Food allergies and kids

cheryl

cheryl

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Food allergies and kids - Times News

August is Kids Eat Right Month, and an important part of health is serving safe foods to your kids, especially if food allergies are of concern. About one in 13 children, or roughly two students in every classroom, has a food allergy. It is important to be mindful of food allergies when preparing snacks for school events and extracurricular activities or if your child likes to share food!

The top eight food allergens are milk, eggs, soy, wheat, tree nuts, peanuts, fish and shellfish. When a person with an allergy consumes the allergen, it causes a dangerous anaphylactic response that can even be fatal depending on the severity.

The body recognizes the food as harmful, triggering the immune system to start fighting the allergen by releasing a body chemical called histamine that causes issues with the child’s respiratory response, gastrointestinal health and cardiovascular system. Symptoms often include wheezing, trouble breathing, vomiting, hives, swelling and sometimes lightheadedness or fainting.
 
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