air and they will have a reaction. Once again cooking doesn't destroy the allergens.

Soy allergy is some what like milk allergy. Soy is used in about two - thirds of food products such as bake goods, sweets, drinks, breakfast cereals, ice cream, margarine, pasta, processed meats and seasoned foods. Soya is even found in vegetable oil. People with soya allergy will also have a reaction to foods like peanuts, green peas, chickpeas, rye and barley flour.

Wheat allergy is another common allergy. Wheat has a protein called gliadin which is found in gluten, and gliadin is one of the main allergens.

Tree nuts allergy is an allergy to nuts from trees which is usually lifelong. The nuts that cause allergic reactions are walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, pecans, Brazil nuts, pine nuts, macadamia nuts and cashew nuts.

Fish allergy can often be severe. Some fish that cause allergic reactions are: cod, hake, haddock., mackerel, and whiting as well. Cooking the fish doesn't destroy fish allergens.

Fruits and vegetable allergy is a reaction to uncooked fruits and vegetables. The allergy affects the mouth, causing itching or a rash around the mouth. Cooking the food in this case will destroy a number of allergens in the fruits and vegetables.

Shell fish allergy can be a severe allergy. Shell fish allergy can cause you to swell up and possibly die if left untreated.

If you have a reaction to anything you've eaten seek help.

www.fda.gov