| If you have been experiencing uncontrollable sugar | | | | When your body is allergic to a food, it is |
| cravings and unusual symptoms, you may be a | | | | responding to an allergen that is within the food. If |
| victim of hidden food allergies. Gluten Intolerance | | | | a food, or a protein within a food, gets into the |
| and hidden food allergies or sensitivities to | | | | body your antibodies come to the "rescue." Your |
| common foods actually cause cravings for those | | | | body feels like it is being attacked and the |
| foods, and a whole host of other symptoms. | | | | antibodies are there to protect your immune |
| What Are Food Allergies? | | | | system. The antibodies can't tell the difference |
| Food allergies are more common than people | | | | between the food proteins and proteins from |
| think. In a recent poll of almost 1,000 U.S. | | | | viruses. They react to the food protein as if it |
| physicians, it was estimated that somewhere | | | | were a virus. A battle begins between the |
| between 12 and 19 percent of adults and 15 to 21 | | | | allergens and the antibodies, and as a result |
| percent of infants have food allergies. These | | | | histamines are released into the blood stream. |
| numbers are thought to be much higher because | | | | Histamines are the chemical product of the |
| many doctors do not have training in food | | | | microscopic explosions between the allergens and |
| allergies and do not know how to diagnose them. | | | | antibodies. |
| Let's first discuss exactly what food allergies are, | | | | Reactions can include: rashes, runny nose, puffy |
| and what they aren't. The term food allergy | | | | and watery eyes and gasping and wheezing. |
| actually comes from the two Greek words "also" | | | | These are the typical reactions associated with |
| (other) and "argon" (action). When you eat | | | | allergies. There are some reactions caused by the |
| something that you are allergic to, you have a | | | | foods you consume that you didn't even realize |
| reaction different than you would normally expect. | | | | were allergy related. Food allergies have been |
| Severe food allergies have a direct and brutal | | | | identified in over 80 different medical conditions |
| impact on the immune system. For example, | | | | including (but not limited to) arthritis, asthma, |
| many people have severe allergies to peanut | | | | autism, addictive food cravings, insomnia, psoriasis |
| products. When they consume peanuts, or | | | | and insulin-dependent diabetes. |
| anything that has peanuts in it, they immediately | | | | It is important to understand where you are and |
| have a reaction. The reaction can range from | | | | where you want to be, especially when it comes |
| gasping and wheezing, to a closing of the | | | | to losing weight and abiding to the gluten free diet. |
| esophagus. Peanut allergies can also cause skin | | | | It may be difficult but remember, in the long run, |
| irritations. | | | | it will be well-worth to be gluten free in your diet |
| Allergies always affect a major organ that is not | | | | with the assistance of weight management. So, |
| involved with digestion, like the respiratory | | | | you can feel better sooner. |
| passages, the skin or the brain. If you eat | | | | It is important to understand where you are and |
| something and have a digestive problem | | | | where you want to be, especially when it comes |
| afterwards, then you technically have intolerance | | | | to losing weight and following the gluten free diet. |
| to that food. People who cannot eat dairy | | | | To learn more about what you can start doing |
| products without having severe cramping have | | | | today, visit Diana Walker's Blog post on Five |
| intolerance for dairy. | | | | Reasons To Eat A Gluten Free Diet. |