Have you had your body react severely to eating peanuts or other foods? The cause could be food allergies. When the body responds immunologically to proteins in food this could be a food allergy. Sometimes the reaction can be minor and other times as in the case of anaphylaxis the result could be death.

The body's response to food allergies can be varied and it can affect different body systems. For example, one's digestive system can cause a person to experience cramps, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. These symptoms can be similar to other problems such as irritable bowel syndrome or Lactose Intolerance, so it is very important to be diagnosed properly so that you receive the correct treatment.

In the respiratory system, food allergies could manifest as runny nose, scratchy throat, coughing, sneezing, or wheezing. Severe reactions may be seen as shortness of breath or difficulty swallowing. If you experience the more severe reactions it is recommended you seek medical attention immediately.

You can have an allergic response on your skin. This may appear as hives, eczema, itching in the membranes of the eyes, skin, mouth or throat. You may experience more severe reactions of swelling of the face, lips tongue or throat. These reactions must be treated immediately as this can lead to airway restriction.

Food allergies can affect your nervous system resulting in mood swings and depression.

What exactly is a food allergy? Most are under the classification of an Immunoglobulin E (IgE) response. These are antibodies that are produced in the body that attack non-disease causing substances, which in this case are proteins found in certain foods. Some people are predisposed to have this type of immune response. When a certain type of allergen passes into the digestive tract, the body releases IgE and this also causes chemicals such as histamines to be released. This leads to swelling. In the case of the intestinal lining, this change can lead to digestive upset.

Skin prick and blood tests are some of the tests an allergist would use to diagnose the allergy. In addition, the allergist will review your history of reactions.

The skin prick test introduces a small amount of the allergy causing substance into the skin. The allergist then looks for a reaction. For the blood test the level of IgE antibodies is measured. Certain levels are generally considered normal and higher levels may indicate that a person is having an allergic reaction.

So what does one do? Avoidance is always the first course of action. Read the food labels and in restaurants be sure to ask for more information when in doubt. For the severe reactions Epipen can be prescribed. Epinephrine is administered which can halt a severe reaction.