Don't Jump To The Wrong Conclusions!

by Kathi
(Pennsylvania)

Many people, that is up to 25% of adults and children alike, believe they have a food allergy, but after testing, the numbers fall closer to around 5% according to the Allergy & Clinical Immunology Journal. So how can so many people be making such an erroneous assumption?

In medicine, signs and symptoms is only a predictor that something is wrong. Common symptoms of hives, nausea, gas and bloating, diarrhea can all be an indicator of an allergy, but it could be about a hundred other things also. Many people jump to the conclusion though they got sick after drinking milk so I must have a milk allergy. Parents have often done this with their children, eliminating an entire food group when it could have just been on that particular day the milk and juice together when hitting the stomach acids could have created an upset stomach, thus leading to a bunch of uncomfortable symptoms.

Eliminating an entire food group, often inconvenient but still very possible, also means you have eliminated an entire source of vitamins, minerals and nutrients your body needs for optimum health. Unless comparable substitutions are made, over time the lack of these nutrients will result in even more health complications in the future.

Checking with a doctor and having the necessary testing may often be inconvenient but it’s also beneficial for both yours and your child’s future health.

If It’s Not An Allergy - What Is It?

The number one documented reason a child gets sick from certain foods has nothing to do with any kind of health concern - it’s determined by their psychological acceptance, or rejection, of that food. It could be the flavor, taste, color, texture or just something as simple as it looks like something else and they know they don’t like that. If your child gags or vomits after eating, many parents over-react and blame the food (allergy).

Another medical condition could be the source of the problem also but the parent’s have already made the decision it is an allergy through self-diagnosis. This can lead to more problems in the future because cancer, an ulcer, IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) or any of the other diseases of the stomach or intestine could actually be the problem and now it has been left untreated.

The human body is reliant on certain enzymes being present in the digestive system for efficient digestion. None of us though are alike. We don’t all get handed an exact measurement at birth of the required enzymes. A shortage therefore can lead to any type of food intolerance, often not showing up until later years. Common conditions here include:

• Lactose Intolerance - is a shortage of lactase, an enzyme which prevents the digestion of the milk sugars in all dairy products
  
  
• Sulfite Sensitivity - sulfites are a common preservative used in food processing. Unfortunately, many people are sensitive to this additive, especially asthmatics
  
  
• Fruit Sugars (fructose) - these always take a special enzyme, often lacking in many people, which prevents the digestion of fresh fruits or any foods with added fructose
  
  
• Alcohol Intolerance - is just exactly what it sounds like. Some people simple can not process alcohol in their system.
  
  
• Galactose Intolerance - This is a certain type of sugar which is common to beans and legumes which if the right enzyme is missing, people tend to have extreme pains, gas and bloating plus diarrhea as their system tries to get rid of the foods.
  
  
• Phenylketonuria - High proteins and artificial sweeteners both are dependent on an amino acid being present to aid in metabolizing these components in the system. This condition can actually be fatal with a build-up in the system. This is a perfect example where self-diagnosis can actually create more problems than solve.
  

So without testing and a medical exam, many people spend their life avoiding a selection of foods which are perfectly safe for them. Chances of future difficulties in your health now become more commonplace. Take the time to verify your self-diagnosis before you decide to plan your entire life, or your child’s, around a problem that truly does not even exist.