What are allergies? From a scientific perspective, it is an immune response triggered by a substance called an allergen - which could either be a type of food, or ingredient, or an animal that induces an abnormal upsurge of antibodies and hormones causing itching, abdominal pain, hives, and other symptoms. To put it simply, allergies occur when our body’s immune system overreacts to substances that are usually harmless to others.

Every 8th of July, the Philippines’ National Allergy Day is celebrated to educate and raise awareness on the growing problem of allergies among Filipinos. The typical symptoms of allergies are pretty mild. You can experience some runny nose, sneezing, or watery eyes but somehow, they can also be a real nuisance and may have a considerable impact on everyday life. In rare cases, the person experiencing a food allergy reaction may suffer from a medical emergency known as anaphylaxis. It is a severe and life-threatening allergic reaction that is characterized by rapid heartbeat, swelling of the lips, tongue, and throat, confusion, and difficulty breathing.

Allergies usually develop during childhood or puberty, while some allergies get better in adulthood, with proper management and professional help. Although others can outgrow their allergies, some food allergies can be lifelong. Here are the top 8 food allergens that can cause food allergies:

1. Milk - It is a common allergy in babies and children. Although most outgrow their cow’s milk allergy by the age of 3 to 5 years old, some don’t go away over time. It is best to avoid milk and milk products such as butter, buttermilk, cheese, chocolate, cream, ghee, ice cream, and kinds of margarine that contain milk products, whey, and yogurt. Hence, a person with a milk allergy must learn to read food labels to prevent an allergic reaction.

2. Peanuts- Peanut allergy is the most common allergy to children and adults. Individuals allergic to peanuts must also avoid chickpeas and peas.

3. Tree Nuts- Almonds, cashews, macadamia nuts, pistachio, and walnuts are some examples of tree nuts that must be avoided. Some develop allergic reactions to seeds as well like sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, and coconuts.

4. Eggs- Some have developed allergies to egg whites only while others to the whole egg itself and other egg-containing products.

5. Wheat- It is best to consume a wheat-free diet and avoid foods that may contain wheat like gluten, bran, bread crumbs, gelatinized starch, gum, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, and modified starch.

6. Soy- Soybean and soy-containing products must be avoided. This includes edamame, miso, natto, soy sauce and shoyu sauce, tofu, textured vegetable protein (TVP), tempeh, tamari and other soy-based food.

7. Shellfish- Adults and adolescents have developed seafood allergies compared to younger children. The kinds of seafood are shellfish, including mollusks (such as oysters, mussels and squid), and crustaceans (such as prawns, crayfish, crabs and lobsters).

8. Fish- The type of fish that can cause an allergic reaction include barramundi, cod, flake, salmon, snapper, trout, tuna, and other scaly fish.

Avoidance of the trigger food is the primary way to manage food allergies. However, avoiding these food allergens is easier said than done. What can we do? As a caregiver of a child with allergies or even friends who are suffering from it, we can help by educating ourselves and sharing information on ways to prevent, recognize and manage food allergies. Encourage them to seek help from professionals, take the tests and start writing a food diary. Another best way is to practice reading food labels, it helps in carefully checking the ingredients list to make informed food choices. Also, it helps promote smart food choices for a healthy diet. These small steps could greatly help in easing the everyday challenge of having food allergies.

//JBC

References:

John Hopkins Medicine. Food Allergies. Retrieved From https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/food-allergies-in-children

Food and Drug Administration. How to understand and Use the Nutrition Facts Label. Retrieved from https://www.fda.gov/food/new-nutrition-facts-label/how-understand-and-use-nutrition-facts-label

American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Food Allergy. Retrieved from https://acaai.org/allergies/allergic-conditions/food/