Transcript Special Food and Nutrition Needs: Food Allergies and Intolerances

Special Food and Nutrition Needs:
Food Allergies and Intolerances
Nutrition Science and Diet Therapy
Mrs. Nelson
Spring 2015
Discussion
• Do you know someone with a food allergy?
• Does it seems as if more people have allergies now than 5 or 10 years ago?
• 8% of American children and 4% of American adults suffer from food
allergies. More research is needed to understand why there is an increase.
Food Allergies: Definition
• an immune system response to a food that the body mistakenly believes is
harmful; components of a food that trigger an immune response are called
allergens. In response to a food allergen, the body forms antibodies which
attach to cells throughout the body. The next time the food is eaten, the
antibodies recognize the allergen and signal the body to release histamines
that cause physical signs of an allergic reaction.
Symptoms
Abdominal pain
Itching of mouth, throat, eyes, skin (any area)
Diarrhea
Hives
Nausea
Swelling, especially of eyelids, face, lips, tongue
Scratchy throat
Light-headedness, fainting
Vomitting
Nasal congestion
Stomach cramps
Runny nose
Shortness of breath
Wheezing
Difficulty swallowing
Symptoms
Hives
Swelling
Anaphylaxis
• Reaction to an allergen can range from mild to severe. The most severe is
anaphylaxis.
• Definition: a potentially life threatening medical condition that can occur
after a person with allergies is exposed to a specific allergen; symptoms affect
multiple body systems, may occur immediately or up to 2 hours following
allergen exposure.
• Most dangerous symptoms: difficulty breathing, drop in BP, shock (can be
fatal).
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPWRvXl_Y54
Common Food Allergies
• Any food has the potential to cause an allergic reaction, eight (8) foods
account for 90% of total food allergies.
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Peanuts
Soy
Tree nuts (almonds, pecans, walnuts)
Wheat
Milk
Fish (bass, cod, flounder, etc.)
Eggs
Crustacean shellfish (crab,
lobster, shrimp)
• Some allergens are outgrown, but peanut, tree nut, and shell fish allergies are
often considered lifelong allergies and account for 92% of all severe and fatal
reactions.
Food Intolerance: Definition
Food intolerance is an adverse reaction to food that does not involve the
immune system; can produce some of the same symptoms as food allergies but
develops through different mechanisms; more common than food allergies.
Most Common:
lactose intolerance (caused by lack of the enzyme lactase, results in inability
to properly digest the sugar in milk and milk products), symptomsgastrointestinal cramps and pain, bloating, nausea, gas, diarrhea
Other common food intolerances:
Gluten intolerance: also known as non-celiac gluten sensitivity, causes the body
to express a stress response, usually GI symptoms that are different from the
immunological response that occurs with celiac disease which often causes
intestinal tissue damage.
Sources of gluten: wheat, rye, barley, sometimes oats
Treatment for Food Allergies
• Antihistamines- tx GI symptoms, hives, sneezing, runny nose
• Bronchodilators- open airways to lungs, relieve asthma-like symptoms
• Epinephrine- also known as adrenaline, opens airways and constricts blood
vessels to counteract low BP and faint feeling.
• Prevention and Strict Avoidance