There are basically two types of allergens, which are the things that cause allergies. There are those that you are allergic to on touch and those that you are allergic to to consume. There are also items, like dust, that you are allergic to to inhale, but that is actually touch too.
It can be very problematic to discover the cause of an allergy, especially a food allergy, because they can be fatal. If you are allergic to touching something, you may test a couple of things on your own and perhaps you will determine the culprit, but if you consume a foodstuff to which you are allergic, you could die.
Because food allergies could be so perilous, it is best to have them taken care of by a medical professional. if you are not able to do that straight away, it is best to avoid any substances that you suspect may be causing the trouble.
There are common culprits for being allergens especially with younger people, who are more prone to allergies than adults. Keep in mind that not all allergies reveal themselves in the same manner and even if two people have an allergy to the same substance, the reaction might not be the same.
Here is a list of the most common causes of food allergies:
Milk is a very common cause of allergies in young people and babies. Cow’s milk is the foremost culprit here and goats’ milk or soya milk are frequently used as substitutes. This is not the same as being lactose intollerant.
Eggs can become the cause of two allergies, namely the white (albumen) and or the yolk. Again, these allergies are more frequent in babies and children than in adults.
Peanuts cause allergies that vary from mild to fatal in both children and adults. In the worst cases the airways swell up and block the passage of air resulting in asphyxiation.
Real nuts from trees can also result in allergies, but more frequently in children than in adults.
Fish allergens mostly affect children, but it is a strange one, because the allergens can affect people sitting near someone else eating fish.
Shellfish allergies can be equivalent to fish allergies, but if you are allergic to fish you are not necessarily allergic to shellfish and vice versa.
Soya is often used as a surrogate for meat and milk, but it is an allergen to some people. People who are allergic to soya or soy have to be cautious if eating Asian and vegetarian food.
Wheat may be an allergy causing most frequently respiratory problems. This is another one to be very careful with because we use wheat in so many foodstuffs in the Developed world.
These eight allergens are responsible for about 90% of all allergies in the USA, but peoples are not the same in each country. The top eight allergies in China may be different, but the eight above are normally in the top ten in most countries.
Owen Jones, the author of this article writes on several subjects, but is at present concerned with allergenic mattress covers. If you would like to know more, go over to our website at Bed Infestation.