The Importance Of Food Allergies

While researching the topic of food allergy protections in schools and its effects on unaffected families, I found a large amount of information on food allergies and what we should do but very little on the effects on others. I began my research by looking for the scholarly articles that detailed the medical professions suggested handling of food allergies in a school setting. I discovered an article published in the American Academy of Pediatrics Journal titled Clinical Report- Management of Food Allergy in the School Setting by Dr. Scott M. Sicherer. In this paper he highlights both what the treatment and prevention should be for adolescent children in just about every environment including school. The article starts off with giving us a baseline for food allergies and the dangers. He notes that 1 in 25 people suffer from food allergies and the most at risk group is preschool age

This was a rare day in my everyday life of being allergic to nuts and sesame seeds. Many people have heard about food allergies, but do not actually know what they are. A food allergy is when the immune system produces antibodies in defense against a substance that is actually not harmful to the body. There is no cure for food allergies yet, and the reaction can ultimately be life threatening. Dealing with an allergy is an everyday challenge that has forced me to become more aware of the food I eat. My family and I discovered my allergy at a young age, and one of the ways I manage it is by always

The term gluten refers to the proteins found in wheat, rye, and barley. The most common sources of gluten include breads, pastries, pasta, and cereals, yet everything from mouthwash and toothpaste to lipstick and supplements can contain gluten. It can also be hidden under certain names such as emulsifier, . I have had celiac disease for about five years, and throughout this period I have mastered the art of detecting and avoiding gluten. In fact, I believe that the key strategies to adapt to this lifestyle are : to always be cautious and alert, to do your research, and to collect up to date and credible information. I remember when I was first diagnosed, my doctor gave me a short list of foods that I must eliminate. However, within one week, I kept on adding to that list until I turned it into a ten pages catalogue that I used as a guideline to facilitate my transition. I had a major clear out

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. People with celiac disease cannot eat foods with the gluten protein, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. If they eat foods with gluten, their

Celiac disease seems to be on an up rise today. You now walk into grocery stores and restaurants and see gluten-free food everywhere. Thankfully, for the celiac disease community, life has become a little easier with these accommodations. When most people hear celiac disease many just think gluten-free diets, but they do not realize that celiac disease can affect all parts of the body and mind, or that the disease has a higher prevalence in women. It is a new lifestyle that many have to take on. In the next few pages, I will discuss the affects that this disease has on the body systems, the lifestyle changes many make when diagnosed with celiac disease, and the importance of educating those who are dealing with the disease on a day to day basis. I also will discuss information from two articles which focus in on the direct affects that the disease takes on women living with it, and the lifestyle changes that are necessary to manage the symptoms.

Eating a gluten-free diet is time consuming and expensive, but it is important. Celiac disease can cause numerous health issues in the future if the gluten-free diet is not followed. The gluten-free diet needs to be taken seriously and

Celiac Disease is an autoimmune disorder that affects about 1 in 133 Americans. Those with Celiac must stick to a strict gluten free diet in order to heal the lining of their intestines. When people with Celiac ingest gluten, their body triggers an immune response that attacks the small intestine. Some experience mild discomfort and bloating while others experience a more serious reaction which can make them very sick for many days. Having Celiac can change your life dramatically, but in the past five years the selection of gluten free foods has significantly improved. In 2007, Phil Zietlow proposed the “Gluten Free Project” to General Mills. He was not the only person to propose this major

I promise not to bore you with statistics, but medical conditions including food allergies, celiac disease and gluten intolerance have become a large, growing problem in the United States. Official estimates are that 4% of adults and 8% of children have food allergies while almost 7% of all Americans suffer from celiac disease or a form of gluten sensitivity. If you translate that into actual population, in Maryland alone, a conservative estimate would be over a half million

Of the suggestions, an adoption of the gluten-free diet has made its way to the top of the list. The gluten-free diet has shown tremendous improvements in overall quality of life for people with fibromyalgia. Usually, the gluten free diet is suggested for people who have been diagnosed with Celiac Disease. What had been brought to light is that symptoms that typically spawn with Fibromyalgia also spawn with Celiac Disease. Thus, an idea was born to test the adoption of the gluten-free diet in those who have fibromyalgia. A study published in the journal of Rheumatology International discovered that a gluten-free diet produced drastic improvements in symptoms that occurred with Fibromyalgia. Patients reported that they were able to fully return back to normal activity and work. Other reported that they were able to completely stop taking their prescribed medication with no undue stress. Many explained that they went into total remission and had no symptoms return while adhering to the Gluten-free diet. Most of the subjects reported a combination of two or all three discoveries. A select few tried to ease gluten back into their regular meals. Instantly, symptoms returned and did not disappear until those individuals reincorporated the gluten-free diet into their lives once

Food, food is something that we as human beings live off of. But not everybody is as fortunate as others, nowadays food allergies occur in 1 out of every 13 children. This indicates fifteen plus million people have food allergies. This epidemic poses a threat to many citizens that live with food allergies because of the incorrect labeling, distribution and safety of food products. The research provided is to show one, what food allergies are and how they affect daily life of those who live with food allergies. Food allergies are extremely important and educating people about food allergies will hopefully quick start the progress to find a cure.

When we first found out that I had Celiac Disease, we had a hard time adjusting. None of my family knew what gluten was until then. We heard about thing like cross contamination or even that I couldn’t be in the same room that flour is being used. Slowly, we learned how to accommodate for my needs. We went to a dietitian who showed us how to spot foods that had gluten in it. We also found out that the grocery store Reasor’s labels food that is gluten free. After a couple of years, it became easy for us to find foods and drinks that did not have any gluten in

The Hygiene Hypothesis states that first world countries are exposing their immune systems to so little at a young age, that immune systems are not able to develop properly, leading to a major increase in severe health issues such as food allergies and asthma. Researchers estimate that up to 15 million Americans have food allergies, including those at risk for life-threatening anaphylaxis (1). Allergies affect one in every thirteen children in the US, with children’s food allergies alone having an economic cost of $25 billion per year (1). Approximately every three minutes, someone is sent to the Emergency Room due to a food allergy – many of which with life-threatening symptoms. Food allergies are still an incurable disease that has drastic effects on both life quality and life span all over the world, especially in more developed countries (2).

There is an increasing number of people who avoid gluten without being diagnosed with a gluten-related disorder (DiGiacomo DV, 2013). Some authorities have labelled these individuals ‘PWAGS’. Some of these individuals avoid gluten due to enduring intestinal and/or extra intestinal symptoms on a gluten-containing diet who experience improvement in symptoms on a gluten-free diet, while others self-prescribe a gluten-free diet for perceived health benefits or for other reasons. It is estimated that 10-20% of the general population in the United States are consuming gluten-free foods. Excluding celiac disease should remain a top priority as it has been seen that many patients with gluten-related symptoms may subsequently be diagnosed with celiac disease and 75% of CD is unrecognized. Making the diagnosis of CD is important as this determines the need for long-term disease monitoring, degree of adherence to a GFD and need for screening among family members. In case of negative celiac serologies but ongoing suspicion for CD due to suspicion for ongoing gluten exposure, referral to a gastroenterologist for further appropriate testing should be made.

Food allergies are defined as an allergic reaction from the body’s immune system when in contact with certain foods. It is estimated that approximately fifteen million Americans have some form of food allergy. 60% (nine million) of fifteen millions Americans, with some form of food allergy are adults and 40% (six million) of 15 million are children under the age of eighteen years old. According to research released in 2013, food allergies among children under the age of eighteen increased about 50% between 1997 and 2011. There is no decisive answer as to why the number of people who have a food allergy is growing. Food allergies are a rising epidemic due to the decrease of gut bacteria, because of this serious life-threatening reactions, imprecise diagnosis, and costly treatments are also rising.

Research on Food Allergies True food allergies are not as common as many people believe and do in fact only affect about 2% of children. However, they are more common in younger children (affecting about 5-8% of younger children). Fortunately, most younger children will outgrow these food allergies by the time that they are three years old.