Food allergies are so common that effect around 5% of the adults and 8% of the children.
Food allergy is a condition, in which consumption of some foods causes an abnormal immune response.
Surprisingly enough, most of the common food allergies are caused by just 8 foods.
So let’s see what are they.
1. Cow’s milk
Allergy to cow’s milk is most commonly seen in children and young babies, especially if they’re exposed to cow’s milk before the age of 6 months. It’s one of the most common childhood allergies, affecting 2–3% of babies and toddlers.
2. Eggs
Allergy from egg is the second most common food allergy seen in children. The treatment is an egg-free diet, but some people may be able to reintroduce some foods containing cooked eggs into their diet.
3. Peanuts
Peanut allergies are also very common and are responsible for severe and potentially fatal allergic reactions. It’s said that people with a family history of peanut allergies are most at risk.
4. Tree nuts
It is an allergy to some of the seeds and nuts that come from trees. These allergies can be so severe that they are responsible for around 50% of anaphylaxis-related deaths. Due to this, people with nut allergies are advised to carry an epi-pen with them at all times.
5. Shellfish
This allergy is caused by the body attacking proteins from the crustacean and mollusk families of fish, which are known as shellfish. It is said that even the vapors from cooking shellfish can trigger a shellfish allergy in those who are allergic.
6. Wheat allergy
This allergy is said to affect mostly children. Wheat allergy causes an immune response to one of the hundreds of proteins found in wheat and the reaction can be severe and sometimes even fatal.
7. Soy
Allergy from Soy is mostly seen in infants and children under the age of three. The allergy is triggered by a protein in soybeans or soybean-containing products.
8. Fish
Allergy from fish is another common allergy affecting 2% of the adults. Fish allergy can also cause a serious and potentially fatal allergic reaction. The main symptoms are vomiting and diarrhea, but, in rare cases, anaphylaxis can also occur.