Do i have food allergies to peanuts, and are they on the rise?

Peanuts

Food allergies have for the past decade become a major concern with infectious diseases and respiratory diseases. It's so amazing how some foods that are rich in nutrients and minerals can trigger allergic reactions, predispose asthma, or aggravate your sinusitis. Among food stuffs that trigger allergic reactions in most people are peanuts.

• Could peanuts cause an increased allergenicity when roasted?

About 1.5 million people suffer from nuts allergies. When roasted, peanuts are tastier. Most people enjoy roasted nuts and consider them to be a 'cool' form of snacks. But the danger is that roasting peanuts may increase their allergen content.

The heat aggravates the sugars and proteins that cause allergies. When heated these minerals give nuts its distinctive and irresistible taste.

• What happens when children eat peanuts when their immune systems are immature?

A child's immune system is immature and releases fewer antibodies to fight allergens. So when your child eats peanuts the antibodies react with the food, histamines are released, which can cause your child to experience hives, asthma, itching in the mouth, trouble breathing, stomach pains, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Parents must ask allergists what foods their children are allergic to and delay exposure to potentially allergenic foods and liquids, since newborn infants may be more likely to become allergic to foods than older infants. Mothers should try breastfeed their children because breast milk can strengthen a child's immune system.

Peanuts may be introduced in a child's diet at the age of four or more. Mothers must also remove peanuts from their diet when they are breastfeeding because little allergens may be transferred to a child through breast milk.

• How can I slow my food allergies down?

The practical way to slow down your food allergies is to; first find out what food you are allergic to; and then avoid all the foods you're allergic to or anything that contains such foods.

Avoid all foods that contain certain contents that you're allergic to. For instance, if you're allergic to peanuts, don't eat anything that contains nuts. Check the ingredients list of each food item you buy and if it contains nuts, don't buy or attempt to eat it.

• How do I know what food I'm allergic to?

Visit a local allergist and educate yourself more about food allergies. The following are the common signs and symptoms triggered by peanut allergies:

• Hives or a rash
• Red and itchy skin
• Swelling of the eyes, face, lips, throat and tongue
• Breathing or swallowing problems
• Anxiousness
• Faintness, paleness
• Weakness
• Cramps
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• A drop in blood pressure