Dairy allergies are believed to be the most common of all food related allergies and affect millions of people worldwide.  People who suffer from dairy allergies have to watch their diets very carefully according to their known sensitivities.  More time than not, a diary allergy is confused with milk or lactose intolerance, however an allergy to dairy related products can lead to severe symptoms to include hives, respiratory difficulties and even anaphylactic shock.

Persons who suffer from this form of food allergy have accidentally ingested a dairy product in some form and died before reaching a hospital. This type of severe allergy is actually related to the protein found in cow’s milk which can cause a more severe reaction than an intolerance which is normally caused by sugars found in milk. While symptoms of milk intolerance may be uncomfortable, it is normally not life threatening.

Ongoing dairy allergies can damage the digestive tract and cause a deficiency in the enzyme lactase, which is produced by the cells lining the digestive tract.  Many people mistakenly believe that they can continue to eat dairy products as long as they take an oral digestive aid but usually receive temporary relief. Unfortunately, most continue to suffer from their dairy allergies even though their digestive symptoms have diminished.

Persons who know they have a lactose intolerance should be tested for a dairy allergy via a blood test from a allergy specialist.

Related Posts: Milk Allergies, Cheese Allergies and Food Allergies.

Source: Allergyreliefexpert.com staff

NLP Eliminates Dairy Allergies and Lactose Intolerance

Anyone have a cheese allergy – is there such a thing?

I quit cheese about 2 weeks ago and MAN do I feel better.  I was exhausted all the time – now not so much anymore.

Actually – I had no digestive indications – just felt exhausted all the time.  Is this common? Is there data on this?

Best Answer – Chosen by Voters

You most likely have an  dairy allergy or are lactose intolerant than allergic to the cheese itself.  Depending on the type of cheese you eat determines how much milk it contains.  For example; low fat would of course have less milk than high fat or highly processed cheeses. However, certain cheeses are also known to can contain histamines which can mimic an allergy.  The making of cheese is closely related to how mold grows and some people which have mold allergies may also react to certain cheeses.  It is always wise to seek out allergy testing to see what other dairy related foods might be bothering you.

Related Posts: Dairy Allergies, Milk Allergies and Food Allergies.

Source: Yahoo Answers

Cheese Allergy

Tomato allergies are not as common as other food allergies. Tomatoes are considered as part of the nightshade allergy family. However, those that do have a severe tomato allergy face the  possibility of anaphylactic shock and death.

Allergy or Intolerance

More persons actually have a food intolerance for tomatoes and not a full-blown tomato allergy.  An intolerance for tomatoes usually creates gastro-intestinal problems, such as diarrhea, cramps or vomiting.  A protein found in tomatoes is generally what creates the allergic reaction by the body’s immune system. A persons immune protection function see the tomato protein as a toxin and attempts to eliminate it by releasing histamines to kill it.  It is the histamines themselves which create swelling, hives, rashes, headaches, and other symptoms which may even include the constriction of the bronchial tubes. In very severe cases; too many histamines can cause respiratory distress, failure, and even death during an anaphylactic shock.  A tomato allergy can occur in 15-20 minutes and can subside just as quickly if the correct medication is administered.

Many people who have a known tomato allergy can actually tolerate well cokked tomatoes with little or no reaction. Other people reaport that they can consume low acid tomatoes. However, data shows that all tomatoes are equally acidic and what they are really referring to is the flavanoids that give the taste of acidity.

Note that in both of these cases, a food journal should be kept for a month or more (noting symptoms after meals) to share with the physician if you suspect you may have a tomato allergy. An allergy test done by a qualified allergy doctor is the only accurate way to detrmine if you truly have a tomato related allergy. Food allergy tests may include various blood tests, skin tests, possible nasal smears, and a full food journal review. They should also consider whether or not your parents have had food allergies.

Here are a few tips for tomato allergy sufferers:

• There are tomato-free sauces, ketchup, barbecue, and salsa available at certain retailers but are better found by researching online.
• Take supplements which are known to help allergies. These would include beta carotene,vitamin C, vitamin E, pantothenic acid, glucosamine, and quercitin which is a well known flavonoid. Flavonoids are powerful antioxidants which can reduce inflammation and block the release of histamines.
• Try making a no tomato ‘pasta sauce’ by adding a lot of olive oil  and add lots of veggies chopped up and spices which can make a great sauce!
• If ordering out, try a white or pesto base instead of a tomato base. Also, specify no catsup anytime when ordering out.

Related Posts: Related Post: Food Allergies, Citrus Allergies and Strawberry Allergies.

About the author: Jimmy Don Strongwell operates a organic farm which are known for their great tomatoes and other vegetables in the Canton area of East Texas.

Ferrari eats a tomato

Across the world, people are rush to food restaurants, thinking about what to have for dinner or eat a quick snack at the office. Most of them probably are not thinking about the food-borne illnesses or food allergies from a piece of chicken.

Nevertheless, some of them get sick from food they consumed, while at home or away from home. While it is not something you want to dwell on, it is important to know the facts so you can protect your health and prevent serious complications.

Chicken or Egg?

Some people who are known to have egg allergies do also have an allergy to other chicken products. However, it is rare to find allergy sufferers who are allergic to both.  Allergic reactions to food occur when a person eats a food to which he or she is allergic. Unless the person is not aware of his allergy, consumption is usually unintentional.

The Chicken-Foodborne Connection

Ill effects that occur after eating improperly cooked chicken may be the result of foodborne illnesses. Foodborne diseases more commonly known as intoxicated food and are the result of eating contaminated food. Everyone is susceptible to them to some degree. There are four major classes of pollutants that can cause foodborne illness and they are:

1. Bacteria
2. Virus
3. Parasites
4. Bacterial toxins

Symptoms of the above pollutants can include fever, cramps, diarrhea, vomiting and fatigue. Renal failure and paralysis of a couple of effects most serious associated with certain types of bacteria, including E. coli and Clostridium botulinum.

However, it is important to note that allergic food reactions produce many of the same symptoms as foodborne diseases, such as stomach pain, abdominal cramps, fatigue and vomiting. Allergic reactions, however, have the potential to be much more serious. A person who has a severe allergy to a food can go into anaphylactic shock if consumed, which can lead to respiratory failure and even death. The only way to prevent allergic reactions is to avoid contact with problem foods. That means carefully reading labels and provided information about restaurant food ingredients.

If you feel you may have a chicken related allergy, then it becomes important to inquire as to the unlisted ingredients which may be in poultry dishes. If a restaurant does not fully disclose their ingredients, then you should choose to eat elsewhere.

However, in cases where a restaurant, company or person is responsible for your food poisoning or severe allergic reaction, then you may wish to seek out the advice of a personal injury attorney.

Related Post: Food Allergies.

Provided by: Bernard Law Group today at 1-800-418-8282

NMT Anaphylactic Allergy Treatment Highlights

Severe or Fatal Food Allergy: Are you at risk?

Hay fever sufferers and those prone to hives, take heed: You could be rushed to the emergency room someday for an allergic reaction to a food you eat. You need to be prepared.

Foods you may be allergic to include flaxseed, pepperoni, apples, and cant juice. In the past, when a person with allergies was hurried to the hospital suffering with severe symptoms, nobody ever knew why. No one could explain the sudden, dangerous allergic emergency.

Finally, a few observant doctors made the connection between allergies like hay fever and food allergies. Certain people can have a reaction to a food that sends their everyday allergies into overdrive.

For instance, one little boy regularly reacted to the sun by breaking out ii small hives. But twice, he began wheezing, his throat started closing, and he had to be rushed to the emergency room. On both occasions, the boy had eaten a pepperoni pizza before going outside. The nitrates in the pepperoni had made ht usual minor allergic reaction to the sun much, much worse.

In Europe, almost three out of four people who have hay fever also have allergies to fruits and vegetables. Allergies to apples are so common that a researcher in the Netherlands looked for a way to make them edible. He sliced some apples microwaved them for one minute, and fed them to people with apple allergies Eight out of 10 had no allergic reaction at all.

Apparently, you can be mildly allergic to raw apples but not allergic at all the cooked apples. It’s really true that you can enjoy applesauce and apple pie whet you can’t enjoy a raw apple.

If you have allergies, you should watch yourself for allergic reactions to food especially to flaxseed, pepperoni, apples, and carrot juice. If you do have to make an emergency trip to the hospital or to your doctor, be prepared to tell the people in charge what you’ve been eating. It’s important that you figure out what your food triggers are so you can avoid them.

Related Posts: Food Allergies, Shellfish Allergies and Bread Allergy.

Medical Source: Medical Tribune for the Internist and Cardiologist (36,6:17)

Whole Foods Helps Boy With Severe Food Allergies

Sulfites are used as an preservative in just about every wine and heavily processed meat product throughout the world and can cause mild to serious allergic reactions. Sulfites are also used as sanitizing agents and food color preservatives. Sulfites are also suspected to be a carcinogen when heavy consumed but there is still much testing to be done.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) estimates that 1 percent of people the United States have a sensitivity to sulfites and up to 5% of these people are considered to be “sulfite allergic.”

Many people who either know they have a sulfite allergy or just wish to avoid sulfite containing products because of their potential health consequences do not fully know how widely used it really is. Like many food related allergens, avoidance is the best strategy to preventing allergic reactions.

Here is a list of the top 15 products which can contain sulfites in addition to wine and processed meats:

1. Canned fruits and vegetables
2. Condiments
3. Dressings
4. Dried fruit
5. Grapes (fresh) – safe in some countries
6. Ketchup
7. Lemon juice/concentrate
8. Lime juice/concentrate
9. Mushrooms (canned or frozen)
10. Pickled foods
11. Pickles
12. Potatoes (dehydrated, frozen french fries, dehydrated, mashed, peeled, pre-cut)
13. Raisins (dried or dedydrated)
14. Soups
15. Vinegar, wine vinegar

by Tony Coturri

Tony Coturri on Sulfites

Sometimes a feeling of uneasiness and discomfort occurs immediately after a meal. It is often thought that the result of a food allergy. In most cases, however, this feeling of discomfort is the result of the intolerance of some foods rather than food allergy. The difference in food intolerance and allergy is mainly realized through the difference in time scale and severity of symptoms.

To understand and diagnose the difference between the two is important Knowing the symptoms of food allergy that affects far more serious patients. Symptoms of food intolerance can manifest within hours or even a day later. In the case of allergies, the onset is immediate and generally within an hour. Food allergy occurs when the immune system achieves a protein food incorrectly, leading to an overreaction by the body and the production of certain chemicals.

Some of the key symptoms that occur for food allergy are:

1. Skin rashes and itching
2. Severe diarrhea and vomiting
3. Stomach cramps
4. Swelling skin especially in areas of procurement, such as the eyelids, lips and inside the mouth
5. A runny nose and blocked nasal passages
6. Inflammation throat, trachea and larynx
7. Headaches
8. Fatigue and dizziness
9. Joint pain
10. Hives

These are foods most common allergy symptoms that affect most adults, and it is important to visit a medical professional as soon as you experience any of these signs. In cases of food intolerance smaller degrees of similar symptoms may occur but usually disappear after a short time. In the cases of food allergies these symptoms even more pronounced and severe, and may also lead to severe breathing problems or diarrhea. Food intolerance regular like lactose intolerance is manifest even when a person has consumed dairy products and the results of bloating, gas, vomiting or diarrhea.

It is important to identify the allergen in question is causing the food allergy so that it can be avoided in future. These symptoms should be identified immediately as delayed treatment can lead to malfunctioning of the internal systems. Some things must be considered as check food labels when buying food or checking with the waiter at the restaurant about ingredients used to prepare a plate. Some patients are so vulnerable that doctors even advise them to carry self-injectable epinephrine, which helps during sudden allergic.

Related Posts: Candida Allergies, Shellfish Allergies and Yeast Allergies.

Source: For over 20 years, the ALCAT Test has provided both patients as well as healthcare professionals with a tool to successfully overcome a wide variety of conditions which result from chemical sensitivity and food intolerance. Their site is: www.alcat.com.

Food Allergies:A Personal Story

MSG (mono sodium glutamate)  is the sodium cousin of glutamic acid and believed to be the cause of countless illnesses ranging from mild headaches to severe neurological disorders. Glutamatic acid is a non-essential amino acid, meaning that the body will produce what the body needs and we don’t have to rely on getting more from our diet.  It is a very important body acid as the brain uses glutamic acid as a neurotransmitter.

Why MSG?

The MSG food additive is made by mixing glutamate with salt and water and is a process similar to the way soy sauce is made.  It is believed to be added to as many as a million processed food products and is commonly used in restaurants to further taste. MSG is used by the food and restaurant industry because they believes it improves taste. However, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) states that it is used because it is much cheaper than using herbs and other natural spices to improve the taste of food.

MSG Side Effects

The use of MSG in food can result in:

• Numbness
• Burning sensation
• Tingling
• Facial pressure or tightness
• Chest pain
• Headache
• Nausea
• Rapid heartbeat
• Drowsiness
• Weakness
• Difficulty breathing for asthmatics
• Brain seizures

The MSG, Alzheimer’s Connection

Recent studies have shown a connection to MSG and Alzheimer’s disease as well as obesity and increased potential for strokes. The media has appeared to jump to the conclusion that obesity and stroke may lead to Alzheimer’s.However, it would seem that MSG may be a primary reason for the rise in Alzheimer’s cases in those patients that are also obese and have had strokes. The fact of the matter is; MSG is a known neurotoxin which can dramatically effect brain cell function.

It is best to avoid food products which are suspected to contain msg all together. However that can be quite a challenge since food manufacturers are allowed to add msg containing ingredients without labeling it as such. Here are just some of the hidden label tricks used by manufacturers:

• Certain gelatins
• Calcium Caseinate
• Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (HVP)
• Textured Protein
• Monopotassium glutamate
• Hydrolyzed Plant Protein (HPP)
• Yeast Extract
• Glutamate
• Autolyzed Plant Protein
• Yeast food or nutrient
• Glutamic Acid
• Sodium Caseinate
• Autolyzed Yeast
• Vegetable Protein Extract
• Senomyx (wheat extract labeled as artificial flavor)

About the Author:
Donna Bocowski is a certified nutritionist practicing in Chicago, IL

anyone of you allergy to MSG

I recently discovered that I am allergic to products containing coconuts.I’m actually pretty sure that this is the cause since I break out on my face when using the products and don’t when I discontinue them.

Am I crazy or does coconut really cause allergies?

Best Answer:

Searching for soaps and other products which are free from coconut ingredients can be a challenging task. You are certainly not crazy; there are many personal care products out there which contain coconut products and you can’t always tell just be reading the label.

Here is just a partial list of potential coconut derived additives and ingredients:

• 1,2 Octanediol
• 2 Phenoxyethanol
• Ammonium Lauryl Sulphate
• Capryl Glycol
• Caprylic Acid
• Caprylic Glycol
• Caprylic/Capric
• Caprylyl Glycol
• Ceteareth-20
• Cetearyl Alcohol
• Cetearyl Glucoside
• Ceteth-20 Phosphate
• Cetyl Alcohol
• Cetyl Esters
• Cocamide MEA
• Cocamidopropyl Betaine
• Cococaprylate/Caprate
• Cocomide DEA
• Coconut Oil
• Disodium Cocamphodiprop
• Emusifying Wax
• Glyceryl Caprylate
• Hexyl Laurate
• Isopropyl Myristate
• Laureth-3
• Olefin Sulfonate
• Organic Sodium Cocoate
• Phenoxyethanol
• Polysorbate 20
• Sodium Cocoate
• Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
• Sucrose Stearate
• Sodium Laureth Sulfate
• Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinat
• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
• Sodium Stearate
• Sorbitan Stearate
• Stearyl Alcohol
• Vegetable Cetearyl Glucos
• Vegetable Glycerine

Luckily, there are more and more manufacturers making hypoallergenic personal care products that do not contain coconut based ingredients such as Kiss My Face and others.

We have found that people who have coconut allergies to skin care products normally do not have an allergic reaction to coconut in their diets and believe this is due to the manufacturing process for coconut-based ingredients.

Source: Yahoo Answers

Vegan Coconut Cake

An allergy to peanuts is a serious condition and is usually a life-long proposition which may effect both children and adults. It is paramount that persons with a peanut or nut related allergy avoid all exposures which can create a life threatening reaction.

The most common symptom of peanut allergy is acute hives (urticaria) which usually occurs within minutes of exposure. However, many peanut allergy sufferers also develop severe angioedema, swelling of the face, bronchospasm and anaphylaxis following exposure.  Some peanut and nut allergy sufferers are so sensitive that they will develop symptoms even when they are in the presence of someone who has eaten peanuts or has been in contact with peanuts.

Because peanut allergies are so prevalent, much research has been performed to understand the allergy better and possibly find a cure. There are studies currently being conducted at Duke University Medical Center, in North Carolina that is showing promise for all food allergy sufferers. Their study is called The Duke Food Allergy Initiative, which has been running several immunotherapy studies and intends to have some definitive results within the next few years.

Peanut Allergy Statistics

• Peanut and peanut related allergies are a serious problem that can become fatal in severe cases.
• Someone who suffers from chronic peanut allergies should always be prepared to seek immediate medical attention
• Epinephrine (adrenaline) is the best and most effective treatment available for a severe peanut allergy reaction and a EpiPen should be available immedaietly when out in public. Person in public with them should understand exactly how to use the EpiPen if you were to have a reaction.
• There are thousands of peanut-free foods and resources available to those with a peanut or other nut allergy.
• A peanut allergy is one of the “Big 8″ food allergens which account for 90% of allergies combined. (21 million in the US alone).
• More than 3 million people in the US are believed to be allergic to peanuts, tree nuts or both.
• About 1% of the U.S. population has a peanut peanut related allergy.
• Recent studies have shown that over 20% of patients with peanut allergy will outgrow it.
• A allergic reaction to a peanut or peanut related food is the most common cause of food related deaths.

About the author:

Benny Jacobson writes a column in the Allergy Journal and is considered to be an expert on peanut and other nut related allergies.

The Peanut Reaction