What Causes Food Allergies?

There are a number of theories as to what causes food allergies. It seems there is a steady increase of them at all times. What causes food allergies? Throughout my years in the alternative health industry, I've encountered a number of the theories I spoke of above. They've run the gamut from too sanitary of an environment to exposure to too many foods with processed ingredients. Here's some food for thought on the subject -- and you shouldn't have any allergic reactions to it!

Avoidance of Specific Foods

Over the years I've often heard this theory thrown about. The idea is that avoiding certain types of foods, like peanuts and some of the other high allergen foods in younger years, and then becoming exposed to them later in life may pose a problem regarding food allergies. However, because there is no real way to measure that it remains a theory.

Too Sanitary

If you've become familiar with the food allergy issue at all, then it's probably likely that you've heard about the theory involving the environment being too sanitary . The idea here is that our immune systems are under developed as a result of not being exposed to the multitudes of bacteria that it otherwise would normally without all the sanitation. Then when expose ourselves to certain foods, we find ourselves sensitive.

Immune System Dysfunction

A few allergists that I've gone to for my own food allergies have made mention of the immune system dysfunction theory. As I understand this perspective, immune function is flawed and reacts to the substances in particular foods causing inflammation of portions of the digestive system. In my own case with gluten intolerance, I've actually seen the inside of my stomach with a reaction underway when I underwent a endoscope exam. The lining of my stomach had a typical rashy type of look. At that time I was eating pretty much anything including foods that contain gluten.

Food Genetics and Processing

Yet another theory I've often heard in my alternative health circles is the food modifications that are implemented on our grains, veggies and animals that provide us meat sources. That combined with the processing of such a vast amount of our food supplies. The additives to food leave our bodies with some pretty foreign things to sift through, and as a result we experience a reaction to these foods that manifests as inflammation, itching, rashes, and an array of other symptoms of food allergies.