Food Allergies & Food Hypersensitivity
Overview: Itchy nose, skin rash, upset tummy? Is it a food allergy or a nonallergic food hypersensitivity due to a shortage of digestive enzymes?
Briefly, a food allergy is the body’s immune system response to an antigen in food it believes is foreign and harmful. Antigens that trigger the allergic reaction are called allergens. Once the body decides a food is harmful it creates antibodies that react to the food. The next time the person eats that food, the body releases chemicals to fight it and protect the body. These chemicals trigger the allergic reaction. Common food allergens are protein-based and account for almost 90% of all allergic reactions from the following foods: cow’s milk, peanuts, soy, fish, eggs, tree nuts, shellfish and wheat.
Untreated or unrecognized food allergies may eventually lead to anaphalaxis which starts as mild symptoms and may lead to shock and death.
Nonallergic food hypersensitivity (NFH), formerly call a food intolerance, is an adverse reaction to a food substance or food additive that involves digestion and metabolism, but not the immune system. Common nonallergic food hypersensitivities include lactose, caffeine, corn and it’s derivatives, and common food additives such as food dyes, MSG, nitrates and many others. Untreated NFH presents but is not limited to uncomfortable abdominal symptoms, headaches and in rare cases, asthma.
What Thielen Student Health Center Can Do For You: A Thielen Student Health Center Medical provider will most likely refer the student to a larger medical center equipped for the testing of allergens. When a diagnosis is confirmed, the student may choose to meet with a registered, licensed dietitian to help him plan a balanced meal plan based around his particular allergen or sensitivity. Students who also eat at ISU Dining will be introduced to their dining center manager to discuss their special needs and special foods will be provided.
Resources
Last update: 09 Dec 2008
For more information, please contact:
Iowa State University
Thielen Student Health Center
515-294-5801
