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A recent Angus Reid national survey commissioned by the peanut bureau reveals there is a lot of confusion about the prevalence and causes of severe allergies. They are new allergen free products on store shelves, differences in government policies and bans on certain foods in schools and public areas. Researchers say there is a definite need for public education.

It is important for people to understand food allergies so that they can respond appropriately. The only way that you can manage food allergies is to correctly identify the food responsible and to avoid it. An allergy is a very specific response to the immune system and there can be many causes for adverse reactions to foods. Just because the food does not agree with you, does not mean you are allergic to it.

There is a lot of confusion about the number of people who suffer from food allergies. Research shows that two percent of the adult population have been diagnosed with the problem. There are nine main food allergens these are peanuts, milk, tree nuts, sesame seeds, soy, wheat, eggs, fish and sulphates which are preservatives.

You can not take the possibility of a reaction to these foods lightly. However over reaction, false assumptions and self diagnosis can lead to problems. It is important for the person who is allergic to understand the causes and management of their allergy.

Individuals living with a food allergy need to read and understand food labels and to know where their allergen maybe found. If you are living with or think you have one you should seek the advice of a qualified allergist.

Food intolerance symptoms can be many and varied depending on your level of intolerance, type of food intolerance and general health.

On a personal level, I suffered from food intolerance symptoms and then had to assist one of my own children who had major food problems due to leaky gut syndrome.

My son was only two and a half when I realized that something was not right due to his behavior and toileting issues. The good news is that we did find a solution and he is now able to eat nearly any food we give him. He still suffers from some wheat problems but we tend to use Kamut or Egyptian Gold flour based products. This seems to fair even better than Spelt flour.

If you think you may be suffering from food problems then take a look at this list.

Some symptoms include:
• Asthma
• Head aches
• Tiredness / lethargy
• Skin rashes
• Heart Palpitations
• Speech problems
• Bed wetting
• Unable to concentrate
• Ear infections
• Ear aches
• ADD
• ADHD
• Irritable bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Irritable
• Moody
• Oppositional defiance
• Stubborn
• Silly noises
• hyperactive
• General feeling of being unwell.

This list is by no means exhaustive. Food reactions can be brought on within an hour or can show up a couple of days later and this can depend on your level of food intolerance, how much you have eaten of those things that are causing your food intolerance symptoms and your lifestyle.

Many food problems are a result of naturally occurring chemicals in foods. To explain further, food is composed of many naturally occurring compounds. Three that can cause major problems for some people are Salicylates, Amines and MSG – Mono Sodium Glutamate. Everyone has a threshold and your level of food intolerance is based partly on that threshold. To give you an example, I had a problem with amines for a while. So, if I ate something high in amine such as grapes and then continued to eat other foods high in amine content, I would start to experience food intolerance symptoms. Some people will have a higher threshold with amines and salicylates so would not experience the same reaction as someone with a lower threshold.

Food problems are the body’s way of telling you it needs healing. Conducting a food elimination diet is a good way to recognize where your food problems stem from, among other steps you can take. There are a number of great resources that we have identified and used that can assist with recovering from food problems.

All over the world, millions suffer from daily allergies, which negatively affect their overall health. The symptoms associated with allergies tend to peak during the spring and fall; however, those with acute allergies can be miserable throughout the year.

• Dander from animals

There are a lot of people who have one or more pets. People who suffer from allergies can have acute symptoms when they are in the proximity of pets. Particles of skin can be cast off by felines and canines, similarly to humans, but the flakes from cats and dog are oily, and it is known as dander. The proteins associated with pet dander can cause those with dander allergies to suffer from upper respiratory distress.

• Food

Most of the world’s population is thought to be allergic to one or more foods. Hundreds of different food items are associated with allergic responses. Often, foods that cause allergy symptoms are better tolerated as the sufferer ages. Those who have acute persistent allergic reactions, however, may suffer throughout life.

• Molds

Molds are all over the out-of-doors, so everyone has been exposed to those kinds that commonly occur since they were children. It can be worrisome for those with allergies, however, when molds become established indoors and thrive. Drip pans beneath refrigerators, the coil boxes in air conditioners, and insulated air plenums can provide a nourishing habitat for molds to flourish.

• Pollen

The underlying cause of most allergies that occur in the fall and spring is pollen. When different kinds of pollen are carried indoors by air currents, home allergies can result.

Allergies affect the health and well-being of millions of people worldwide on a daily basis. While allergy symptoms are generally worse during the fall and spring seasons, people with severe allergies may suffer year around.

We will discuss 10 primary causes of allergies in the home and methods you can use right now to control them or even eliminate them. Your indoor home environment is the one place you have control over and with the proper knowledge, a home can be your haven.

1. Animal dander. Many people have at least one family pet of some sort. However, dogs or cats can create havoc for allergy sufferers. Dogs and cats can shed skin flakes just like humans but their skin flakes actually have an oily component to it thus making it dander. In most cases, a person with a dander allergy is sensitive to the protein of the dander and can have upper respiratory symptoms when they breathe it in or even skin rashes when exposed to it.
2. Bacteria. Bacteria is everywhere in the indoor and outdoor environment but it is bacteria particles indoors which can causes a host of upper respiratory symptoms in a person with chronic allergies. The primary breeding ground for bacteria particles is a vacuum cleaner bag. Thousands of new bacteria particles can grow everyday in a vacuum cleaner bag. A standard vacuum with a low efficient paper bag will actually circulate these new bacteria particles into the air each time the vacuum is used.
3. Dust mites. Dust mites are most definitely in the top 3 of all allergens found in the home and are also a common cause of asthma symptoms in the home. They feed on human skin flakes as well as animal dander and produce microscopic fecal matter wherever they exist. Just as animal dander, an allergy sufferer is allergic to the protein found in the fecal matter and not the dust mites themselves.
4. Foods. It is believed that most people on earth have at least one food that they are allergic to. There are literally hundreds of foods which are known to cause allergic symptoms. Food allergies are known to change and will usually get better as we age. However, persons with severe chronic allergies can have them their entire lives.
5. Fragrances. Fragrances from pesticides and perfumes are the most common of these type of allergens. A fragrance is one of the few allergens which can actually create a reaction from just the odor itself.
6. Insect stings and dead insect parts. While most people know someone who is allergic to an insect sting; most persons do not know that breathing in dead insect parts may also cause allergic symptoms. If an insect dies indoors, it will dry out and turn to particle matter in a few weeks time. These insect particles can become airborne and breathed in by an allergy sufferer. Just as other organic allergens, the protein found in the particles is what actually causes allergy reactions.
7. Latex. Latex is a natural substance made from a type of rubber tree. A latex allergy is normally found in the healthcare workplace but can be found in the home with the use of latex based kitchen gloves. Eliminating a latex allergy is as simple as disposing of all latex based products found in the home.
8. Medications. Medication allergies are normally a synergistic effect between other pharmaceutical or over-the-counter drugs. A physicians desk reference or drug manufacturer instructions should be read completely prior to taking any medications. Sometimes interactions are found out following the printing of such instructions and manufacturer web sites should be consulted on a regular basis for new interactions.
9. Molds. We have all been exposed to common molds from childhood since they are found throughout the outdoor environment. They become a problem for allergy sufferers when they invade the indoor environment and amplify on a breeding ground. Common indoor breeding grounds are air conditioning coil boxes, internally insulated supply air plenums and refrigerator drip pans.
10. Pollen. Pollen are believed to be the number one allergen in the world and is the primary cause of seasonal allergies. Some pollens can create indoor allergies when they dry out into small particles and become airborne.

You can eliminate about half of the allergens discussed above by just discontinuing their use however; allergens which are in the form of airborne particles are not so easily controlled. A true H.E.P.A. (High Efficient Particle Air) vacuum cleaner or air purifier is the only scientifically proven devices known to reduce particle allergens from the indoor air. Regular use of H.E.P.A. devices can make a dramatic improvement in allergies while at home. The H.E.P.A. filter maintains its efficiency up to five years of life. I highly recommend that you consider only the highest quality units since there are many H.E.P.A. “type” and inexpensive low-quality H.E.P.A. products on the market.

This article will try to dispense some helpful information about the treatment of food allergies. One of the most common conditions that affect one in every fifty persons is food allergy. Certain types of food trigger the food allergies that cause these undesirable responses of the immune system. The food allergen that triggers allergies is identified as a food protein. Bear in mind that food allergy is completely different from food intolerance or reactions to pharmacological agents. Food intolerance is mostly connected to one or more organs in the body but is not linked to the immune system while allergies caused by pharmacological agents are connected to the effects of medicines.

The areas of the body that are commonly affected by these allergies are the skin, digestive system and respiratory system. Within two hours of eating the food the symptoms appear as blotches and skin rashes. These rashes can manifest on the face, eyelids, lips or tongue and most of the time they are quite irritating. Food allergies can also cause difficulty in breathing as the throat becomes swollen. As the food allergen enters the body, the immune system reacts excessively to the allergen and pumps histamines into the body to suppress it, thus setting off the allergic symptoms.

Avoidance is still the most common and most readily implementable treatment for food allergies. Selective food avoidance however is life time adherence to strict diets. The good news is that this will alleviate or diminish the symptoms and averts further harm.

Recent data has shown that consuming organic foods can reduce the occurrence or seriousness of food allergies, and it may even help in the defense against serious allergic reactions. Quantities of quality nutrients can be gained from eating organic foods. These quality nutrients are required to help reinforce the weak immune system of those people with these types of allergies. A diet consisting of mainly organic foods will no doubt decrease the probability of having allergic reactions to pesticides and some food additives, and can also decrease the frequency of allergies. If you already have food allergies then its effects on the body still requires to be addressed.

Desensitization is the best solution so far to food allergies. However, there are several treatment alternatives to be had, these ranges from immunizing the body against the allergens with injections to acupuncture. Acupuncture has also been documented to be effective in the treatment of some allergies. However, the crux of the matter is that these treatments may not solve the principal health issues, such as vitamin deficiencies, surplus of toxins in the body.

The ideal therapy to combat food allergies will be a program that combines detoxifying the body to get rid of toxins that gave rise to the allergies, addressing the principal health problems, and desensitizing the body to the allergens that are upsetting it.

It is imperative that as soon as the food allergies are reduced or taken care of, that you get genuine nutritional guidance to aid you in maintaining and rebuilding your immune system. Keep in mind that a balanced diet is still your best defense against food allergies. Keep in mind that a balanced diet is still your best defense against food allergies.