Do you suffer from allergy often? You are not alone. Actually, one in five people in America has allergy or asthma symptoms. It is the fifth leading chronic disease in America. That is why it makes sense to have a low-allergen diet. Low-allergen diet aims to eliminate all the potential allergic triggers. It is typically used as a diagnostic tool instead of as a cure for those with allergic reactions to certain foods. Let’s get to know how this Low-Allergen Diet works.
Why Use a Low-Allergen Diet?
As mentioned earlier, this diet is used more as a diagnostic tool to find out the intolerance or sensitivity. By removing the triggers the symptoms may also be eliminated as a result. A low-allergen diet is essentially the elimination of suspected food or food additives that have the propensity to trigger an allergic reaction.
The diet is designed to alleviate common symptoms of allergic reactions which include watery eyes, sneezing, headaches, sore throat, dry circles under the eyes and itchy feeling all over the body or a part of the body. Not only can it cause a lot of discomfort it is also a potential source of anxiety and stress. Allergic reactions can also become life-threatening as it may cause difficulty in breathing and it may cause people to have difficulty swallowing foods and liquids.
People need to understand that there is a difference between food allergy and food intolerance. Allergic responses are reactions that can be sourced from the reaction of the immune system. It could be a reaction from an airborne stimulus, food and even reaction to certain chemicals. While allergies and intolerance are used interchangeably this could not be allergy in the truest sense. Sensitivity is a more apt term to describe real allergies.
Is a Low-Allergen Diet Reliable?
There are very few scientific studies that validated the use of low-allergen diet as a diagnostic tool. The use of low-allergen diet has been studied for the use of asthma sufferers, chronic fatigue syndrome and even hypersensitivity to environmental factors. A low-allergen diet has been found to be effective to help lactating women whose babies are suffering from colic disorders. There is a need to have more studies to validate the use of this diet as an effective diagnostic tool.
How Does a Low-Allergen Diet Work?
The diet works by taking off the food and food additives that can cause common allergens. This is followed in a rotation period where the suspected foods are consumed every three to four days. The idea is to slow down the food or class of foods that may not show a reaction since the foods are spaced over a period of three days.
Low-allergen diet may help but the jury on this one is still out. While there are lots of promise but there are parts of it that are left to be desired. It is best to consult your doctors before undergoing this type of diet. It is better to be safe than sorry. Perform these types of diets under the strict supervision of a health professional always.
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