Allergies

Food allergy

is an immunological response and the physical reactions can vary from skin afflictions to vital organ malfunctions. The existence of food allergy is visible by some common signs such as puffiness or dark circles under the eyes or a blue tinge to the whites of the eyes.

The symptoms of food allergy are mainly caused by the immune response to food; however they can be triggered by stress, trauma, antibiotics, pollution etc.

Some reactions to foods occur without the mediation of the immune system. Intolerance involves an abnormal response such as vomiting the food within minutes of ingestion. An increased metabolic action is often produced in those taking caffeinated drinks.

There are two types of true food allergies:
i) Fixed
ii) Cyclic

Fixed food allergies

are those allergies which are present in a person for years and the reactions may occur throughout the life. However, if your immune system is strong enough eating an offending food on weekly basis will produce no harm.

Cyclic food allergies

are caused by eating a single food too frequently, over a long period of time. If you avoid this food habit, then you can overcome this problem.

Allergy has been mentioned as a cause of illness throughout the history. Hippocrates in 400 BC cited food allergy as a cause of disease. The incidence of food allergies has climbed dramatically in the recent years.
Today over 60% of the total world population has food allergies.