Intolerances and Allergies
Food intolerance is not life threatening, although it can make the sufferer feel
extremely unwell and have a major impact on work and social life. Intolerance
to a particular food will not necessarily show immediately, often taking a few
hours to a few days to show up.What causes food intolerance?
When food is digested the proteins within the food are broken down into smaller fragments for easy absorption in the body.Sometimes, larger fragments can pass through without breaking down, causing the body to react to them as invaders, attacking them using antibodies called Immunoglobulin G (IgG).
If you suffer from one or more of the symptoms listed to the left,it could be food intolerance that is contributing to your symptoms.
Allergies
The immune system reacts to the allergen in a similar way as it does to a dangerous germ. It recognises the allergens as invaders and as a reaction attacks them using antibodies called Immunoglobulin E (IgE). Amongst other things, this reaction causes the release of a substance called histamine within your body, which leads to the development of allergic symptoms.
The body has a system that ‘remembers’ allergies. If you avoid things to which you are allergic then there may not be any relevant antibodies in your blood. But on re-exposure even tiny amounts of allergen antibodies will re-appear.
Allergies in Families
Many people who have allergies belong to families in which parents and other close relatives also have allergies. Specific allergies, such as those to pollen, may not be inherited. A person can become sensitive, or allergic to pollen or foods over time.
l Children from non-allergic families have a 12% risk of developing an allergy If one parent has allergies, this risk increases to 20% If both parents have allergies, the risk is more than 40% If both parents have the same allergy (such as asthma, hayfever or eczema) the child has 70% risk of having the same allergy
Testimonials
