Food allergies are too common in our society. Many Americans cannot eat certain foods because of allergic reactions. Now is new study found that food allergies are increasing alarmingly, and almost half of people suffering from food allergies are allergic to more than one type of food. As if that wasn't bad enough, these food allergies can have far-reaching effects on physical and mental health in addition to limiting dietary choices.
Food allergies adversely affect physical and mental health
The new study, published in the journal Annals of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology, examined data from surveys of 38,408 children and 40,443 adults. Researchers have found that two out of five children and nearly half of adults have food allergies and are allergic to more than one type of food. Study participants also reported the effects of food allergies on their physical and psychological well-being. Unfortunately, an increase in this health problem is associated with severe allergic reactions and epi-pen use (a pre-filled device for automatic injection of adrenaline during a severe allergic reaction), greater psychological burden, and allergy-related emergency room visits.
There is some evidence that it can even cause learning disabilities in children and adults. Needless to say, all these effects can negatively affect a person's quality of life and well-being. This is bad news for public health because food allergies are a significant public health problem affecting more than 32 million people in the United States alone. But what is more concerning is the rapid rise in prevalence across America. According to the CDC, food allergies increased by a staggering 50% between 1997 and 2011 alone, and nut allergies in children have tripled in recent years.
What is causing the sudden increase?
There is no doubt that multiple food allergies are becoming a problem that we cannot ignore. But why? While the data is clear that this health problem is on the rise, the answers to why are less clear. Some scientists have suggested a possible link between food allergies and vaccines. It's true: adults (and children) are injected with far more poison today with these injections than ever before in history. For example, one recent study found that children who were fully vaccinated were 4.31 times more likely to also have severe food allergies. Other research has shown that aluminum adjuvants, common in some vaccines, actually cause allergies in rats when injected with the allergen. In 1968, only 6% children had some chronic disease. Today, more than half of children in the US have chronic diseases such as obesity, ADHD, autism, allergies or autoimmune problems.
What to do if you suspect a food allergy?
Regardless of the cause, food allergies can be a huge burden on your mental and physical health. Therefore, it is important to recognize the signs in yourself or your children. Digestive problems, irritability, asthma, concentration problems or dark circles can be symptoms of a food allergy. If you think you may be suffering from a food allergy, it's worth getting tested. The most common food allergens include wheat, gluten, dairy, soy, eggs, tree nuts, corn, and seafood. You can also try eliminating a common allergen from your diet to see how you feel.
Sources:
ChildrensHealthDefense.org
ScienceDirect.com
If you find out that you are allergic to any of the listed ingredients, follow a healthy lifestyle and do a 5-day gut detox (for more information, click HERE) as well as the Liver (click for more information on this HERE) to make everyday life easier.
People's experiences are encouraging, you can read more about the experience HERE
