Research Paper about Allergies

Allergies can be a huge concern and hassle for some parents. Whether it is just simple seasonal allergies or if it is a life-threatening allergy. Most parents do not find out their kids have an allergy until a reaction has already occurred which is very nerve racking to say the least. Allergic rhinitis (hay fever) which is a less life-threatening allergy affects between 10 to 30 percent of all adults in the United States and as many as 40 percent of children. Allergies is the most common health issue to affect children in the United States. Allergies happen when your immune system reacts to an unknown substance such as pollen, bee venom or pet dandruff and even foods that usually do not affect people to eat. Your immune system produces substances known as antibodies. According to Mayo Clinic research on the topic, when you have allergies, your immune system makes antibodies that identify a particular allergen as harmful, even though it isn't. When you come into contact with the allergen, your immune system's reaction can inflame your skin, sinuses, airways, or digestive system.

The seriousness of allergies varies between people and can range from simple irritation to anaphylaxis which is a potentially life-threatening emergency. Most allergies cannot be cured with medicine, treatments can help relieve your allergy symptoms. Some people have allergies to certain food we need to sustain the adequate nutrients level needed to stay healthy. For example, having an allergy to milk or milk-containing products can be concerning and alarming considering you need calcium for your body to function properly such as for your small intestines to digest your food properly. Calcium is vital for the development and maintenance of healthy bones and teeth of children of every age. Multiple studies have also found that children allergic to milk also have higher risk of poor bone growth and tend to be shorter in height versus children without food allergies.

Children eliminating just milk from their diets have been shown to be lacking in vitamin D, calcium, and protein. The nutritional deficiency risk increases as the number of food allergies increase. These children are at risk for malnutrition unless supplementation replaces the nutrients found in the offending allergen.1That is why it is strongly encouraged when finding out you or a loved one have an allergy affecting important food that is needed for your body, to schedule an appointment with a nutritionist to prevent health issues from occurring in the future. The suggested alternatives are to increase other protein foods, if not allergic, such as meat, fish, poultry, legumes, eggs or fortified milk substitutes such as leafy greens or calcium-fortified foods. If that person is allergic to many items and is unable to eat the alternatives they can meet with nutritionist and get a prescription for the healthy amount of calcium through calcium supplements.

A growing number of food companies now make foods free of many common allergens to allow it to become easier for people to not have to give up their favorite foods that include that allergy in the ingredients. Many companies have rules set in place to make sure the allergenic foods or particles do not come in contact with that allergy-free food. It is much easier now to choose foods to ensure adequate nutrition than it was even five years ago. When you choose foods, you will need to take time to read the labels and nutrition panels as well to learn as much as possible about the foods so that you know it is safe to include in your diet. It is extremely important to obtain a healthy balance of nutrition in your daily life to be sure that your body is functioning and is healthy. Signs that you are not getting adequate nutrition due to taking out important food from your diet and meal plans due to an allergy include increased or frequent illness, weight loss for adults and lack of weight gain or growth in height of children.

Peanut allergy is the most common cause of severe food allergy reactions. Symptoms can be triggered after exposure to even trace amounts, such simply touching a surface where peanuts have been enough for some people and the results can be fatal. When you have a peanut or tree nut allergy, it’s very essential to keep a strict, nut-free diet which means you’re potentially at risk of missing out on ingredients for your heart’s health. Many of them include dietary fiber, essential fats, a range of important vitamins and minerals and plant sterols and antioxidants You can ensure you meet an adequate nutrient level by eating a variety of other plant foods including whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and vegetable oils. If you are allergic to all nuts, you can still eat seeds, a slice of whole grain toast with tahini pastes and sliced banana makes a deliciously satisfying snack rich in the fiber and healthy fats usually found in nuts. Bananas are also high in potassium, an important mineral found in nuts. If you are allergic to seafood along with the estimated 1.5 per cent of the population, you’re missing out on one of the major sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which have been linked to help with a reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, dementia, macular degeneration depression, and some types of cancer. There is variety of foods you can choose from which contain these important fats, including linseeds, canola oil, walnuts, soy and flaxseed oil. Some foods now also have added omega-3 to help out with the worldwide seafood allergy problem.