Food Allergies & Intolerances

Food Sensitivity

adverse reaction to a food that other people can safely eat

includes food allergies, food intolerances, and chemical sensitivities

Food Allergies

sensitivities caused by a reaction of the body's immune system to specific proteins in a food

food protein is mistakenly identified by the immune system as being harmful

How an Allergy Happens

1. Eat food2. Body releases something called a

histamine3. Reaction is caused in the respiratory

system, gastrointestinal tract, skin or cardiovascular system

Current estimates are food allergies affect as many as 6% of young children and 3% to 4% of adults

Food Intolerance

food sensitivity that does not involve the individual's immune system

takes a more normal sized portion to produce symptoms of food intolerance

food intolerances are likely to originate in the gastrointestinal system

caused by an inability to digest or absorb certain foods, or components of those foods

Ex:Celiac Gluten Intolerance

Current estimates are 1% of the population is Celiac

Your Task

Research food allergies or food intolerances and answer the statements below:

1.List any common names of the allergy/intolerance

2.Physiological reasons for the allergy/intolerance

3.Symptoms

4.Medications/Home Remedies

5.Group (Age, Race, Gender) most affected