It may be wheezing from wheat or a rash from radishes. But while food allergies are rare, affecting only 1 percent of the population and usually outgrown by age six, the foods that can trigger them aren’t.
Cow’s milk, eggs, peanuts, wheat and soybeans lead the list of eats that can cause swollen lips, throat or tongue, eczema, hives, vomiting, fainting, nausea, diarrhea and other reactions. But they’re not alone. Even food additives such as yellow dye #5 and gum arabic can cause allergic reactions in some people, usually within a few minutes of consumption. Reactions range from minor to life-threatening, so see your doctor to pinpoint the cause and come up with a preventive strategy. But the natural remedies in this chapter-in conjunction with medical care and used with the approval of your doctor-may help relieve the symptoms of a food allergy, according to some health professionals.