Men And Food Allergies What’s Healthy and What’s Not Part1
Robert Walker

The Basics of Food Allergies In Men

Allergies affect the lives of millions of people around the world. Fresh flowers, a friends cat

or dog, even dust can make people itch, sneeze and scratch almost uncontrollably. But what about

that seemingly innocent peanut butter sandwich, glass of milk or fish fillet? Learn more about

food allergies and steps you can take to reduce your risk of exposure to potentially dangerous

food allergens.

The Basics
Common Symptoms of Food Allergies
Most Common Food Allergens
Diagnosing Food Allergy
Treatment for Food Allergies
Other Resources
E-mail this Information to A Friend

The Basics
Each year more than 50 million Americans suffer from a variety of allergic diseases such as;

atopic dermatitis and other eczemas, hives, allergies to venom of stinging insects (honeybees,

wasps, and fire ants), allergic drug reactions and food allergies. According to the National

Institutes of Health, approximately 5 million Americans, (5 to 8% of children and 1 to 2% of adults) have a true food allergy.

Food Allergy vs. Food Intolerance

Food allergy, also called food hypersensitivity,is a reaction of the bodys immune system to

something in a food or an ingredient in a food usually a protein. Food allergens are not broken

down by cooking or the digestive process. As a result, they enter the bloodstream and cause

allergic reactions throughout the body. Food allergies can cause life-threatening reactions.

Other reactions to foods are called food intolerances or food idiosyncrasies. Food intolerance is

an adverse reaction to a food substance or additive that does not involve the immune system.

These reactions are generally localized, temporary, and rarely life threatening. Lactose

intolerance is an example of food intolerance.

Note: It is very important for individuals who have true food allergies to identify them and

prevent allergic reactions to food because these reactions can cause serious illness and, in some

cases, be fatal.
Common Symptoms of Food Allergies
Symptoms of food allergy differ greatly among individuals. They can also differ in the same

person during different exposures. Allergic reactions to food can vary in severity, time of

onset, and may be affected by when the food was eaten.

Common symptoms may include: skin irritations such as rashes, hives and eczema, and

gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, diarrhea and vomiting.
Sneezing, runny nose and shortness of breath can also result from food allergy.
Some individuals may experience a more severe reaction called anaphylaxis a rare but

potentially fatal condition which may include swelling of the throat, difficulty breathing,

lowered blood pressure and unconsciousness.
Symptoms usually appear rapidly, sometimes within minutes of exposure to the allergen.
Seek immediate medical attention standard emergency treatment often includes an injection of

epinephrine (adrenaline) to open up the airway and blood vessels.

For More Man Health Information Benefits Click Here http://todays-man-health-advocate.com

Most Common Food Allergens
The eight most common food allergens include:

Milk (including yogurt and ice cream, and anything that is made with milk)
eggs
peanuts
tree nuts (such as walnuts and almonds)
soy
wheat
fish
shellfish (such as shrimp, crayfish, lobster, and crab)
Note: These food allergens cause more than 90% of all food allergic reactions. However, many

other foods have been identified as allergens for some people.

Diagnosing Food Allergy
If you suspect you have a food allergy, get a medical evaluation. Treatment is basically avoiding

the food(s) after the specific food allergy is identified. You should see a board-certified

allergist to get a diagnosis, and a dietician to plan the proper diet.

Making a diagnosis may include a thorough medical history, analysis of a food diary, and several

tests including skin-prick tests, RAST tests (a blood test) and food challenges. Once a diagnosis

is complete, an allergist will help set up a response plan that may include taking medication by

injection to control allergic reactions.

Treatment for Food Allergies
Currently, there are no medications that cure food allergies. Strict avoidance is the only way to

prevent a reaction. Once the specific food has been identified, it must be removed from your

diet. It is important to read lengthy, detailed ingredient lists on each food you are considering

eating. The Food and Drug Administration requires ingredients in a food to appear on its label.

You can avoid most food allergens if you read food labels carefully, and avoid

restaurant-prepared food that might have ingredients to which you are allergic. Dont be shy

about asking for more information if the menu isnt clear.

Unfortunately, you cant take a medication in advance to reliably prevent an allergic reaction to

a specific food. However, there are several medications that will relieve food allergy symptoms

that are not part of an anaphylactic reaction. These include antihistamines to relieve

gastrointestinal symptoms, hives, or sneezing and a runny nose, and bronchodilators to relieve

asthma symptoms. These medications are taken after you have inadvertently ingested a food to

which you are allergic, but are not effective in preventing an allergic reaction when taken prior

to eating the food.

Note: Randomly taking different food groups out of your diet can cause other health problems.

Seek the help of a doctor before making significant changes in your diet.

Other Resources
This is just a brief overview. For more information, check out these resources:

Click Here http://todays-man-health-advocate.com

Food Allergies:
Websites*:

American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology
Asthma & Allergy Foundation
Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network
Food and Drug Administration
International Food Information Council
USDA Food and Nutrition Information Center

For More Man Health Information Benefits Click Here http://todays-man-health-advocate.com

Consumer Focus: The Basics of Food Allergies

Tips for Avoiding Food Allergies
Eight percent of children in the U.S. are estimated to be affected by food allergies, along with

up to 2% of adults. The eight most common food allergens milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy,

wheat, fish and shellfish cause more than 90 percent of all food allergic reactions. However,

many other foods have been identified as allergens for some people.

About the Author

Robert Walker is a health information marketer and writer that writes for
The Men’s Health Advantage Report at http://todays-man-health-advocate.com.

Tags: Allergic Diseases, Allergic Reaction, Allergic Reactions To Food, allergic reactions;, Allergies, Allergy Treatment, also called food hypersensitivity, American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology, anaphylactic reaction, anaphylaxis, Asthma & Allergy Foundation, asthma;, Atopic Dermatitis, Author, called food hypersensitivity, Dangerous Food, diarrhea;, Dietician, Eczema, Eczemas, emergency treatment, epinephrine, Fire Ants, Food Allergens, food allergic reactions, food allergies;, Food Allergy, food allergy symptoms, Food And Drug Administration, food challenges, Food Diary, Food Groups, Food Hypersensitivity, food idiosyncrasies, Food Intolerance, food intolerances, Food Labels, Food Substance, food;, health information marketer, hives;, Insects Wasps, International Food Information Council, National Institutes Of Health, Nausea, Peanut Butter Sandwich, Protein Food, restaurant-prepared food, Robert Walker, runny nose, Sandwich Glass, serious illness, Shortness Of Breath, specific food allergy, Stinging Insects, Symptoms Of Food Allergies, the National, True Food Allergies, True Food Allergy, unconsciousness, United States;, USDA Food and Nutrition Information Center, vomiting, writer —