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What is aFood Allergy?
Classic allergies are where the adverse reaction is quick (they tend to occur within a short while of consuming the food) and often violent and severe.
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The best known food allergy is a nut allergy and that occurs after eating or coming into contact with nuts. The reaction can be severe – needing medical treatment. These reactions are related to the immune system and known as an IgE response.
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Food allergies are most common in whose children whose parents had food allergies, allergic rhinitis, or allergic asthma. The most common food allergies are eggs, milk, wheat, peanuts, and soybeans. Other food allergies are becoming more common – kiwi, apples, pears, plums, strawberries, oranges and shellfish.
What is aFood Intolerance?
A food intolerance is not life threatening but symptoms can be severe and affect your quality of life.
Food intolerances are much more common than food allergies and involve an IgG immune system response.
Symptoms caused by food intolerances tend to occur sometime after eating the problem food – coming on several minutes, hours or days later.
This makes pinpointing the ‘problem’ food more difficult.
Symptoms to a food intolerance may include rashes, wheezing, a chronic cold and more chronic problems like arthritis and behavioural problems in children.
Causes of Food Intolerances
A family history of allergies/food intolerances mean you are more likely to experience problems with foods.
It is also possible to have a sensitivity to environmental chemicals and detergent sprays.
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In some people, food additives can cause a reaction that resembles, but is not, an allergic reaction. Monosodium glutamate (MSG), some preservatives, and food dyes can cause symptoms such as asthma and hives. Similarly, eating certain foods, such as cheese, wine, and chocolate can trigger headaches or migraines.
Allergy and Intolerance Testing Service:
I use a Scio machine to do the testing. The Scio allows me to test your response to various foods/substances and gives a reading in terms of your allergic response to the various items.
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This way of testing is suitable for both children and babies as it is safe and non-invasive.
Testing takes approx. 1 hour and at the end of the testing you will be provided with a list of substances that you are allergic to or have an intolerance to. I will also look at what may be causing the problem.
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Cost of allergy and intolerance testing, including test results and report is £75