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Are these things allergens at all or should they be excluded from the diet?

Homepage Articles Are these things allergens at all or should they be excluded from the diet?

Are these things allergens at all or should they be excluded from the diet?

More and more people are following the latest trends in nutrition. The allergen fashion has now become very popular. Many well-known people in the fitness industry advocate for the elimination of allergic foods from their diets. They claim that consuming gluten only has negative effects and that milk is pure evil, so it is best to remove these products from their diets. However, this is not entirely correct. There is no doubt that there are people who are allergic to certain products or ingredients, in which case they should avoid them. But should we blindly follow the trends and eliminate foods that are commonly considered as allergens? Wouldn't it be better to eat the products we crave for and not worry about potential health consequences?

Table of Contents

1. Allergic reactions and allergens

An allergy is the occurrence of an immune reaction that is associated with the formation of antibodies which, when combined with an antigen, lead to the release of various substances which are called inflammatory mediators. Symptoms of allergy are very diverse. Possible symptoms include rash, swelling of the pancreas, inflammation of the oral cavity, reflux of the esophagus, anaphylactic shock, allergic rhinitis, asthma, eczema, chronic allergic reactions of the stomach and duodenum, and diarrhea. These risks apply only to people who are allergic to soy products and products derived from foodstuffs such as fats, legumes, ores and oats; ores, oats, oatmeal, oregano and oregano; 10 mg/kg/kg; and may include:

2. Categories of allergic reactions

In grown-up individuals, there are three distinct kinds of reactions that may occur following the ingestion of an allergen. These include:

3. Prompt allergic reaction

The clinical signs manifest here promptly after the intake of the allergen, no later than 10 minutes. It can range from a mild case of hives to a severe anaphylactic shock;

4. Cytotoxic allergic response

The reaction unfolds in various tissues and organs. Antibodies are targeted against antigens present on the surface of the body's own cells. Consequently, this results in cell destruction and the activation of other immune system mechanisms.

5. Immune response at the level of immune complexes

Symptoms of this type of allergy may appear even after a few hours to a few days after ingesting the allergen. If an allergy to a specific food ingredient is diagnosed, it is essential to eliminate it from the diet to prevent the occurrence of unwanted symptoms. The allergy may manifest in milder forms, such as hives or skin irritation, however, if the allergen is not eliminated from our diet despite the diagnosis of the allergy, more severe symptoms, such as anaphylactic shock, may also occur.

6. Exclusion diet

An exclusion diet serves not only to identify the food component that triggers an allergic reaction, but also to treat the allergy. If it turns out that a certain component is allergic to our body, it must be excluded from the diet. After some time, after the allergen has been stopped being consumed, one can try to reintroduce it into meals, but this should be done gradually and in small amounts. If no allergic reaction occurs, the dose of the allergen can be gradually increased. However, if the previous allergic reaction was strong enough, it does not need to be reintroduced into the diet. It is also important to ensure an adequate supply of nutrients to avoid deficiencies that may occur as a result of the complete exclusion of a product from the diet. In this case, one should pay attention to products that are also a good source of these nutrients.

7. How can we be sure we are dealing with a genuine allergy?

In recent times, avoiding foods that are considered allergenic has become increasingly popular. Too many people exclude such foods from their diets without any rational explanation and follow the so-called "allergen fashion". Extreme individuals tend to take extreme measures. However, before we decide to completely eliminate a particular allergen from our diet, it is important to understand our body. To achieve this, we should start a healthy and balanced diet that includes all the necessary macronutrients, vitamins, and minerals. If we are new to the field of nutrition, we can use the food pyramid for a healthy diet and engage in physical activity. If we do not observe any negative symptoms during this diet, there is no reason to exclude a particular food from our daily diet. However, if we experience unpleasant symptoms such as skin rashes, hives, runny nose, abdominal pain, nausea, etc., we should consider an elimination diet. It is best to consult a specialist who can help us diagnose and balance our diet. Identifying an allergen often relies on the trial-and-error method. We can start by eliminating the most allergenic foods such as milk, eggs, or gluten-containing grains from our diet. Such a diet should be followed for several weeks until the symptoms disappear completely. Then, we can reintroduce the excluded food and observe if the symptoms return. If they do, it means that this food triggers an allergic reaction in us. In this case, it is necessary to completely eliminate the food from our diet to minimize the risk of unwanted symptoms.
Source

Dzwolak W., Zarządzanie alergenami w produkcji produktów spożywczych, „Problemy Jakości” 2015, 4, 29–31.
Kunachowicz H., Czarnowska-Misztal E., Turlejska H., Zasady żywienia człowieka, Warszawa 2000.
Rosello R., Alergie. Naturalne sposoby leczenia, Warszawa 2009.
Rozporządzenie Parlamentu Europejskiego i Rady (UE) nr 1169/2011 z dnia 25 października 2011 r. w sprawie przekazywania konsumentom informacji na temat żywności.
Wróblewska B., Jędrychowski L., Żywność a alergia, „Żywność. Technologia. Jakość” 1998, 5(2), 5–15.