Can Food Allergies Cause Severe Stomach Pain

Supplements For Stomach Pain

Ginger Root Extract

With natural antibacterial, anti inflammatory and anti-ulcer properties, ginger root may help treat stomach pain. As a supplement, take 1,000 milligrams of ginger root extract once a day or as directed by a doctor.

Peppermint Extract

Taking mint leaves or having a sniff of peppermint extract or oil may help ease any abdominal discomfort. Take 700 milligrams of peppermint extract powder once or twice daily or as instructed by a doctor. Its best to take peppermint with food.

Cinnamon Bark Extract

A combination of bitters like cinnamon, mint, ginger and fennel with a cup of ginger ale, tonic or club soda can help relieve stomach pain. Take 650 to 1,350 mg of cinnamon bark extract three times a day. Its best to take it with food and water.

Chamomile Extract

Teas with chamomile, ginger or peppermint, chopped and steeped, can be useful for soothing abdominal comfort. Take 800 milligrams of chamomile extract powder with water one to two times daily, unless a doctor recommends a different dosage.

Diagnosis Of Food Intolerances

Food intolerances can often be difficult to diagnose. Some substances within foods, and the quantity of foods eaten, can increase the frequency and severity of symptoms. These include stomach pain, bloating, gas/flatulence, diarrhoea, IBS, rashes, hives or headaches,

Diagnosis of adverse reactions to foods should be based on clinical history, response to treatment and testing. Skin prick tests or blood tests for allergen specific IgE are negative for food intolerances. However, they are useful if the history suggests that food allergy , is the problem.

The best approach is to first see your doctor to:

• Make a diagnosis, such as migraine headaches, hives, IBS, recurrent mouth ulcers.
• Check for other conditions that may be causing symptoms.

• Determine if diet or other factors play a role in causing symptoms.

• Identify individual triggers to be avoided.

Les Aliments Les Plus Courants Provoquant Des Problemes Digestifs

Si les troubles digestifs/gastro-intestinaux sont étroitement liés à ce que vous mangez, les allergies alimentaires nen sont pas la seule cause. Une intolérance au lactose et la maladie cliaque peuvent être confondues avec une allergie alimentaire car elles présentent toutes des symptômes similaires.4,5 Vous pouvez penser que vous êtes allergique à un aliment parce que vous avez souffert deffets indésirables après son ingestion sans pour autant y être réellement allergique. En effet, six fois plus de personnes sauto-déclarent allergiques à des aliments quil ny a de personnes réellement allergiques.6

Découvrez plus dinformations ci-après sur les différents aliments à lorigine de troubles digestifs fréquents.

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Is Your Food Allergy Really A Histamine Intolerance

If you have food allergies, you know the drill: Eat so much as one crumb of the offending fare, and it can feel like your immune system is preparing for the apocalypse. Cue symptoms like hives, your stomach literally cramping your style, or even more dangerous signs that your body doesnt appreciate the culinary intruder, like trouble breathing.

But maybe your so-called food allergies arent what they seem. These and other symptoms could instead be a sign of histamine intolerance, a lesser-known condition that is basically a fancy way of saying you might have too much histaminethe chemical that causes allergic reactionsfloating around your body.

Its very easy to mistake symptoms of histamine intolerance for those of a food allergy, Joseph Dizon, M.D., chief of the Department of Allergy and Immunology at Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles, tells SELF. In both cases, your bodys reacting to a surge of histamine, its just that the underlying mechanism is different. Confused? No worries. Heres everything you need to know about the difference between food allergies and a histamine intolerance.

And, of course, histamine is a critical part of allergic reactions, including those involving food. When you eat a food that your immune system has mislabeled as dangerous, it battens down the hatches by ordering your bodys mast cells to release histamine and other chemicals. This is what causes symptoms like itching, swelling, congestion, hives, and even full-on anaphylaxis .

Can You Tell The Difference Between A Food Allergy And A Food Sensitivity

With a food allergy, even one molecule of the offending foods protein can trigger a response. Your body will react as soon as the food is eaten. Thats why people with food allergies need to completely avoid foods they are allergic to.

Food intolerances can depend on how much is eaten and how often. People with food intolerances may not have symptoms when they eat a small portion of the food, or dont eat the food frequently. For example, if you have a sensitivity to dairy, having one small bowl of ice cream may not cause you any problems. However, theres a good chance you would wake up with diarrhea and brain fog after spending a night binging on Ben & Jerrys.

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What Are The Symptoms Of Food Allergy

Allergic symptoms may begin within minutes to an hour after ingesting thefood. The following are the most common symptoms of food allergy. However,each child may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:

• Vomiting

• Wheezing

• Lowered blood pressure

According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, itdoes not take much of the food to cause a severe reaction in highlyallergic people. In fact, as little as 1/44,000 of a peanut kernel cancause an allergic reaction for severely allergic individuals.

The symptoms of food allergy may resemble other problems or medicalconditions. Always consult your child’s doctor for a diagnosis.

Food Allergies In Infants And Children

Milk and soy allergies are particularly common in infants and young children, probably because their immune and digestive systems are still developing. These allergies can appear within days to months of birth. They may not show up as hives and asthma, but rather lead to colic and perhaps blood in poop or poor growth.

Typically, the doctor sees a very unhappy colicky child who may not sleep well at night and diagnoses a food allergy partly by changing their diet, like switching from cow’s milk to soy formula. This type of allergy tends to disappear within a few years.

Doctors recommend only breastfeeding infants for the first 4-6 months, if possible, for many reasons, but there’s no proof that it prevents food allergies later in life. While some pregnant women may hope limiting their diets while they’re pregnant or breastfeeding may help their children avoid allergies, the experts disagree and don’t suggest it. Soy formula isn’t a good way to prevent allergies either.

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What Causes Food Allergies And Intolerances

Food allergies arise from sensitivity to chemical compounds in food, even compounds that are found naturally in food. Food allergies are more common in people whose family members have allergies, suggesting a genetic or hereditary factor may be involved with the development of food allergies.

Food allergies develop after you are exposed to a food protein that your body thinks is harmful. The first time you eat the food containing the protein, your immune system responds by creating specific disease-fighting antibodies . When you eat the food again, it triggers the release of IgE antibodies and other chemicals, including histamine, in an effort to expel the protein “invader” from your body. Histamine is a powerful chemical that can affect the respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, skin or cardiovascular system.

The allergy symptoms you have depend on where in the body the histamine is released. If it is released in the ears, nose and throat, you may have an itchy nose and mouth, or trouble breathing or swallowing. If histamine is released in the skin, you may develop hives or a rash. If histamine is released in the gastrointestinal tract, you likely will develop stomach pains, cramps or diarrhea. Many people experience a combination of symptoms as the food is eaten and digested.

What To Do If You Have An Allergic Reaction

For minor allergic reactions, over-the-counter decongestantsand antihistamines can usually provide relief. Antihistaminescan help prevent and treat symptoms like hives, while decongestants can helpclear a congested nose. Both options are usually available in tablet, eye dropor nasal spray forms at your local pharmacy or drug store.

For skin irritation, ice and topical creams that containcorticosteroids can help alleviate swelling, redness and itching. If theseover-the-counter allergy solutions dont do the trick, make an appointment withyour doctor.

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Where Can I Go To Confirm A Food Allergy

If you think allergy stomach pain is at the route of your abdominal pain, I recommend receiving a medical diagnosis from a professional allergist who can assess your risk of anaphylaxis. An allergist will discuss your medical history to determine the likely cause of your abdominal pain and identify any cross-reactive foods. To confirm the diagnosis, the allergist may conduct laboratory tests such as a skin prick test or allergen-specific IgE test.

Food Additives And Intolerance

Many people are concerned that they may have an intolerance to food additives. However, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, most studies show that few additives cause problems and that these problems affect relatively few people.

Food producers often use additives to enhance flavors, make foods look more appealing, and increase their shelf life. Examples of food additives include:

• preservatives
• sweeteners

Of the thousands of additives that the food industry uses, experts believe that only a relatively small number cause problems. The following food additives can cause adverse reactions in some people:

• Nitrates: These preservatives are common in processed meats, and the symptoms of an intolerance can include headaches and hives.
• Monosodium glutamate : This flavor enhancer can cause headaches, chest tightness, nausea, and diarrhea in those with an intolerance.
• Sulfites: Common sources of these preservatives include wine, dried fruits, fresh shrimp, and some jams and jellies. People with an intolerance may experience chest tightness, hives, diarrhea, and sometimes, anaphylaxis.

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Can Food Allergies Cause Upper Abdominal Pain

By | Submitted On February 15, 2008

Food allergies are important to understand for many in our population. There is at least one percent of the population that is allergic to peanuts. While this number may not seem very significant this is just one of eight very common food allergies. You will find that many restaurants and even online recipes have begun to cater to food allergy sufferers to make it easier for them to deal with their allergies.

If you are new to having a food allergy or have been diagnosed with multiple food allergies you are going to want to take a look at the different symptoms you can have and what the causes are going to be. First of all we are going to concentrate on the question, can food allergies cause upper abdominal pain? The answer is yes, however this is a bit unlikely for most.

Typically with food allergies there is a lower abdominal pain that is related to irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea, or constipation. However they caan cause upper abdominal pain. You will find that the pain can spread from the lower abdomen or be related to the leaky gut syndrome. Let us look at how food allergies can affect you before getting into the particulars of what this paragraph is outlining.

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The 8 Most Common Food Intolerances

Unlike some allergies, food intolerances arent life-threatening. However, they can be very problematic for those affected.

Food intolerances and sensitivities are extremely common and seem to be on the rise .

In fact, its estimated that up to 20% of the worlds population may have a food intolerance .

Food intolerances and sensitivities can be hard to diagnose due to their wide range of symptoms.

This article reviews the most common types of food sensitivities and intolerances, their related symptoms and foods to avoid.

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Brew Yourself A Cup Of Cinnamon Tea

To get relief from the painful cramps in the abdomen, make yourself a hot cup of tea with some cinnamon. Cinnamon is rich in antioxidants that help to encourage digestion by cutting down on bloating and flatulence. Moreover, drinking a cup of cinnamon tea also boosts up the digestive power. If someone is suffering from heartburn or indigestion, tea with cinnamon neutralizes it immediately.

Severity: How Much Of The Offending Food Can You Tolerate

With a food allergy, eating, touching, or even inhaling a microscopic amount of the offending food has the potential to cause a severe or even life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis. An anaphylactic reaction occurs within minutes and is defined by difficulty breathing, swelling of the tongue, tightness in the throat, wheezing or coughing, persistent dizziness, or loss of consciousness.

With food intolerance, people can tolerate different amounts of the offending food. For example, you may be able to eat small amounts of the offending food without experiencing any symptoms, while a large amount will result in more severe food allergy symptoms. Its even possible to prevent the reaction with medication. For example, people with lactose intolerance may be able to safely drink milk by taking lactase enzyme pills to aid digestion.

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Bacterial Infections Or Overgrowth

A common cause of IBS symptoms is an overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria and a lack of beneficial bacteria/probiotics to protect and balance the intestines and immune system.

Bacterial overgrowth can occur in the small or large intestine. When bacterial overgrowth happens in the small intestine its called SIBO and theres a breathalyzer test for it.

Some of the things that cause bacterial overgrowth in the small or large intestines are antibiotics, chronic stress and a high sugar, high carb/grain diet.

Some doctors believe that SIBO is the primary cause of IBS. But I believe this is an oversimplification. But there are too many other factors that can cause an IBS diagnosis.

For example, food allergies are another common cause of IBS symptoms.

Is There A Food Intolerance Test

A number of companies produce food intolerance tests, but these tests are not based on scientific evidence and are not recommended by the British Dietary Association .

The best way of diagnosing a food intolerance is to monitor your symptoms and the foods you eat. See what happens when you cut out the suspected food for a while, and then reintroduce it into your diet.

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Help Yourself With A Bowl Of Yogurt

People who are prone to milk allergies should not try this. A bowl of yogurt can help you get relief from cramps by improving digestion and restoring balance to the gut. Yogurt contains a lot of probiotics .

Disclaimer- The above remedies are for informative purposes only. Restrict using the above-mentioned remedies if you are allergic to any of the ingredients. Make sure that you use these remedies only after proper consultation with the doctor or allergist.

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Indigestion Bloating And Abdominal Problems

Food allergies have an effect on the way we digest food more than any other area of the body.

Many people with food allergies have problems with their stomachs and pain in their abdomens, especially if they have an allergy to dairy products, eggs, wheat, corn, fruit or other foods that we eat on a normal basis.

Other than being annoying and disabling, digestive pains can have a psychological affect, as the person finds the condition as being increasingly depressing.

In some some cases your doctor might even think that you are a hypochondriac if they are unaware of your allergies. Unfortunately, if your doctor says this you might end up also believing it yourself.

Its difficult to really give a definition to what indigestion actually is. The easiest way of defining it is to say that its what happens when your food doesnt get the treatment it needs in the stomach after it arrives there. If that happens then various problems can result such as heartburn, bloating, or feeling queasy.Heartburn is basically a different way of talking about a burning feeling in the chest.

Food allergies can often cause this sensation.

A similar pain is the feeling of having a ball in your throat when you are done eating. That is caused by a spasm in the esophagus and may be a symptom of food allergy, say doctors with experience treating this problem.

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What Foods Most Often Cause Food Allergy

Approximately 90 percent of all food allergies are caused by the followingeight foods:

• Milk

• Fish

• Shellfish

Eggs, milk, and peanuts are the most common causes of food allergies inchildren, with wheat, soy, and tree nuts also included. Peanuts, tree nuts,fish, and shellfish commonly cause the most severe reactions. Nearly 5percent of children under the age of five years have food allergies. From1997 to 2007, the prevalence of reported food allergy increased 18 percentamong children under age 18 years. Although most children “outgrow” theirallergies, allergy to peanuts, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish may belifelong.

Trust The Benefits Of Ginger

Ginger is a natural ingredient that is used for several digestive issues including indigestion or an upset stomach. The natural compounds found in ginger–Curbs stomach acidity-Relieves nausea and vomiting-Provides relief from stomach cramps and bloating

Consume ginger juice with food or tea. To reap the benefits of ginger for stomach ache, add some peppermint to the tea with ginger.

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Can Apple Cider Vinegar Help

Yes! Absolutely! Apple cider vinegar is known for its anti-inflammatory as well as antibacterial properties. So, if there is a stomach ache due to a bacterial infection in the stomach or due to acid reflux, making a drink with apple cider vinegar can surely help. Keep in mind to dilute the vinegar as its acidic nature can damage the teeth. You can add some honey to the vinegar if you want to improve the taste.