The Eight Most Common Food Intolerances:
- Gluten
- Dairy
- Amines
- Caffeine
- Salicylates
- FODMAPs
- Sulfites
- Fructose
So, what is a food allergy?
While food intolerances impact the digestive system, food allergies are caused by your immune system. The immune system relies on nutrient-dense whole foods to perform at its best. When the immune system erroneously identifies certain foods as harmful to you, it causes an adverse response in your body.
The symptoms typically appear within a few minutes to two hours, and can include difficulty breathing, dizziness, a loss of consciousness, hives, swelling of the throat and abdominal cramps.
If you experience any of these symptoms after eating, it’s important to avoid the food that you just consumed and contact a doctor to accurately assess your situation. There is no cure for food allergies so early recognition and food management are key to preventing adverse consequences.
The Eight Most Common Food Allergens:
- Milk
- Eggs
- Peanuts
- Fish
- Wheat
- Soybeans
- Shellfish
- Tree nuts
Take action as soon as possible
Pay attention to your body and respond accordingly. Food allergies can be life-threatening, and can lead to an allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. Each year, thousands of people are hospitalized or sent to the emergency room due to anaphylaxis, and an estimated 150 people die of it annually.
Speak to your doctor if you think you have a food intolerance or food allergy, because it may be difficult for you to distinguish the two.
Charlene Rhinehart is an award-winning speaker, certified public accountant and career coach. She helps others live their best lives as a blogger at Wealthy Women Daily, is the founder of the Career Goddess Academy and host of the “CEO Unlimited Podcast.” She is also the best-selling author of Dividends Are a Queen’s Best Friend, available at Amazon.com.