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The Cause of Food Allergies

March 19th, 2007 | Add a Comment

An allergy takes place when your immune system suddenly has an abnormal response to a substance that is usually not detrimental to most individuals. When an allergy is triggered by a substance or allergen, a person’s body recognizes this as a trespasser and subsequently releases chemicals to fight off the “trespasser” causing symptoms that can range from a simple irritation to a fatal reaction that may even lead to death.

A food allergy is a reaction by the immune system in which antibodies are produced by the body as a result of exposure to some foods. Though there are many individuals who claim that they have food allergies, there are only a few who really have certain allergic reactions to food. Most people confuse a food allergy with a food intolerance. Food intolerance and food allergy are both sensitivity reactions to food, but intolerance to certain types of food does not affect the immune system and isn’t really a life threatening incident.

As of the present time, the medical world has not discovered a cure for food allergies. Allergy management, on the other hand, generally involves the avoidance of food allergens and some diet modifications.