Food allergy symptoms and How To Recognize them

Have you ever wondered if the discomfort that you are experiencing came as a result of food allergy symptoms? Food allergy symptoms usually show up within minutes after eating. However, sometimes, it can take up to a few hours, for their effects to show. Usually, those that occur right away can be easily identified while those that took hours to appear, may be misdiagnosed as other problems or lumped into a 'catch all' diagnosis that is not clearly understood.

Food allergy symptoms can be mild or severe. Some food allergy symptoms are merely uncomfortable, while others can be debilitating or even life threatening. For example, a mild reaction may give you a skin rash that disperses over time. Conversely, a severe reaction can cause severe inflammation and the throat can swell up to the point that you cannot breathe.


Most people associate food allergy symptoms with digestive complaints. Digestive symptoms can include any part of the digestive system. The mouth, lips, and tongue can have tingling or burning sensations. You may experience nausea, abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, or cramping. If a food allergy develops over time, it may be difficult to pin point whether it is an allergic reaction or a different problem. If you suffer from chronic digestive difficulties, you may have a staple of your diet that is aggravating your system.

Food allergy symptoms can also show up in skin irritations. A food allergy can result in swelling, redness, and irritation of the skin. It is not unusual for a person to develop hives from eating irritating foods.

Many people do not equate respiratory problems with food allergies, but as with other allergens, food can produce symptoms throughout the respiratory system. You may experience congestion, a runny nose, sneezing, or nasal symptoms resembling a cold. There can also be inflammation of the throat and bronchial passages, resulting in wheezing, coughing, and breathing difficulties. A tightness of the chest and asthma attacks are very serious and should be treated immediately, as they can be life threatening.

Another set of symptoms that are often overlooked as the result of food allergies include musculoskeletal complaints. Joint pain resembling rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, or other conditions with joint problems can actually be a symptom of delayed food allergies.

It is important that you do an elimination diet, to determine whether specific foods are triggering a reaction for you. In an elimination diet, after cleansing your system, you start with foods least likely to cause a reaction and then very gradually add foods to your diet. The sooner you learn how avoid the triggers of your food allergy symptoms, the sooner you will get to enjoy a more comfortable and productive life without suffering the effects of ineffective treatments and harsh medications resulting from a misdiagnosis