by 1 Cylivers
After a delicious meal you are supposed to smile – and not go red in the face. But, for many people there are foods that trigger an immune system response that includes itchiness, hives, swollen lips, flushing, eczema, rashes, etc. This is because their bodies mistakenly believe these foods are harmful.
Although an individual could be allergic to any food, such as fruits, vegetables, and meats, the foods below account for 90% of all food-allergic reactions:
1. Milk (particularly cow’s milk) & milk byproducts (butter, buttermilk, cheese, cottage cheese, whey, yogurt)
2. Egg and egg substitutes
3. Fish (such as bass, flounder, cod)
4. Crustaceans shell fish (such as crab, lobster, shrimp, clams, oysters)
5. Tree nuts (such as almonds, pecans, walnuts, chestnuts, brazil nuts, cashews, hickory nuts, pistachios)
6. Peanut
7. Soy and Soybeans
8. Wheat / Gluten
9. Red wine – specifically sulfites
10. Hot Spices such as chili seasonings
The outbreak then typically covers your entire body and/or is accompanied by chest tightness, wheezing, or shortness of breath, then get to an emergency room pronto for a shot of epinephrine. This might be anaphylaxis - a sudden, severe, potentially fatal, systemic allergic reaction that can involve vital areas of the body (such as the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, and cardiovascular system).
Otherwise, apply hydrocortisone cream to help sooth welts, rashes, and inflammation. To quell itching, take an antihistamine pill like Benadryl. If you suspect hot spices are to blame, drink lots of water to help flush them from your system.
Once you know what the trigger food was, obviously try to steer clear of it in the future! But if you're not sure, write down everything you remember about what you ate -- use the list above to jog your memory -- and see a doctor for testing.
