Food Allergy - Causes, Symptoms and How to Treat Allergies

Food allergy is nothing but a body’s response towards some of the food that acts as an irritant to body’s organs and entire system. With a food allergy, the body reacts as though that particular food product is harmful. This results in the body’s immune system that fights against infections and the disease creates antibodies to fight against the food allergen. Food allergen is nothing but a substance that works as an irritant or as a foreign body in the blood stream.

According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in the United States only up to 6% of the children under age of three have food allergies. It is less common in adults but overall food allergies affect more than six million people in the world.

When a baby encounters that food by touching or consuming it or even inhaling its particles, baby’s body releases certain chemicals including something called ‘histamine’ to protect itself. These are the chemicals that trigger allergic system that an affect the respiratory system of a baby. It can also affect heavily on digestive system, skin or in severity even cardiovascular system.

The symptoms might include a running nose, an itchy skin rash with redness, a tingling sensation in tongue, lips or a throat, swelling, wheezing or abdominal pain (generally griping type of pain).

There is confusion between food intolerance and food allergy because of the similar signs and symptoms. However, in fact, both are different, as food intolerance does not involve the immune system of baby’s body. Food intolerance is being caused by baby’s inability to digest certain substances such as lactose presenting the milk.

The symptoms of food intolerance may include burping, indigestion, flatulence, loose and watery stools, flushing and nervousness. Grown up children may complain of getting mild to moderate headache. One noticeable thing in food intolerance is, a baby or a child can be given all those foods but in very small amount so that it does not develop any of the symptoms.

Doctors may not be able to predict which food can be an allergic to a baby and neither parent may. This condition can be judged only when a food that would be allergic to a baby is ingested accidentally. Food allergy may run in families being one of the hereditary problems. Certain other health conditions can be associated with severe allergic reactions to food. For instance, kids with asthma are more susceptible to develop severe reactions from food allergies.

There is nothing can be done for food allergies other than keeping babies away from those particular foods. It is very difficult for your baby to develop resistance against those allergens since the baby’s body and immune system is under construction. However, in many cases, breastfeeding may boost immunity system of the baby and therefore, in any condition, breastfeeding should not be stopped. Another best way to avoid dangers is to keep note of those food, which have produced food allergy to your baby or child. This list is to be produced against every person who will be with your kid such as teachers, baby sitters, relatives, parents, friends etc. The precaution is to be taken to avoid those foods strictly, as your little child may not understand what to take and what not to take.

Ayurveda says that food allergy could be due to some irritation produced by food particles. Here, the body should be capable enough to fight against the allergy and allergens. Body immunity can be developed by taking some Ayurvedic herbs like shatavari, Ashwagandha, guduchi, gokshura, amlaki, haridra, pippali and many more. There are lot many formulas available in the market for babies and children having these herbs and the whole tonic as immunity booster. You can consult your Ayurvedic physician for the proper doses and timing to give such syrups.