Allergic symptoms can make you asthmatic, causing coughing, runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes and throat. But apart from taking medications to treat allergy, there are some foods you should avoid in allergy. You may experience food allergies to peanuts, milk, soybean, tree nuts, eggs, and wheat. With these top 10 foods that cause allergies (especially in children), typically, you may react severely to milk’s cow, peanuts, eggs, and shellfish.
Foods that cause allergies
This article will tell you everything about food allergies including the symptoms of each allergy. In severe cases, these allergies can result in a serious and sometimes fatal allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. If you experience this severe reaction, you should seek medical attention immediately. Whenever possible you should keep epinephrine on your hand and use it to treat anaphylaxis immediately.
1. Fish
Swimming foods especially fish with fins and not shells are the foods that cause allergy. Among them, tuna, salmon, and halibut are the most likely allergens. This may be due to Parvalbumin, a common protein present in fish that trigger allergy. Fish allergies and shellfish allergies are not same unlike the tree nut-peanut connection. If you’re being allergic to fish it can not lead to increase your odds of being allergic to the shellfish. In fact, you are more likely to have an allergy to other sort of fish.
You must place seafood and sushi restaurants on your “Do Not Go” list. You should also be protective of supplements which are not supported by the FDA. This is because of Omega-3 that may come from fish oil. It is commonly added to all kinds of products.
2. Tree nut
A tree nut allergy is one of the most common allergies to some of the nuts and seeds coming from trees. A few examples of tree nuts include macadamia nuts, pistachios, cashews, Brazil nuts, almonds, pine nuts and walnuts. If you have a tree nut allergy, you will also be allergic to nut butters and oils.
These allergies can be really severe. Tree nut allergies have caused around 50% of anaphylaxis-related deaths in US. Therefore, doctors advised to avoid all types of tree nuts, even if you are allergic just to one or two types. This may be because being allergic to one type of tree nut can increase the risk of developing an allergy to other types of tree nuts.
3. Eggs
Egg allergy is the most common Immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated allergy of food. IgE is an antibody that is generated by the immune system in response to any foreign attack. Proteins found in both egg white and egg yolk can trigger an allergic reaction. The severity of the allergy caused by egg usually depends on the amount consumed and individual sensitivity.
Most of the proteins that trigger an egg allergy are found in whites of egg. Common symptoms of egg allergy include respiratory problems, skin reactions like hives or a rash, digestive distress, such as a stomach ache, and anaphylaxis (which is rare). Use an egg-free diet to get rid of allergy.
4. Wheat and grains
Allergies to wheat and grains are most often seen among infants. This type of allergy is caused by a protein called gliadin present in wheat. The protein is usually found in gluten. Because of this, you ay need to eat a gluten-free diet to avoid allergy.
The symptoms may range from mild skin or gut reactions to even anaphylaxis. Other symptoms include asthmatic symptoms, digestion problems, and rashes. An important point to note is that wheat allergies and celiac disease are totally different.
5. Peanuts
Peanuts are also present on the list of top 10 foods that cause allergies. If you are allergic to peanuts you might be allergic all your life. Nevertheless, recent research has shown that as many as 20% of allergic people may outgo the allergy. A peanut-caused allergic reaction can be serious, and even a little of it can be enough to cause a severe reaction if you are sensitive.
If you have peanut allergy, you might also react to other legumes such as green peas. With a peanut allergy, you are sometimes allergic to tree nuts as well even though peanuts aren’t tree nuts. You can use peanut oil as it is safe with peanut allergies because of the removal of the proteins causing allergic reactions.
6. Shellfish
Shellfish contains protein like crustacean and mollusk that cause allergy. These are the families of fish such as shrimp, prawns, lobster, and crayfish. Even the vapors from cooked shellfish can result in a shellfish allergy if you’re allergic.
Some common symptoms of a shellfish allergy appear quickly most of the time and can cause digestive problems like vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain. Its symptoms are similar to other IgE food allergies. So, if you have shellfish allergy, you must exclude all shellfish from your diet to avoid having an allergic reaction.
7. Soy
Soy allergy is caused by a protein in soybeans or soybean-containing products. It has reported to affect about 0.4% of children and are most commonly seen in infants and children under three. However, around 70% of children may outgrow the allergy.
Its symptoms may vary from an itchy, tingly mouth and runny nose to asthma and breathing problems. A soy allergy can also trigger anaphylaxis. Typically, a small number of children who are allergic to cow’s milk can also be allergic to soy.
8. Cow’s milk
It’s the common childhood allergy affecting 2–3% of babies and toddlers. Yet, 90% of children may outgo the condition by the time they’re three. Mostly babies and young children are affected by cow’s milk allergy.
Cow milk allergies are potentially most serious. The common symptoms include swelling, hives, rashes, vomiting and, in rare cases, anaphylaxis. You may experience constipation or diarrhea and inflammation of the gut wall. If you diagnose with cow’s milk allergy, you must avoid cow’s milk and foods that contain it.
9. Sesame
Sesame allergy is severe especially for children. However, a few children with this allergy may outgrow it by adulthood. An allergy to sesame can cause a wide range of symptoms. These may include hives, vomiting, and rashes. In rare cases, it can also result in throat swelling and anaphylaxis. Avoiding sesame is important to treat sesame allergy.
10. Fast Food
The major contributor foods that cause allergies can be your favorite burgers and fries you eat. A study found that those who ate burgers more frequently or at least once a week, they were more likely to have asthma symptoms than those who never ate burgers. Typically the sauces present in pizza and burger trigger allergic symptoms. Avoid all kinds of fast foods if you’re diagnosed with allergy. Learn how to be smart & safe with food allergies
What you should eat to Minimize Allergy Symptoms?
Other than top 10 foods that cause allergies discussed above, there are a few foods and drinks that help minimizing allergic symptoms. Making simple changes to your diet can help you feel better and treat allergy ultimately. Try the below allergy-fighting foods and drinks to avoid allergy.
- Consider a Mediterranean diet
- Sip a cup of green tea
- Don’t eat fast foods frequently at the peak of your allergy season
- Avoid spicy foods when pollen counts are high
- Try eating low-calories and lose weight
- Try some wasabi
- Eat yogurt and other probiotics
- Stick to a low-salt diet
- Up your omega-3 intake