Have you ever felt terrible after having had a wonderful dinner the night before? Do you want to know the distinction between a food allergy and food poisoning?  In fact there are many differences between food allergies and food poisoning.  Food poisoning is a result of consuming food that was not fully cooked or is otherwise contaminated. When you’re allergic to a specific food, you can’t consume that food no matter how it’s prepared.

Food allergy symptoms are very similar to any other allergic reaction. Within 15 minutes after eating, the indicators are most likely to show up.  Food allergy symptoms are as follows: itching, swelling of the mouth, swelling of the throat, breathing problems, digestive problems, nausea, diarrhea, and stomach pain.  Hives, eczema, and asthma are also symptoms of allergies.

If you have swelling of the mouth and throat, you need to seek the immediate attention of a health care professional to take a food allergy test. Serious food allergy can become evident when one experiences difficulty in breathing and has a tight chest and such should be given proper attention in the soonest possible time.  This could be potentially fatal if left untreated.

Common foods that bring about allergies are peanuts, gluten, shellfish, soy, dairy, corn, tomatoes, or eggs. To avoid further complications, avoid having nuts on your foods when you prepare meals for a number of people. Create a vegetarian and gluten-free version of what you prepare.

Getting tested for food allergies is the safest and most accurate way of knowing if you truly have an allergy or not.  When testing for allergies, there is an intricate process that you must endure, but it doesn’t hurt. There are two main types of tests - one is a skin test where they prick your skin and the other is RAST testing, where they evaluate your blood sample.  Skin testing has been known to be the best and you can have them in an allergy relief center.

Skin testing has been used for hundreds of years and is the test of choice worldwide.  Upon starting the test, you will get cut by either getting pricked, scratched, or punctured by a small needle. It opens up a little for allergens to enter the skin.

After you’re scratched with the needle, a combination of chemicals with the allergen included is placed in the microscopic cut. What it takes is 10-15 minutes before your skin shows up any reaction.  A positive allergy test can be spotted by a red bump that’s itchy - sort of like a bug bite.

If you’re found to have a food allergy, you have to remember to always ask if the food that you’re allergic to is in anything you are about to eat.  Check the labels on any and all products at the grocery store and read the ingredients for allergy prevention.

If you have children, also get them tested – food allergies have been known to pass from one generation to another genetically.  Let your child’s teachers know what you’re allergic to as well as what your child is allergic to just to be on the safe side.

 


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