Food Allergies and Sensitivities

A food allergy is an abnormal response to a food caused your immune system. True food allergies can cause serious medical problems, including death. Symptoms of food allergies include itching, hives, swelling of the tongue, and/or difficulty breathing. The foods that most often trigger allergic reactions are: shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, and, in some children, cow milk.

Avoiding these foods can be more difficult than you might think. Milk and eggs are added to a variety of processed food, including baked items, processed meats, and condiments. Nuts can be added to mixed dishes, salads, and baked goods. Some people are so sensitive to particular foods that simply eating a food prepared in an area contaminated with traces of the allergen food is enough to trigger a reaction. People with food allergies carefully monitor their diet and carry an Epi Pen, an emergency dose of epinephrine, to reverse the allergic reaction.

If you have adverse reactions to a food, nausea, gas, bloating, or diarrhea, that do not involve your immune system, you probably have a food sensitivity or intolerance. Common sensitivities are lactose (milk sugar intolerance) and gluten (wheat protein intolerance).

Having a food sensitivity or allergy can make it more difficult for you to consume a healthy diet. Our dietitians will show you how.