Chronic food allergies: The healthy foods you eat may also become "poison"!

We have heard of allergies to many things, but we probably don’t know much about chronic food allergies. Food allergies are caused by side effects when food is digested. In other words, when the digested food molecules act as antigens (substances that can be attached to antibodies), a typical food allergy reaction will occur.

There are two types of food allergies:

One is acute allergy (fixed type):

The body reacts within a short period of time after eating, typically with itching, acne, etc.

One is chronic food allergy (cyclical type, also called food intolerance)

Invisible, it takes a long time to feel, such as rhinitis. Most people usually ignore it.

Chronic food allergies account for 80% to 90% of all food allergies.

Prevalence of chronic food allergies

Some doctors believe that food allergies are the main cause of undiagnosed symptoms, and at least 60% of Americans are affected by symptoms caused by food allergies. 25% of American children and adolescents have food allergies and other side effects of food.

In China, the number of food allergies does not seem to be as high as in the United States, but we have reason to believe that is because we do less allergy testing.

With environmental degradation and the influence of various processed foods, the incidence of food allergies will continue to rise.

What factors cause food allergies?

1) Genetic factors:

Related research shows that if both parents have allergies, the child's chance of allergies is 67%; if one parent has allergies, the child's chance of allergies is still high, but it drops from 67% to 33%.

2) Many factors that can damage the immune system can cause allergic reactions, such as physical or mental trauma, drug overdose, vaccination, special food, frequent food intake, environmental toxins, etc.

3) Other factors:

Repeated consumption of a certain food.

So it may be surprising at first to hear that some northerners who eat noodles every day are allergic to wheat gluten, but upon careful consideration, it is not surprising at all.

Indigestion, such as lack of gastric acid, lack of some digestive enzymes, etc.

Incomplete intestinal mucosal barrier

A large amount of data shows that partially undigested food proteins can pass through the intestinal mucosal barrier and enter the blood vessels. These macromolecules can cause allergic reactions, directly acting on the intestinal barrier, other remote sites or the whole body. Studies have shown that incomplete protein digestion can damage the immune system, leading to long-term allergies and frequent infections.

4) Nervous

Food allergies are more likely to flare up or get worse when you are stressed.