The most dangerous food allergens have been ranked

When it comes to food allergies, the first thing that comes to mind is chocolate, strawberries, tangerines... In fact, there is no stable "popularity rating" of allergens, and in different parts of the world it looks different. The same chocolate almost never causes allergies in the natives living on the banks of the Paraiba do Sul River - a weak decoction of cocoa beans has been used here for many centuries to feed infants deprived of mother's milk...

If we talk about statistics in Russian allergology, then no one has officially compiled it yet, but practicing doctors say that there is a list of common products that at different ages (this is important!) can provoke an allergic reaction.

From mom and dad

Age and heredity are the key factors in the likelihood of developing an allergy to a particular food. The fact is that at the age of up to 12 months, almost any product can cause an allergy - simply because of the immaturity of the digestive system. In this age category, the most common allergy is to proteins of any milk except mother's milk, as well as to meat, fish, and poultry. The baby's body can protest against seemingly harmless potatoes and cabbage, as well as many grains, even the most "hypoallergenic" buckwheat. Up to three years of age, children are more likely to have an allergy to most brightly colored foods - red and orange fruits, vegetables, as well as "chemical" sweets and soda. But at an older age, there are fewer reasons for food allergies.

By place of residence

It is also impossible to make an exact list of trigger products for adults, since it strongly depends on the region of residence, as well as the race and nationality of a particular person. If we talk about residents of the central zone of Russia, then statistically they are more likely to have allergies to the following products:

1. Sea fish, seafood.
2. Chicken eggs.
3. Certain types of citrus fruits (usually tangerines and oranges). Lemons, grapefruits and sweeties cause allergies much less often.
4. Nuts (hazelnuts, peanuts).
5. Honey and other bee products.
6. Poultry, lamb and beef.
7. Red and black summer berries – strawberries, raspberries, currants, blackberries, blueberries.
8. Ready-made mustard, as well as products that contain it (mayonnaise, salad dressing).
9. Cocoa and products containing it.
10. Grape.

Rivers of milk

As for allergies to milk and dairy products, expert opinions differ. However, it is generally accepted that most often allergies are caused by whole "fresh" milk that has not undergone any heat treatment or fermentation. Fermented milk products cause allergies less often. In addition, allergies to milk protein are especially often confused with lactose intolerance, which is not an allergy in itself.

All diseases come from nerves

According to allergist Mikhail Koshman, the occurrence of an allergic reaction to a particular product is also influenced by the presence of chronic diseases - autoimmune, digestive system or bronchopulmonary:

- It has already been proven that food allergies often occur against the background of general ill-being in the body, - says the doctor. - For example, chronic gastritis, ulcerative colitis, pancreatitis, and impaired bile outflow can be an indirect cause. Also, allergies to new foods often manifest themselves during clinical depression, increased nervous excitability, and epilepsy. And recently, we have increasingly encountered food allergies that suddenly appeared in adulthood against the background of sudden obesity - in particular, in women who have recently given birth.

In addition, according to the doctor, the spread of low-quality semi-finished products leads to an increase in the number of people who are allergic to one or another product. The fact is that many artificial industrial additives (especially dyes, moisture-retaining components and thickeners) are so alien to our body that they can turn even ordinary dumplings or frozen cutlets into a product that is potentially dangerous from an allergy point of view.

Therefore, a simple piece of advice from a doctor: don’t be lazy and cook at home from the simplest products – meat, milk, vegetables, cereals: this is the most reliable way to protect yourself from many food allergens. And you’ll save money at the same time…

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