When it comes to finding out what triggers your allergies, detecting the culprits is not an easy task. Most people only think of peanuts and gluten as potential allergens. However, the list is much longer than that, and some impostors are so good at hiding that you might never have considered them until now.
Meet Your Enemies: Common Allergens
Before we move on to uncovering unusual suspects lurking in plain sight, let's talk about the usual suspects first. You've probably heard more times than you can count about how peanut butter could land children with severe allergic reactions or trigger asthma attacks due to pollen exposure if you're sensitive enough.
But here are some other common culprits:
1. Milk
Milk contains lactose sugar which can be hard on our bodies for individuals suffering from lactose intolerance/allergy diseases. - Itchiness/rash - Asthma/difficulty breathing/breathlessness/wheezing - Diarrhea/vomiting/stomach upset/Nausea/Abdominal pain/cramps/bloating/swelling or tingling
2. Shellfish/Fish:
Shellfish contain very high amounts of a group of chemical elements known as iodine (necessary for thyroid gland operation), but this substance has been reported severally causing adverse negative reactions like fatal food anaphylaxis. Shortness of breath/Breathlessness/sneezing/runny nose/nasal drip/rashes/hives/ swelling face/body/tongue/lips/or tightness around throat regions following within minutes after consumption.
It’s important for those individuals who had previously experienced asthmatic symptoms triggered by medications containing aspirin also vacate against consuming shellfish since they may cause related reaction disorders when consumed together intentionally.
3. Nuts
Just as peanuts, nuts from the tree-nut variety such as Walnuts and Cashew have been seen to cause allergies that are quite severe. - Hives/rash/itchy skin - Swollen lips/tongue/or throat area - Stomach upset with diarrhea or vomiting - Runny/stuffy nose/sneezing/coughing/wheezing/Nausea
4. Soy:
A diet containing soy protein could expose you to a risk of an allergic reaction. A few things to take note of regarding this allergen include; - Stomach upsets alongside loose bowels - Hives/itchiness all over your body regions including tongue/lips/throat and face though faintly - Runny nose/severe cough without sputum/mucous production
These are just some examples of easily detectable allergens people know about (or thought they knew).
The Unusual Suspects: Allergies You Never Considered
Bullet Body count:
Latex: touch isn't always comfortable
Asthma
Rash/hive-like symptoms
- Bergamot Fruit : Smells Good, Not Always Safe For Consumption for everyone,
- photosensitivity upon fruit contact with skin surface leading rashes/blisters/crusts/scaly/dry/flaky/reddish hyperpigmentation even after days the fruits were handled,
But let's face it; not everything is so obviously detrimental. Some impostors might surprise you by being much less apparent than shellfish, milk, or nuts:
1. Cockroaches
Yes! cockroaches are common home pests but what surprises many is how they can affect health negatively leaving one open to experiencing allergy sensitivities triggering one’s asthma progressively without anyone knowing.
To tackle against each household roaches invasion keep clean house habits by regularly keeping food stacked in air-sealed cases.
2. Raw Fruits and Vegetables
Fruit and veggies are essential for anyone’s healthy diet; however, uncooked produce ingestion could provoke a reaction similar to pollen allergies.
To avoid such symptoms, try roasting or boiling your vegetables slightly before consumption since cooking usually deactivates the allergy-inducing protein complex leading to milder reactions only felt on eating incredibly cooked foods typically containing very high levels of heat-sensitive allergens like broccoli sprouts.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it's vital always to stay vigilant about understanding exactly what triggers your potential allergic responses so you can perform accurate testing/training follow-ups with specialist health care professionals accurately.
Small changes do matter. Being mindful of ingredients that contain unfamiliar substances or chemicals (even by-products) is a good start towards remaining cautious at all times as affords more knowledge which translates into making better-informed decisions beneficial towards our collective immune systems' welfare. Stay safe (Don't shoot the messenger)!