how do you know what foods you are allergic to?

Question

when people say "im allergic to wheat, flour", or whatever...how do they know?

Answer 1

they know cause theyve eaten it and afterwards break out or have trouble breathing. you can also go to your doctor and be tested for different allergies.

Answer 2

Some people are truly allergic to certain foods, and will have an anaphylactic reaction to it. Then there are milder reactions such as rashes and gastric upset.
And then there is the "fashionable food allergy" which isn't an allergy at all, but it's a good way to get attention. Sadly, these are in the majority. Someone who is truly allergic to wheat will have been diagnosed as being coeliac, and need medical help to maintain their diet, but you would be amazed how many people CLAIM to be allergic to wheat because they say it makes them bloat. What actually makes them bloat is eating vast quantities of wheat containing foods such as cakes, donuts, pastries .... see my point here?
True food allergies are diagnosed after medical testing, if someone claims one without that, chances are they aren't allergic at all.

Answer 3

If they had the test then they truly know. If they just did the elimination diet or did some self diagnosis, then that's their best guess and they're being more safe than sorry. I have Celiac Disease, an intolerance and inability to digest Gluten, and i often say I'm "Allergic" bc its easier for ppl to understand and it helps assure my food while eating out is gluten free!! (Its a little more scary for a manager to hear I"m allergic than intolerant!! He hears allergic, he thinks lawsuit!!) :)

Answer 4

They know because they've most likely tried to eat these things before...and have a severe and in some cases, life threatening allergic reaction...called Anaphylaxis. What happens (I have a food allergy...to mangoes!!) is when you eat the food, you start having a reaction, your tongue starts to become numb and swell up, your face starts to swell - sometimes 3 times its normal size...your skin turns bright red and burning hot, with white hives, and most dangerous - your airway starts to close...!!! You can die from an allergic reaction like this! I've been hospitallized twice for this condition. I keep an epi-pen on hand...its a shot of epinephrine, and it wont take away the facial swelling and hives, but it opens the airway so you can breathe and don't suffocate to death..! I hope this helps!! =)

Answer 5

When a person has been sick for a long time, that's usually the first thing a doctor will check for. The patient spends one week off each of the main offenders until the illness goes away. For example: first week, no dairy. Still sick? Second week, no wheat. Still sick? Third week, no nuts, etc.

Answer 6

What helped me to figure out my food allergies was keeping a food diary. For five weeks I wrote down everything I ate and drank and I also kept track of the times I got sick. That helped me figure out which foods were a problem.

Answer 7

i would suggest what ever you eat and you break out to in the food you are allergic to

Answer 8

as soon as you come in contact with allergetic substances. you have an itching sensation. or you can look for repeated symptoms arising from same foods.