5 Food Allergies That are the Most Common

Food allergies are extremely common. It is estimated that around 17% of the population—adults and children—suffer from some sort of food allergy.

Diagnosing food allergies can be tricky. Some methods of food allergy testing are unproven and even dangerous. However, when you visit Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology Medical Group, you can rest assured that we will only be using proven testing methods that have been endorsed by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.

Give us a call today at 805-658-9500 to book an appointment. We can give you the means of identifying and managing your food allergy. Visit our Contact Page to fill out our form and one of our specialists will reach out to you shortly.

To learn about the most common allergies, continue reading below.

5: Shellfish

A shellfish allergy is caused by your body attacking a protein called tropomyosin which is found in crustaceans and mollusks. It is sometimes hard to identify as seafood can be easily contaminated and your symptoms could have been caused by bacteria.

Unfortunately, if you have a true shellfish allergy, there is no treatment for it other than cutting it completely from your diet. If that is the case, the foods to avoid are:

• Shrimp
• Prawns
• Crayfish
• Lobster
• Squid
• Scallops

4: Peanuts

Peanut allergies are very common and affect 1-3% of all children. Interestingly, 15-22% of children diagnosed with the allergy end up growing out of it in their teenage years.

Like shellfish, the only real treatment option is removing peanuts and peanut based foods from your diet. New treatments are being developed and practiced to desensitize the allergic reaction, but there is no medication for the ailment.

3: Tree Nuts

Not to be confused with peanuts which are legumes, tree nuts are an entirely different food. These nuts and seeds strictly come from trees where peanuts grow in soil.

It is estimated that nearly 3% of the worldwide population is affected by tree nuts that include:

• Almonds
• Cashews
• Macadamia Nuts
• Pistachios
• Pine Nuts
• Walnuts

2: Eggs

Clocking in at number two, eggs are the second most common food allergy. Typically, the individual is either allergic to the egg white or the yolk as their proteins differ from each other.

In some cases, the individual that has the allergy can eat eggs if they are cooked in baked goods. In one study, 67% of children with an egg allergy could tolerate eating muffins containing a cooked egg component.

Furthermore, if your child has an egg allergy, it is important not to lose hope. In another study, 68% of children afflicted by this food allergy outgrew it by the time they were 16.

1: Milk

According to the food allergy research group, FARE, 6.1 Million Americans suffer from an allergy to Milk/Dairy. Upon consumption of milk, children or adults with an IgE allergy tend to have a reaction within 5–30 minutes. Symptoms include swelling, rashes, hives, vomiting, coughing, diarrhea, and in rare cases, anaphylaxis.

Call Today to Learn About Managing Your Food Allergies

If you suffer, or suspect you suffer, from food allergies, it is important to visit a specialist. Although there may be no cure, it’s crucial to speak with an allergist to learn how to properly manage your allergies.

Call 805-658-9500 today to schedule an appointment. Or, visit our Contact Page to fill out our quick form and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.