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Food Allergies 101: What You Need to Know About the Most Severe But Least Common Food Reactions

Garnishing snack plateWhat you eat can have a dramatic effect on your body’s well-being. At Gabrielle Grandell, I help clients like you identify various allergies, food sensitivities, and food intolerances. People often confuse these three types of reactions to food, but there are distinct differences that stem from the original cause.

Food allergies are the most severe but the least common. It is estimated that only 8 percent of children under the age of five, and only 4 percent of adults, have a true food allergy. While they are not as prevalent as people think, those that are affected with allergies may deal with significant, life-threatening symptoms.

How Do You Define an Allergy?

Gabrielle explains to her clients that if you have a food allergy, your body’s immune system is targeting a protein in the food as a foreign invader.

Your immune system creates an antibody known as immunoglobulin E (IgE). When this antibody mistakes a protein as a threat, it releases histamine, which can lead to swelling, itchiness, mucus, and other allergic reactions.

In the most severe reactions, known as anaphylaxis, the IgE antibody releases a huge amount of histamine into the blood, which can affect breathing and lead to lightheadedness or loss of consciousness. While anaphylaxis is a life-threatening situation, most allergies are not as intense.

Are You Experiencing Allergic Reactions?

Gabrielle knows how to identify food reactions and help people combat allergy symptoms. Here are some of the most common food allergies that she has seen in clients:

  • Milk
  • Eggs
  • Fish
  • Shellfish
  • Tree nuts
  • Peanuts
  • Wheat
  • Soy

These foods can lead to a variety of symptoms, including:

  • Hives
  • Itchiness (including itching in the mouth)
  • Tingling
  • Swelling (including swelling of the tongue, face, or lips)
  • Wheezing
  • Nasal congestion
  • Trouble breathing
  • Abdominal pain
  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting
  • Dizziness
  • Fainting
  • Eczema

Contact Gabrielle for a Free Consultation

Are you feeling the effects of a food reaction? My office would love to help!

Take advantage of my free 20-minute consultation by calling (817) 715-0512. Talk with me and ask whatever questions are on your mind.

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