FEELING BORED WHEN YOU CANT EAT YOUR FAVOURITE FOOD DUE TO FOOD ALLERGIES?

Masyita M.
Jan 27, 2016
3 min read

Assalamualaikum,

I have an experience dealing with my first daughter who suffer from food allergy, specifically the diary products and eggs. It's a troublesome and sometime I feel pity whenever she sat at the corner watching other children eating their favourite ice-cream, pastries or even a piece of biscuit!

She was first diagnosed of having food allergy as early as 3 months old, when I breastfed her and noticing rashes on her face and arms. Having brought her to peads, I was shocking to hear that my baby had food allergy even she was on nursing!. I asked the paed whether a breastfed baby is possible to get food allergy and he explained that the type of diet that a mother consume can pass through the milk. I was recalled on what I had eaten on last month, and I did mention on drinking milk as my routine during breakfast and before going to bed. Instead, I was instructed to stop taking dairy products, and observed whether my daughter condition improved. Eventually, it did!

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HOW THIS IS HAPPEN?

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Allergic reaction happen due to the body immune response. You can easily understand by watching this video how the body reacts to allergen (things that cause allergic reaction).

(Source : NIAID, NIH; youtube).

In simple words, allergies are the result of a reaction that starts in the immune system. For instance, if you have an allergy to eggs, your immune system identifies a protein found in eggs as an allergen. Your immune system reacts by producing antibodies called Immunoglobulin E (IgE). These antibodies attach to cells in your skin, lungs and gastrointestinal (GI) tract. If you come in contact with the allergen again, the cells release chemicals including histamine, which cause food allergy symptoms such as itching, hives, swelling, diarrhea, wheezing and a potentially life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis (an-a-fi-LAK-sis). Without immediate treatment—an injection of epinephrine and expert care in a hospital—anaphylaxis can be fatal.

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ANY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FOOD INTOLERENCE AND ALLERGIES?

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Food intolerence does not involve immune response, it usually happens in our gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms may include abdominal discomfort, nausea or diarrhea, AND no risk of developing anaphylaxis.

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COMMON ALLERGENS

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The most common food allergens are the proteins in cow’s milk, eggs, peanuts, wheat, soy, fish, shellfish and tree nuts. In some food groups, especially tree nuts and seafood, an allergy to one member of a food family may result in the person being allergic to other members of the same group. This is known as cross-reactivity. Cross-reactivity for other food families is not common. Most food allergens can cause allergic reactions even after they are cooked or have undergone digestion in the intestines, although research is showing that more than half of children with milk and egg allergies can tolerate extensively heated milk and egg in baked foods. Some allergens (usually fruits and vegetables) cause allergic reactions in people with a pollen allergy but only if eaten in raw form. Symptoms in these cases are usually limited to the mouth and throat.

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CAN FOOD ALLERGY RUNS IN THE FAMILY? CAN IT OUTGROW?

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Yes, there is a likelihood of developing allergies if the both parent have allergic tendencies. However, children may outgrow allergies to food from dairy products, eggs, soy and wheat eventhough they might have severe allergic reactions. Nevertheless, shellfish tend to persist through adulthood.

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HEALTHY TIPS

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I did browse on some tips regarding food allergy and found out it can be useful to mommy out there. Here are some tips which may prevent from getting the food allergy:

1) FOOD ALLERGY RECORD : I jot down any food that react to my daughter. This can be useful in the future when choosing food or preparing meal.

2) GIVE A BIT FOOD A TRY : I was previously advised by one of the pead, as my daughter grows older, introduce the 'allergen food' to her but in small quantity. This is to ensure her body adapt the immune response of the allergic reaction.

3) CAREFULLY READ THE FOOD LABEL: THIS IS A MUST!. I have to notice any dairy or egg traces in the food and avoid it!

4) DIVERSIFY YOUR RECIPE: It does not mean having food allergy restrict you to have your favourite food. All you need is to CHANGE and DIVERSIFY the recipe. One of the book recipe that may help you with this is : RESEPI ALERGI. You still can have your favourite dish :)

Reference:

1) American Academy of Allergy Asthma& Immunology (2016)