When most of us hear about allergies, we assume rashes and the occasional anaphylactic reaction. We also think that allergies are clear and a known issue when understanding what to avoid and what is safe to eat. But there are a lot of hidden allergies out there -- both to you and even to the general public. This causes each person to have to search for the correct information to help them understand what’s going on. Are you curious to know more about hidden allergies and how an allergy test can stop the mystery? Take a look below!
Are allergies a problem?
Food allergies are everywhere. From schools to playgroups to members of your family, everyone has them. So, they’re very public, and most of us know someone with a food allergy. In fact, studies show that child allergies are more popular by the year and continue to rise.
An allergy is the most common chronic health disorder in the UK, impacting children. Research suggests that 40% of children have childhood allergies.
For childhood and lifelong allergies, diagnosis through allergy testing is crucial. We’ll discuss that more later on, though.
What causes allergies?
There are no known causes for an allergy in children and lifelong allergy sufferers. But, there is a strong link between severe childhood eczema and childhood allergies. Eczema severely dries out the skin and creates microscopic holes. These holes allow particles of allergens into the body. This can cause a hypersensitivity to allergens that become triggered when the child eats that particular food.
Family genes also play a role. If one or both parents also have food allergies, the child can have a stronger chance of allergies, too. Many specialists will recommend an allergy test for children born to parents with food allergies. Especially if they are severe allergies to common foods.
Our modern-day cooking can also cause a problem with allergies due to its processing. Allergens might hide in the food, with no one being the wiser.
The problem with modern-day cooking
The majority of our food is highly processed in modern-day diets. While this can cause a lot of negatives for our health in general, let’s focus on food allergies.
We eat a lot of “composite foods.” These foods are made using a combination of meat, dairy, and plant products that are all highly processed and mixed to create the final effect. Composite foods can contain a lot of allergic proteins in tiny amounts. So, each meal is a possible allergic reaction waiting to happen. While food labels and warnings protect against that, it can be challenging to keep things accurate from source to the table.
These composite foods are perfect places for allergies to hide. This applies to those who deliberately avoid their allergens. They’re also prime spots for allergens to cause problems for those who don’t even know they have food allergies. This is the other side of hidden allergies.
The flip side of hidden allergies
A hidden allergy can also take the form of someone having an allergy and not even knowing it. It happens more than you think, and a lot of that is because the body isn’t always obvious about its allergy symptoms.
It’s normal in some cases for the body to mask the allergy symptoms. It does this by producing mucus in direct response to the allergens. The actual allergy symptoms might not be something you would associate with an allergy! For example, having a headache, congestion, and feeling irritable for no noticeable reason. If any of these sound familiar, consider ordering an at-home allergy test to get to the bottom of your mysterious symptoms.
The story of allergies has changed
In earlier times, most doctors and specialists would recommend long-term avoidance of allergens. The thought was that this would ensure children don’t have food allergies. Now the advice is to expose children to as many potential food allergens as possible. This includes peanuts, eggs, milk, seafood, and anything else that might trigger a food allergy. The goal is to be aware of a possible reaction and document it for safety. It also helps a child’s body get proper exposure to as many food ingredients as possible.
It’s intriguing to know that so much has changed in the conversation about food allergies. Perhaps you are interested in hidden allergies in composite foods. Or, you might want to know how your potential hidden allergies impact your life. Regardless, all the information is here to help you guide your future into the most informed version possible.