Have eating peanuts or other food made you sick even to the point of going to the hospital? This could be caused by food allergies. An allergic reaction to food occurs when the body responds immunologically to proteins in the food. The reaction can be minor or it can be very serious as in the case of anaphylaxis which can result in death.

The body's response to food allergies can be varied and it can affect different body systems. For example, one's digestive system can cause a person to experience cramps, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. These symptoms can be similar to other problems such as irritable bowel syndrome or Lactose Intolerance, so it is very important to be diagnosed properly so that you receive the correct treatment.

Food allergies may manifest as runny nose, scratchy throat, coughing, sneezing, or wheezing in the respiratory system. Shortness of breath or difficulty swallowing may be experienced in more severe reactions. It is strongly recommended that you seek medical attention immediately in the case of more severe reactions.

Food allergies can result in reactions in the skin. Hives and eczema, itching in the membranes of the throat, eyes, mouth and skin can occur. More severe reactions such as swelling of the face, tongue, lips or face must be treated immediately since airway restriction could occur.

The symptoms may affect your nervous system and sometimes the connection between mood swings and depression is not always easily recognizable.

Some folks are predisposed to Immunoglobulin E (IgE) response. This is where antibodies are produced in the body that attack non-disease causing substances which for food allergies it is the protein in certain foods. As the food passes into the digestive tract the body releases IgE which causes other chemicals such as histamine to be released as well. This can cause swelling which will appear as an upset stomach.

Diagnosis is usually done by an allergist. An allergist will review your history of reactions and may consider a couple of standard tests: the skin prick test and blood tests.

Skin prick tests introduce a tiny amount of different possible allergy causing substances and they look for a skin reaction. While it can determine if the body will have a reaction to a certain type of food allergen, it cannot predict what might happen if a person ingests that food allergen. In blood tests, the level of IgE antibodies is measured. There are certain levels of accepted IgE levels for certain foods and if they are higher than that then a person is considered to have a food allergy.

There are no cures for food allergies. The recommended course of action is clearly avoidance. Always read the labels on foods and at restaurants get more information if necessary. For severe reactions Epipen may be prescribed. It administers epinephrine which can halt the allergic reaction.

Health Products on our marketplace

Allen Opheimer is a professional staff columist for First Stop Allergies Find more facts on Food Allergies at First Stop Allergies