The most common food allergens are dairy produce, wheat, eggs, strawberries, fish and shellfish, cereals, and some food additives. Symptoms of food allergy include cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, gas, migraine headaches, skin eruptions and irritations, hyperactivity, mood swings, fatigue and food cravings.

Prevention

Food allergies can sometimes develop when a child is weaned too early. Try to breast feed infants for at least the first 6 months of life; longer if possible. Introduce new foods slowly and carefully, ensuring the baby has adapted to the new food before moving on to the next one. Start with baby rice and millet. Do not give wheat or milk during the first year.

Treatment - Dietary

The first step is to identify which foods (or drinks) upset you. The following method can be used:

List any foods that disagree with you or produce fatigue, skin reactions, hyperactivity, irritability, etc. List foods or drinks you consume every day. List any foods you regularly crave. List foods you would miss if unavailable. List any foods you have begun to eat recently. Any foods, which appear more than once on these lists, are a potential allergen. You can further identify food allergens by testing your pulse. Take your pulse on walking, just before each meal, 30 minutes after the meal and before going to bed. If the pulse remains constant then the foods you are eating are probably not causing an allergy. If the pulse swings up or down more than 6 beats, it is likely that the food is causing an allergic reaction. Work your way through the suspected foods using this means of diagnosis. Eliminate any food which seems suspect for at least 2 weeks, then reintroduce it and notice whether it produces symptoms. Replace foods which cause allergic reactions with alternative foods, for example, Soya milk, goat’s milk, or non-dairy whiteners can replace cow’s milk. After 6 months try reintroducing the offending food: you may find you have overcome your sensitivity.

Professional Help

To reduce sensitivity to food allergies, naturopaths often recommend a detoxification diet. This should be carried out in consultation with a professional. If you are unable to identify what is causing your allergy, a kinesiologist can help by using muscle testing to identify which foods are producing weaknesses in the body. Professional homeopathic prescribing will boost general immunity and thus reduce sensitivity to potential allergens.

Orthodox

Doctors recommend avoidance of potential allergens. Look carefully at ingredients on processed foods to ensure they do not contain substances, which will trigger an attack.