Yoga, Challenges Of Food Allergies

Bob Crowther comments on food allergens and identifies some resources to adress your inquiries.

The foods we consume to fuel our bodies also my contribute to an allergic reaction (an immune response) that can be deadly. 

National awareness and discussion of food allergies among children and adults in medical journals and newspaper/magazine articles have grown. 

Contrary to public perceptions, medical specialists report a lower incidence of food allergies for both age groups but acknowledge accurate figures are difficult to establish.

Research investigators emphasize the importance to distinguish between food allergy and food intolerance.

Food allergy involves an immune (antibody response) while food intolerance reflects the absence of a protein (enzyme) needed for a chemical reaction (think: absence of lactase to break down milk sugar, lactose). 

Food allergies are thought to originate in the following manner:

• with a first exposure to a food allergen, our bodies makes antibodies that become attached to white blood cells (mast and basophils)

• with a second exposure, the food allergen binds to an immunoglobulin antibody (IgE) on these cells and they release chemicals (for example, mast cells release histamines)

Allergy specialists have noted that skin prick tests and blood analysis for antibodies often lead to a misdiagnosis and artificially inflated food allergy numbers in both children and adults.

They note that having food antibodies does not equate with having a food allergy - contributing to an inaccurate diagnosis.

Several years ago the National Institutes of Health (NIH) division [National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases] published national food allergy guidelines for the public that addresses terminology, diagnosis and treatments.  

Learn About Food Allergies
Protect Yourself

Major food allergies include the following: milk, egg, peanut, tree nuts (almonds, cashews, pecans, walnuts), soy, wheat, fish (salmon), nuts and shellfish (crab, lobster, shrimp). 

Along with decreased blood pressure, documented food allergy symptoms frequently involve different tissues and organs:

•  skin (hives, eczema, itching)
•  lung (difficulty breathing)
•  nose (congested, running)
•  gastrointestional (trouble swallowing, abdominal pains, vomiting, diarrhea) 

NIH investigators have reported a new chronic disease involving inflammation of the esophagus, oral allergy syndrome (reactions to raw vegetables) and exercise-induced food allergies.

While initial reactions to foods allergies are not accurate to predict future responses, dangers can be real when anaphylaxis occurs: chemicals from the immune system can lower blood pressure and block normal breathing within seconds to minutes or longer that can result in death.

Epinephrine injections into thigh muscle using an Epi-Pen (in its various forms) is often prescribed for emergency conditions of anaphylaxis for children and adults.

Do not avoid food allergy symptoms. 

Take the advice of medical and allergy specialists.

Consult with your doctor and learn what procedures are appropriate for your specific situation (possibly including an oral food challenge under double blind conditions - when neither the doctor or patient knows what is being consumed).

#Antibodies to Food Allergens #National Food Allergy Guidelines #Yoga And Nutrition