According to reports in the New Scientist some 300 million people suffer from Asthma and this is expected to increase by about 100 million over the next 100 years1. Eczema is another problem that is on the increase, it is currently thought to effect 15% of children in Europe. Although is not known exactly why they these problems are on the increase it is thought that the allergy epidemic may be due to the immune system failing to regulate its own strength. It simply overreacts and starts damaging normal healthy tissues in the body.
Although it is known that allergies have a genetic component their rapid rise suggests that environmental factors may also play a role. Researchers in Sweden have been investigating this issue. They have been comparing gut flora in babies from Sweden, where allergy rates are high, to babies from Estonia, where allergy rates are low. They have discovered that Estonian babies have a far greater range of microbes in their gut and over time this develops into a healthy mix of friendly bacteria. These bacteria help keep the digestive tract healthy and may play a role in helping regulate the immune system cells in the digestive tract. On the other hand, Swedish babies had much fewer gut bacteria particularly less Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium.
However it is not just asthma and eczema that can be caused by allergies, a whole host of conditions may be aggravated by certain foods. Symptoms may include itchy skin or eyes, sneezing, sinus problems, headaches and migraine and digestive problems to name a few. Even more serious chronic conditions such as arthritis can be aggravated by allergies. However these problems may not always be due to an allergy, but can also be aggravated by food intolerance.
Food Allergies
Food allergies always involve an immune system reaction. They occur when the immune system over reacts to a food (known as an allergen). When this happens IgE antibodies react with the allergen which leads to the release of a chemical called histamine, this can cause inflammation which may result in some of the symptoms discussed above.
These symptoms may occur any time after eating the food, sometimes immediately, some times a few hours later. In rare cases IgE allergies may lead to serious anaphylactic shock.
Food intolerance
Food intolerance is an adverse reaction that does not involve the immune system. It can be caused by a lack of enzymes as in a lactose (milk) intolerance or an inability to digest foods due to poor digestion. Food intolerances can cause by a variety of symptoms such as stomach pains, bloating, gas, diarrhoea, constipation, headaches and fatigue. A person with intolerance may be able to eat small quantities of food without a problem.
How to test for allergies and intolerances
One of first things to do is to keep a food diary and to note the symptoms each day. Include plenty of variety so that you get a broad range of foods. The four most commonly allergenic foods are egg, cows milk, wheat and peanuts. However tomatoes, citrus fruit, chocolate, fish and seafood can also cause problems for many people.
If problems are still occurring you may want to pay a visit to your GP to discuss the issue in more detail. He may refer you for allergy testing however, this can also be carried out at home by using a simple allergy home test kit.
If you have any further questions regarding allergy and intolerance and would like to speak to a BANT certified nutritionist please feel free to contact us.
1) New Scientist 16 April 05.
