Allergy to chocolate

The allergy to chocolate is not exactly an accurate definition, as a lot of substances enter into the composition of sweetness. All kinds of fillers, fillings, flavors can cause food allergy.

Chocolate is a delicious and healthy savior from stress, a favorite treat for children and adults. Doctors refer him to a group of highly allergenic foods. And how to live with this fact?

Causes of an allergy to chocolate

The main component of chocolate - cocoa beans - do not belong to the list of typical allergens. Ingredients that can cause an allergic reaction: 

• milk; 
• soybean; 
• fruit fillers; 
• Nuts (more often peanuts); 
• gluten; 
• tyramine; 
• nickel.

Do not be surprised, the element of the periodic table is used throughout the manufacture of chocolate and cheeses. Every schoolboy knows about the toxicity of nickel for a person in the smallest doses.

Flavors, dyes, preservatives are common causes of chocolate allergy. Before buying the coveted sweetness, be sure to carefully study the composition, especially the smallest typeface on the package.

The conditions for collecting and storing cocoa beans affect the development of allergic reactions. The fact is that omnivorous cockroaches like cocoa very much. And they start to enjoy the grains right on the plantations. Naturally, creeping insects are expelled from sacks and boxes, but chitin (the strongest allergen) can stay on cocoa beans and will not disappear even with heat treatment.

Any product, if you do not observe moderation in its consumption, becomes dangerous to the body. Chocolate contains fats, carbohydrates and proteins, which in large quantities are difficult to process even by an adult organism. Therefore sweets should restrain their impulses.

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Symptoms of an allergy to chocolate

If problems have appeared, when together with the stress a kilogram of "sweet joy" has disappeared, the body simply could not cope with the monstrous dose. If the rashes on the skin are found after eating a small piece of chocolate, you can talk about the sensitivity to one of the ingredients.

Symptoms of chocolate allergy are manifested in the form of itching, heartburn. In especially severe cases, breathing problems are noted. In patients with asthma, an allergy to chocolate can serve as a provocateur of an attack of suffocation, so immediate medical attention should be called immediately.

Occurrence of a symptomatology does not mean at all that you need to completely refuse to yourself in chocolate pleasure. Consult an allergist who will help establish the exact cause of the illness. Having identified a dangerous allergen, you can avoid contact with it.

How does the chocolate allergy manifest itself?

Food allergy in each person develops and proceeds in different ways. Some get rid of skin itching and mild rash, while in others the allergic reaction can develop rapidly and even create a life threat.

How does the chocolate allergy manifest itself? Sometimes symptomatology is detected in half an hour after taking sweets. More often, for the development of food allergies to a product, its systematic use is necessary.

Common allergic manifestations: 

• Urticaria - bright red rashes with blisters accompanied by intolerable itching. When combing, the affected area increases. The rash is observed in the abdomen, back, skin of the hands and feet. Much rarer - in the form of red spots on the face; 
• small red rash on the body with a characteristic strong itching; 
• wet or on the contrary dry, scaly skin areas; 
• intestinal disorders; 
• abundant discharge from the nose, eyes; 
• Quincke's edema - causes swelling of the larynx, can lead to asphyxia.

Most susceptible to food allergies are people who have problems with the gastrointestinal tract, suffering from pancreatitis, cholecystitis, gastritis. An allergic reaction can aggravate the intestinal dysbacteriosis.

Allergy to chocolate in children

In childhood, allergic reactions are observed in the form of diathesis. The reason for "ruddy cheeks" may be an allergy to chocolate in children, or rather, the protein of milk that enters into it. Provocators of painful manifestation are: 

• improper diet; 
• lack of vitamins; 
• supercooling; 
• viral diseases; 
• Inoculations.

The signs of diathesis are also: liquid and frequent stools of foamy nature or greenish color, abdominal pain, rashes on the body, coughing with choking, itching.

If the allergy is severe and prolonged without proper medical treatment, these conditions can cause complications in the form of bronchial asthma, asthmatic bronchitis.

Allergists do not recommend introducing black chocolate into the diet if the baby is not five years old. Parents also need to monitor the amount of sweets consumed by the child.

Allergy to chocolate in adults

In older children and adults, severe allergic reactions and deaths are known due to the use of peanuts, which are ubiquitously present in chocolate bars, cakes, chocolate bars, sweets.

An allergy to chocolate in adults can appear at any age as a result of the development of bowel diseases, for example, Crohn's disease. Nervous and physical overvoltage leads to aggravation of the state.

If you find the first symptoms of sensitivity to chocolate, consult a specialist, take a test to identify the source of allergy.

Before buying chocolate, when you already know the enemy in person, pay attention to the composition. Acting on the principle of "less is better, but better" - go to the use of more expensive, organic types of chocolate.

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Allergy to white chocolate

In the quality of white chocolate, there is certainly real sugar (not to be confused with sweeteners), milk powder and cocoa butter. The product does not contain cocoa powder, which distinguishes it by its color.

Why is there an allergy to white chocolate? First, if you have sensitivity to one of its components. Secondly, in order to reduce the cost of producing white sweets, unscrupulous producers include synthetic sweeteners, flavors, and the like.

Symptoms are expressed by a skin rash, possibly allergic rhinitis, respiratory problems and serious consequences in the form of anaphylactic shock.

When the first signs of an allergic reaction appear, discard the white chocolate and consult a doctor.

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Treatment of allergies to chocolate

Only a timely and comprehensive impact on orgasm gives a lasting effect in the treatment of food allergies.

Treatment of allergy to chocolate consists of the following stages: 

• decrease of intestinal intoxication with the help of sorbents - activated carbon, enterosgel, filterum, etc .; 
• correction of dysbacteriosis using a multi-probiotic "symbiator" containing live bacterial strains; 
• use of antihistamines of the second and third generations (have fewer side effects) - telphrast, kestin, klaritina. The course of admission is the attending physician (usually 2-3 weeks); 
• complete removal of the allergen from the diet; 
• diet - changes in diet are discussed with an allergist. For the period of treatment they refuse from red fruits, sugar, chocolate, coffee and strong tea.

Sometimes it is advisable to apply therapeutic starvation based on herbal teas, to make cleansing enemas.

Coping with the symptoms of allergies to chocolate is helped by rubbing or compresses from the string, oregano, nettle, sage leaves, currants, etc. Soothing effect on the skin is provided by coniferous-valerian baths (2 tablespoons of needle extract and 25 ml of valerian tincture are necessary for the volume of the bath).

Preventing allergies to chocolate

The main method of prevention is the elimination of the allergen from food. It is necessary to determine: 

• after eating what kind of chocolate had unpleasant consequences; 
• Identify to which particular ingredient a painful reaction has occurred; 
• Do not buy chocolate products that contain it.

Strengthening the immune system is also the prevention of allergies to chocolate. Babies need to stay longer on breastfeeding, which best increases the protective powers of the child's body. Both children and adults are shown hardening.

An important preventive role is played by the health of internal organs and systems. Do not run diseases that can cause complications, develop into chronic and incurable diseases.

Spend time in the fresh air and in the bosom of nature. Take life with gratitude, calmly accepting shakes and troubles. It is proved that the psycho-emotional state of a person affects the development of many diseases, including the manifestation of an allergic nature.

An allergy to chocolate is not a sentence, but one more way of the body to protect internal organs from harmful effects of dyes, chemical additives, flavors and other synthetics. Choose healthy, natural products and stay healthy!