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What are Food Allergies?

Writer's picture: Topanga ScherfTopanga Scherf

About 33 million Americans have food allergies but how many people really know what food allergies are? I’m no expert, but as someone who’s had food allergies my whole life I’ve learned some basics about what food allergies are and what’s happening in the body. Severe allergic reactions can be a scary experience for both those witnessing and experiencing it. But, understanding what’s happening in the body can help us stay calm when a life threatening allergic reaction is happening so we can respond quickly and efficiently. 

When most people think of food allergies they think of it as that thing that happens to their friend or family member when they eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Maybe they have an itchy mouth or they can’t even be in the same room as the food they’re allergic to. Food allergies have the ability to impact a lot of people in different ways. Because of that it’s so important for us to understand what food allergies are and how we can help others living with food allergies! 

So, what really are food allergies? Food allergies are really your body’s defense mechanism against something that it deems to be unsafe. 

Let’s use cashews for example. For most people who eat a cashew, their body will identify the cashew as a normal food that it will digest and will not produce any reaction. But, for people with an allergy to cashews their body sees this cashew as an invader. So because your body sees this cashew as something that is dangerous it’s going to trigger a reaction. 

Allergic reactions can look a little different on everyone and there’s varying degrees of severity. Everything from an itchy mouth to the airway closing can happen and it’s important that we are prepared for them all. Food allergies are really your body trying its best to protect you against something harmful!

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