Why do people get food allergies?

Food allergies are health issues caused by an overreaction of the immune system to certain foods. Symptoms range from mild itching and hives to life-threatening anaphylactic shock. In this article, we explain what causes food allergies and the mechanisms behind them.

How food allergies work
Food allergies occur when the immune system mistakenly identifies a protein in a particular food as "harmful." This misidentification triggers a reaction in the immune system that tries to attack that protein. Let's take a closer look at this process.

①Sensitization (initial reaction)
When you first eat an allergy-causing food, your immune system recognizes the proteins in that food (allergens) and produces specific antibodies called IgE antibodies. At this stage, you may not experience any symptoms.

②Re-exposure (onset of allergic reaction)
When you eat the same food again, the allergen binds to the IgE antibody, causing immune cells called mast cells to release chemicals such as histamine, which causes allergic symptoms.

The main food causing
There are a wide variety of foods that can cause food allergies, but the most common foods that cause allergies are:

・Eggs <br data-mce-fragment="1">The main cause is the protein in egg white. It is a particularly common allergy in infants, but it may go into remission as they grow older.

- Dairy products <br data-mce-fragment="1">Casein and whey in milk may be allergens.

- Wheat <br data-mce-fragment="1">Wheat products containing gluten can cause allergies. This is an immune response that is different from that of celiac disease.

・Nuts (especially peanuts)
Nut allergies can be very severe and even small amounts can be dangerous.

・Seafood <br data-mce-fragment="1">Shrimp, crab, fish, etc. are common allergy-causing foods in adults.

Risk of developing food allergies
The development of food allergies is influenced by genetic and environmental factors.

- Genetic factors <br data-mce-fragment="1">If there is someone in your family who has an allergy, you tend to be at higher risk.

・Environmental factors <br data-mce-fragment="1">The timing of food intake, the eating environment, and the health of the digestive system are said to have an impact. In recent years, excessive hygiene management has also been attracting attention as a factor that hinders the immune system from adapting.

Prevention and Control
There is no perfect way to prevent food allergies, but the following approaches are recommended:

- Food intake during infancy <br data-mce-fragment="1">Some studies have suggested that feeding small amounts of allergenic foods to infants may be preventative.

- Use a food diary <br data-mce-fragment="1">If you experience allergic symptoms, record what you have eaten to help identify the cause.

- Carry an EpiPen <br data-mce-fragment="1">If you have severe allergies, it is recommended that you always carry an EpiPen (auto-injector epinephrine) prescribed by your doctor.

Food allergies have a significant impact on quality of life, but with proper management and countermeasures, many of the risks can be reduced. It is important to have the correct knowledge and deal with the problem in consultation with a doctor or nutritionist.

・List of allergy-friendly sweets from BEYOND SWEETS>>

BEYOND SWEETS: A specialty store for healthy sweets
[Three categories of BEYOND SWEETS]
■BEYOND1 Beauty and Diet>>
■BEYOND2 Medical Sports>>
■BEYOND3 Allergy Friendly>>