Food Allergy

Foods can cause a reaction by the immune system. The immune system reacts to the  proteins contained in foods. It can rarely be a sudden reaction that can be severe with swelling and trouble breathing. Usually though, food allergies produce an inflammatory reaction of the gut. Some of the symptoms one could notice are:

• Bloating and indigestion.
• Heartburn. (usually treated with drugs that only control the symptoms)
• Constipation.
• Skin reactions like itching or Hives.
• Tiredness.  (Waking up groggy after a bowl of ice cream the night before)
• Irritable bowel.
• Thyroid disease.
• Arthritis

Dairy is the most common food allergen. Alas, we often crave the things to which we are allergic. Another food allergy is to wheat. It is being found more and more because doctors are starting to look for it more:

Lactose intolerance
Some people are also intolerant of Lactose.  Lactose is a type of sugar found in dairy. This is not an allergy but is an inability to digest Lactose.  The undigested Lactose is then attacked by gut bacteria which produce gas and cause bloating.