Food allergy symptoms come in many forms. They may appear as a rash on the skin or as pain in your stomach. They can even cause you to have a runny nose or puffy eyes. Furthermore, if you do not have a true food allergy, you may still be intolerant to the food and experience the same symptoms. The following is a list of common food allergy symptoms. They can be both physical and behavioral.
- Aggression
- Anaphylactic Shock
- Bloating
- Breathing Difficulties
- Bronchitis
- Colic
- Constipation
- Crying
- Dark Circles Under Eyes
- Depression
- Diarrhea
- Eczema
- Eye Wrinkles
- Failure to Thrive
- Fatigue
- Flatulence
- Gas Pain
- Hives
- Hyperactivity
- IBS
- Inability to Concentrate
- Itching
- Joint Stiffness
- Migraines
- Mouth Sores
- Mucousy Diarrhea
- Night Waking
- Patchy Tongue
- Persistent Cough
- Pimples on Buttocks
- Rash
- Rash Around Anus
- Rattling Chest
- Recurring Ear Infections
- Red Ears
- Red Tipped Nose
- Runny Nose
- Sneezing
- Sore Muscles and Joints
- Swelling
- Tantrums
- Tongue Soreness
- Ulcers
- Uncontrollable Behavior
- Unruly Child
- Vomiting
- Watery Eyes
- Wheezing
Did you know that introducing your child to certain foods too early in life can cause food allergies later on? Studies have shown that early introduction of solid foods can trigger asthma, eczema and food allergies.<
Your baby’s gut is porous, enabling food protein to seep in to the blood stream. His body cannot determine if the food protein is good or bad, which may cause the body to attack the food protein. This is what can cause food allergies later in life. If you introduce solids when your infant is a bit older, the food proteins will stay in your baby’s gut and will be broken down correctly by enzymes.
A baby who is fed formula may develop food allergies as well. How? The same reaction can occur with formula as it does with solids that are introduced too early. The formula proteins leak in to the blood stream and may subsequently be attacked by the body.
The very best choice for your baby is breast milk – particularly if you have food allergies in your family. But remember, if anyone in your family suffers from food allergies, asthma or eczema, you need to avoid dairy, eggs, wheat, peanuts, fish and shellfish during your baby’s first three months of life.
If you decide to feed your infant formula, avoid those that contain dairy. Select a hypoallergenic baby formula that is labeled “hydrolyzed” – meaning the milk protein has been altered and made more digestible.
Peanut allergies have nearly doubled in the last five years. All breast feeding mothers are urged to stop eating peanut products while nursing their infants. If you have a family with food or environmental allergy history, this is especially important for your baby’s health.
When your baby is six months old, it is time to introduce solids! Try sweet potatoes, carrots, squash, pears, lamb and applesauce. Do not give your baby eggs until he or she is two years old. Never feed your baby nuts, peanuts, shellfish or fish until the age of three.
Start with one food during the first week. Begin with one teaspoon on the first day, two of the same food the next and so on. If your baby seems fine after seven days, you may start a second type of food.
If your baby refuses a particular food one day, then try again the next. But if your baby refuses the same food four times, it may be a sign that he or she cannot tolerate that food. Do not offer it after the fourth rejection.
The temptation is great to begin solids early in your baby’s life, but doing so may cause food allergies and asthma later. So relax, enjoy your baby’s first six months of breast milk or specialized formula, and then take your time introducing safe solids.
