food allergy

Food Allergies in Children

Food Allergies in Children

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Food allergies in children can manifest in many different ways. Commonly, food allergies in general give rise to symptoms such as itching, hives, throat swelling and digestive discomfort. In severe situations anaphylactic reactions can occur causing the need for immediate medical intervention. This intervention could be the use of an antihistamine like Benadryl, an Epipen, or steroid injections. If these types of reactions occur in children, and the food allergies in childhood are recognized early certain things can be done to prevent future problems. One of the most important things to do for food allergies in children is avoid consuming the offending food. Also, in some cases food allergies in children can be helped by allergy shots to desensitize the immune system to particular food items.

Behaviors Associated with Food Allergies in Children

Food allergies in children can often lead to behavior problems. Irritability, aggression, and sometimes self-injurious behavior (hitting oneself) have been recognized in food allergies in children. In these circumstances the food allergies cause inflammation that creates brain chemistry imbalances leading to changes in behavior, etc. Many of these children also have the typical symptoms of allergies like itching and digestive discomfort after eating an allergic food, but the main problems is changes in brain chemistry.

Learning Difficulties with Food Allergies in Children2>

Food allergies in children can also lead to attention and focusing problems which overtime can cause and/or contribute to learning challenges. Many children with ADD and ADHD have various food allergies which negatively impacts their ability to learn. For example, an allergy to milk can manifest not only as behavior problems, but cognitive challenges as well. The continuous consumption of dairy will just further compromise learning abilities.

Other Types of Physical Problems Associated with Food Allergies in Children

Food allergies in children can cause other types of physical problems other than typical allergy symptoms. One of the most common non-allergy symptoms of food allergies in children is digestive pain leading to recurrent diarrhea or constipation. Diarrhea is more obviously connected to a food allergy as it can quickly lead to inflammation and irritation giving rise to diarrhea. However, constipation is not often recognized as a problem, but important to understand with regards to food allergies in children. Anything that causes stress in the digestive system can lead to digestive imbalances. In some people, including children, the stress of food allergies causes tension within the nervous system leading to poor peristaltic activity. Lack or reduced peristaltic activity in the digestive system contributes to constipation.

Summary For Food Allergies in Children

For any child with behavior, learning, and digestive difficulties determining food allergies is important. Once identified appropriate dietary modification and treatment can be implemented to eliminate food allergies in children. The best tests for food allergies in children are the Comprehensive Food IgG (done via a finger prick assessment), as well as IgE antibody testing through an allergist or pediatrician – the good news is the Comprehensive Food IgG is available as an at home test.

 

Recommended: Lab Tests

food intolerances and allergies

Food Intolerances

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Food intolerances can manifest in many different ways. People with typical food allergies will have food intolerances that give rise to hives, itching, pain the mouth, throat, and stomach, and in serious circumstances anaphylactic reactions (severe allergy) that may require hospitalization. Other food intolerances can be related to immune sensitivity to food through a process called IgG production. There are four types of the immune chemical IgG’s that are produced in response to foods, pathogens, or environmental exposures, i.e. pollens. IgG 1 – 3 have the ability to trigger immune sensitivity to various foods leading to food intolerances of different sorts. This could be an IgG food intolerance to dairy, an IgG food intolerance to wheat, or IgG food intolerances to grains, meats, nuts and seeds, etc. These type of IgG food intolerances often cause bloating, gas, abdominal discomfort, but have also been associated with headaches, body aches and pain, and mental changes in memory, emotions, and behavior. Other food intolerances can often be seen by intolerance to certain chemicals in food.

Food Intolerances With Chemical In Food

Many foods have natural chemicals which some people have a difficult time processing. These food intolerances are to various chemicals called phenols and salicylates which can trigger imbalances in brain chemistry leading to emotional problems, learning difficulties, memory processing, and behavior. Also, food intolerance to phenols. etc. is something seen quite commonly with children on the autism-spectrum who become hyper and agitated when they consume foods high in phenols. In addition to IgG and phenol/salicylate food intolerances there are other chemicals which cause problems too. These are called peptides.

Food Intolerances With Wheat & Dairy

Peptides are small chains of amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. When the body attempts to digest certain food items such as dairy and wheat there can be an increase in abnormal peptides that interfere with brain chemistry. These peptides have a chemical similarly to opiates and interact with opiate receptors in the brain and nervous system. This type of food intolerance is quite common in the autism community, and in certain individuals with mental health challenges like Schizophrenia. The consumption of foods like wheat and dairy for a person carrying this food intolerance problem can have devastating consequences. It is not uncommon to see individuals on the autism-spectrum have heightened anxiety and emotional problems, along with behaviors leading to self-injury that can be tracked back to wheat and/or milk food peptide intolerance.

Testing for various food intolerances is important to decipher what type of food intolerance is occurring. Common blood tests for Food IgE look at true allergy to foods. The more common profile of total IgG (Comprehensive IgG Food Sensitivity Test) is appropriate for a wide range of people suffering from food intolerances. The Urinary Peptide test is easy to perform and is helpful to identify food intolerance with respects to milk and wheat peptide problems.

 

Recommended: Common Food Allergies

Food IgG Test Video Image

Food IgG Test Video

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Get The Food IgG Test Here.

Food IgG Test – For Food Sensitivity

Food sensitivities generally involve a number of antibodies (aka. immunoglobulins), but the most prevalent one is called IgG. There are 4 different types of IgG – 1 thru 4. Each plays a different role in the immune system, but as a group they are useful to test against various foods to determine immune intolerance. When elevated they point to a problem that the immune system is hypersensitive and excess Total IgG levels can trigger inflammation throughout the body. Many people with Food IgG sensitivities complain of fatigue, headaches, sinus congestion, digestive problems such as pain, bloating, gas and bowel changes, as well as joint pain and stiffness. Therefore, the Food IgG Test is extremely useful for anyone looking to improve their overall health.

Food IgG is also correlated with a variety of mental health challenges, and elevated Total IgG is often seen positively correlated to depression, anxiety, autism, mood disorders and others. Many children on the autism-spectrum have elevated Total IgG to gluten, casein, corn and soy which correlates to behavior issues, sleeping problems and poor attention.

There are many tests on the market that use the IgG4 as their determining antibody for immune reactivity. However, this antibody is an incorrect marker to use solely as its elevation can indicate immune tolerance and actually has a blocking effect against food sensitivity. Therefore, the more accurate test to perform is Total IgG which is what the Food IgG Test from Great Plains Laboratory uses. This test is available as a finger prick analysis which makes it extremely easy to do at home, and bypasses the need to do blood testing which is problematic for some children. The Food IgG Test analyzes over 90+ foods and is highly accurate for immune sensitivities. The Food IgG Test from Great Plains is considered to be a foundational test to perform along with other metabolic tests such as the Organic Acid Test.