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Food Intolerances, Allergies to Food &/or Food Poisoning?

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Food Intolerances, Allergies to Food &/or Food Poisoning?

Postby Alexandria » Thu Apr 04, 2019 11:43 pm

Unfortunately, there are growing numbers of people who have developed lactose intolerances or gluten intolerances or digestive disorders caused by these intolerances
as well as loose bowels ?

Have you had seriously detrimental to immune system allergies to a particular food group (shellfish for example) or a wide variety of food products
and / or food poisoning over a meal at home or in a restaurant.

What foods do you avoid and what measures did you take medically to diagnose exactly what is the cause of the problem ?

Did you go to an Allergist or Nutritionist or your General Practicioner first ?

Have a nice weekend.
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Re: Food Intolerances, Allergies to Food &/or Food Poisoning

Postby Stokey Sue » Fri Apr 05, 2019 1:37 am

It’s worth noting that most people who claim gluten intolerance don’t actually have any medically detectable problem, it’s just so publicised that many people assume that minor symptoms they have are due to gluten. It’s also worth noting that there’s no point avoiding gluten unless you genuinely have an intolerance, for most of us it’s just protein.

Which isn’t to say that gluten intolerance isn’t medically important; if you have coeliac disease your symptoms will be so severe you will certainly go to a doctor, and it’s worth noting you can be diagnosed at any age by checking the lining of your gut. I know at least one woman who wasn’t symptomatic until in her 40s, and she isn’t someone who’d ignore it. Intolerance also happens, and can be quite severe

There’s a difference between allergy and intolerance; all allergies involve the immune system in similar ways but there are many routes to intolerance.

Allergies can be mild (some cases of hay fever for example), more annoying such as hives (urticaria) and very dangerous (anaphylaxis, such as suffered by some people allergic to nuts or molluscs). You can develop new allergies, just as you can acquire any immune response and they can fade with or without treatment.

Lactose intolerance is interesting. You can argue that it’s normal in adult humans (and cats). Except for a few unlucky people we all have the enzyme lactase as babies so we can digest milk. Unless we continue to consume milk we tend to lose the enzyme as we get older, some people lose it anyway and become lactose intolerant. Some people who have lost the ability to digest milk by not consuming dairy can even get it back by taking small amounts but don’t try this at home.

The whole thing is pretty complicated, and IF IN DOUBT SEE A DOCTOR

In the other thread we mentioned oysters. I’m pretty sure I’m not allergic to them as I can eat them cooked, but intolerant? Perhaps.

I certainly have pollen allergy (hay fever) to silver birch, horse chestnut and something we haven’t identified but probably another tree. And I have an allergy to tarragon

My mother was allergic to girolles, I remember her having urticaria, joint pain and other symptoms and I think we were quite lucky she didn’t go into anaphylactic shock

Food poisoning is a bit different. I had an awful reaction to some dried goji berries and the doctor thought it was to a toxin from mould growing on them. But a toxin like that would make anyone ill, it’s not an individual response. Like ergot on grain or the toxin in b. cereus infected rice

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Re: Food Intolerances, Allergies to Food &/or Food Poisoning

Postby Joanbunting » Fri Apr 05, 2019 11:25 am

Great summing up Sue!

Member 461 in the UK it is simply not possible to go straight to a specialist doctor - though I'm not sure about the si in her 40stuation if you have private health cover. One has to go through your GP (general practitioner aka family doctor) even so there will be a limit to the referrals and to whom the GP can make to a specialist and the more financial constraints there are on the NHS the less likely I gether it is that you will be automatically referred for certain conditions.

I have a friend who very nearly died about 30 years ago. She had coeliac disease which had, until then been undiagnosed. However DD's ex-M-I-L said she had numerous allergies, gluten, eggs, dairy and citrus fruit. Feeding her was an utter nightmare. She however, refused, to be tested for any of them. Eventually she did becaome very poorly indeed and the investigations showed she was not allergic to any of the above she was just a fussy eater and tbh a bit of an attention seeker. She was eating a very poor diet and that was what had affected her health!

Everyone on here knows I am allergic to cocnut. This has developed over a number of years. I could, in the Bahamas, eat fresh coconut but I always loather dessicated or coconut flavours. As time went on I started getting a tingling feeling on my lips and this went on to cause swelling of my lips and tongue. I was referred and yes, I do have a genuine allergy as. like Sue, I do to various tree pollens and blossoms. At this very moment I am taking the pills and the nasal sprays and eye drops to make life livable.
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Re: Food Intolerances, Allergies to Food &/or Food Poisoning

Postby Alexandria » Fri Apr 05, 2019 11:40 am

Sue & Joan,

Exceptionnel, informative feedback Ladies.

The Spanish National Health Care System:

One goes to their G.P. and if the G.P. sees that their is definitely a verifiable need to see a Specialist,
she or he shall provide an appointment immediately.

I have an intolerance to cow milk, cow milk yogurts and icecream and corn in any form. I have not eaten these products
since childhood. They gave me horrendous diarreah. So, of course, my mother took me to the Doctor right away.
I went to see an Allergist which confirmed the need to avoid these products.

I use goat or sheep milk as a sub.
And fresh which is easily obtainable a few kilometres away from a Dairy Farmer. I also eat goat milk Greek Yogurt and goat milk cheese and Ricotta with no
issues.

Have a lovely weekend.
Barcelona, soulful & spirited, filled with fine art, amazing architecture, profoundly steeped in culture & history, and it engages all your senses, and food fancies.

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Re: Food Intolerances, Allergies to Food &/or Food Poisoning

Postby Alexandria » Sat Apr 06, 2019 1:08 pm

Sue,

I do not avoid wheat products (pasta and bread) with gluten as this is not a problem
for anyone in our family.

I am lactose intolerant to cow milk & corn since I was a young child, and this was confirmed
medically by a top Allergist in Barcelona. I just avoid.

I have no allergies and have never had food poisoning.

You made some very good points.

Have a nice wkend.
Barcelona, soulful & spirited, filled with fine art, amazing architecture, profoundly steeped in culture & history, and it engages all your senses, and food fancies.

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