After eating a certain food, if symptoms such as sudden nausea, abdominal pain, and vomiting occur, or if the body is covered with red rashes of various sizes, these are typical symptoms of a food allergy. A recent study in Hong Kong has found that food allergies among Asians have been on the rise in recent years, with eggs, dairy products, kidney beans, bananas, and sesame being the five most common allergenic foods.
Half of allergies are caused by eggs
This study was conducted by a Hong Kong bio-health technology company. The company pointed out that as people pay increasing attention to food allergies, many people want to know which foods are most likely to trigger allergies in order to be more cautious in their daily lives. Therefore, they tested 96 foods most commonly consumed by Asians on 633 ordinary people aged between 8 months and 88 years. The results found that the most common allergies were to eggs and dairy products (such as milk, cheese, etc.). Among the allergic population, 54% and 46.6% were allergic to eggs and dairy products, respectively. 81% of people experienced symptoms such as rashes and fatigue after an allergic reaction, over 70% suffered from colds due to allergies, and other symptoms included bloating and insomnia.
In addition, the study also found that kidney beans, bananas, and sesame are the foods most likely to cause allergies after eggs and dairy products. Experts pointed out that since food allergies are related to proteins, theoretically, any food containing protein could potentially cause an allergy. Wheat, peanuts, soy sauce, nuts, fish, and shellfish are also common food allergens.
It is very important to identify the allergen
So, what exactly is a food allergy? Dr. Wu Jianhua, a dermatologist from Hong Kong, explained that a food allergy is an abnormal immune reaction of the human body to a specific food. In other words, when certain substances in food (usually proteins) enter the body, they are treated as invading pathogens by the immune system. The immune system then releases a specific type of immunoglobulin E, which combines with the food to produce many chemicals, causing allergic symptoms such as skin redness and swelling, recurrent diarrhea, indigestion, headaches, sore throats, and asthma.
Dr. Wu pointed out that what a person is allergic to and the symptoms they experience after an allergic reaction are related to their individual constitution. Although these five foods are more likely to cause allergies, there is no need to be overly anxious about them in daily life. Once a food allergy occurs, the most important thing is to identify the specific allergen. He also reminded everyone that if a food allergy occurs, one should seek medical attention as soon as possible. Delaying treatment for a long time may lead to chronic degenerative diseases such as arthritis, depression, high blood pressure, dementia, diabetes, and cancer. For women, it may even lead to long-term infertility.
People under high stress should pay attention
In recent years, more and more people have been experiencing food allergy symptoms. Experts point out that this is closely related to acquired factors such as life stress, infections, dietary structure, the use of chemical products, medications, and environmental pollution. The increase in stress in modern life is a significant trigger for food allergies.
Experts remind that people with a predisposition to allergies should pay particular attention to this and should adjust their work and life to minimize stress as much as possible. Since there are currently no special medications to prevent food allergies, once the allergenic food is diagnosed, the most effective preventive method is to strictly avoid consuming that food. Generally, one should stop eating the allergenic food for at least 6 to 9 months, and the ingredients and additives in the allergenic food must also be avoided in other foods.