Foods to avoid when you have allergy problems

By Joel Escol

Allergy, though health experts say is very common, should not be taken lightly. This is because there are allergic reactions that are fatal and must be considered as medical emergencies. This includes anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction which usually occurs if a person is allergic to certain medications and foods.

Persons with allergies, regardless of the type, should watch what they eat. Meaning, they should not take any food they want because there are foods that may trigger the symptoms, which might lead to more serious problems.

If you have asthma, the risk for you to have an allergy is higher, and your asthma may get worse if you eat mangoes, chocolates and other foods that trigger an allergy such as chicken and other dairy products.

Anyone may develop an allergy to almost any food. However, studies show that almost 90% of all food-related allergic reactions are caused by milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts such as cashew nuts and walnuts, wheat, fish, shellfish and soy.

If you are allergic to wheat, avoid eating breads, crackers or baked goods that contain wheat.

Avoid also pasta and noodles made from wheat, breakfast cereals, fried or baked meat or vegetables that are coated with flour or breadcrumbs, any dish mixed with meat that contain flour or bread crumbs, soups or gravies that are thickened with flour, pancakes, waffles, hotdogs that contain wheat, beer and ice cream that has wheat.

Make sure to read thoroughly the label and the ingredients of the food you are buying.

Never buy if you see the following in the list of ingredients: bran, germ, gluten, malt, sprouts, flour, bread crumbs, wheat germ or wheat starch, bulgur, wheat grass, whole-wheat berries, modified food starch or cracker meal.

Wheat may also be included in soy sauce and vegetable starch.

If you are allergic to milk, avoid drinking milk and other dairy products including yogurt, cream, cheese, butter, chocolates, custard, nougat, ice cream, margarine, puddings and white sauces.

Persons who are allergic to egg should not only eat eggs but also those that contain eggs like cakes, doughnuts, custards, some candies, cookies, ice cream, mayonnaise, marshmallows, muffins and waffles.

If you are allergic to fish, you should also avoid Worcestershire sauce, caviar and Caesar salad.

Spicy foods and alcohol are also a no-no for people with allergies.

Hot peppers contain capsaicin that triggers allergy-like symptoms such as runny nose, watery eyes and sneezing while alcohol contains histamine which, experts say, is made during the fermentation process and can cause the occurrence of allergy-like symptoms.

Based on a study conducted in 2005, if a person has allergies, he/she would likely suffer from sniffles if he/she drinks alcohol.

If a person has allergies to medications like salicylates, he/she should also avoid eating certain fruits and vegetables.

Salicylates are a major ingredient in aspirin and other pain relievers. They are also found naturally in many fruits and vegetables, and some beauty products.

Among those that contain salicylates are apples, avocados, blueberries, peaches, grapes, strawberries, cauliflower, mushrooms, radish, eggplant, spinach, broccoli, pepper, sauces, tomato paste, vinegar, soy sauce, instant coffee, wine, orange juice, beer, herbal tea and rum.

Other products that may also contain salicylates are shampoos and conditioners, fragrances and perfumes, lipsticks, lotions, skin cleansers, mouthwash, sunscreens, mint-flavored toothpaste, shaving creams and muscle pain creams.
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Joel Escol is an online media professional, Internet Entrepreneur and Network Builder. He has an allergy problem so that he shares to this blog how to properly treat allergy while you will have also the opportunity to not only monitor your allergy but also earn in the process. Joel is now earning $1000 per month online.