It also describes some of the specialistimmunotherapytechniques used to reduce your sensitivity to common food allergens.
Home Remedies and Lifestyle
There is no cure for food allergies.
The only surefire way to avoid an allergic response is to omit known allergens from your diet.
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Reading Food Labels
We live in a processed-food culture.
Beyond the nutritional concerns, eating packaged or processed foods increases the risk of exposure to hidden food allergens.
This requires people to be especially vigilant when reading food labels.
Where to Find Ingredient Labels
Most ingredient labels are situated beneath the Nutritional Facts panel.
In the United States, food allergies are today the leadingcause of anaphylaxisin children.
Cross-contamination is when food containing an allergen is accidentally transferred to food that does not contain the allergen.
For some people, even a tiny amount of transferred allergen can trigger symptoms.
Researchers note that zero risk isn’t feasible.
These are places where the risk of cross-contamination is high.
In cases like these, an over-the-counter oralantihistaminecan often help.
Options include first-generation antihistamines that tend to cause drowsiness and second-generation antihistamines that are more non-drowsy.
Thesymptoms of anaphylaxistypically require immediate care.
Epinephrine
Epinephrine(adrenaline)is the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis.
Epinephrine works by causingvasoconstriction(the narrowing of blood vessels).
The effects of epinephrine are fast but don’t last long.
It’s still important to seek medical care.
EpiPen Recommendations
It may be important to keeptwo EpiPen auto-injectorsclose at hand at all times.
Careful monitoring and a second dose may be needed.
By doing so, your body will slowly become accustomed and less responsive to the allergen.
Allergen immunotherapy can take several forms in people with food allergies.
This is because the risk of anaphylaxis following the injection is high and outweighs the potential benefits.
It is a powdered protein made from peanuts that is used in conjunction with a peanut-avoidance diet.
Palforzia is approved for children ages 1 through 17.
Xolair is given by subcutaneous injection every 2-4 weeks.
It should not be used for the emergency treatment of any allergic reactions.
At present, there is little evidence that they offer any benefit to people with food allergies.
One of the most touted therapies is a Chinese herbal remedy known as FAHF-2.
People with severe food allergies can undergo allergen immunotherapy (AIT) to gradually desensitize them to allergy-causing foods.
A Word From Verywell
The identification of food allergens is your first step to avoiding allergic reactions.
This is important to know as the two involve entirely different immune responses and are treated differently.
People with severe allergies should carry an epinephrine auto-injector, such as the EpiPen.
No, food allergies cannot be cured.
The best way to prevent an allergic reaction is to avoid your trigger foods.
Depending on the allergy, your healthcare provider may also recommend avoiding foods that may cause a cross reaction.
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