Chocolate Allergy Symptoms

Chocolate allergies may cause asthma symptoms in susceptible people especially when a person is allergic to more than one ingredient in the chocolate. Some of the common ingredients include cocoa, milk, caffeine, gluten, soy lecithin, phenyl-ethylamine, nuts, theo-bromine, and dyes. Chocolate allergy symptoms may include anxiety, confusion, headaches, hives, irritability, nausea, eczema, itching, watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, wheezing, coughing, heartburn, difficulty breathing due to inflammation of the airway, and anaphylaxis or shock. A diagnosis can be done through a skin test or a blood test that reveals antibodies in the blood stream. Treatments that can help with the symptoms include antihistamines, bronchodilators, corticosteroids, and epinephrine. The treatment largely depends upon the severity of the symptoms or reaction to the allergen. Of course, avoidance will help to prevent the reaction and discomfort.

Antihistamines can help to relieve the itching, digestive distress, watery eyes, sneezing, and the irritability. They can be obtained through a prescription or can be purchased over-the-counter at a drug store. The prescription antihistamines are less likely to cause drowsiness. People who experience asthma symptoms with chocolate allergies will probably need to use bronchodilators and corticosteroids to help with shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, and inflammation. Epinephrine can be kept at home in an auto-injector so that it can be administered as soon as a person has a reaction. This can be used for any type of allergy and should be used as soon as possible to prevent anaphylaxis or shock.

Allergies seem to run in families and children who have both parents with symptoms seem to be at increased risk of developing them. Some sources believe that one of the main underlying reasons that lead to the development of symptoms have to do with a depressed or weak immune system. Other possible links may include chemicals and preservatives found in most processed foods. The most common foods that cause problems in susceptible individuals are wheat, dairy, shellfish, eggs, and peanuts. Chocolate allergy symptoms are similar to the reaction caused by other food sensitivities. Some of the worse reactions have been linked to peanuts and shellfish. Other possible food allergens may be found in products that contain proteins and yeast or molds. Some of these are soybeans, pickles, avocado, tomato, coffee, beans, cheese, wine, and beer.

People who have food sensitivities should make it a practice to read all product labels. Another good idea is to keep a food diary and record any time there is a reaction. This can help to narrow down the foods that a person is allergic or sensitive to so that he or she can avoid them in the future. For someone who is extremely sensitive doctors often recommend eliminated any foods that are possible culprits and then adding them back into the diet very slowly to find out which ones are offending foods. Someone with chocolate allergies will want to watch out for anything that has any of the ingredients found in chocolate such as cocoa and milk. "And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst"(John 6:35).

To diagnose a suspected allergen there are a few different things that can help to do this. Skin tests can be done with the suspected substance to see if there is a reaction to the skin. A reaction that indicates positive would be the showing of redness, inflammation, and irritation. A doctor may choose to use blood tests to measure the amount of the antibodies in the blood stream to the suspected substance. Someone with chocolate allergy symptoms who is also suffering with asthma may need a pulmonary function test. This test measures the amount of airflow through a device called a spirometer. After airflow is measured then the patient is given a bronchodilator and airflow is measured again. With the bronchodilator the patient should have improved airflow; if this happens then the test will show positive for asthma. Doctors also use a skin patch test; the patch is soaked with the allergen and then taped to the person's skin for up to two days. If a rash develops then the test will be positive.

Food allergies in individuals involve a response by a person's immune system that is usually caused by a protein. When the body perceives a foreign invader then it produces antibodies to defend against that invader. These antibodies attach to the cells and contain chemicals called histamines and leukotrienes. So if the body sees cocoa or some other additive in chocolate as an invader then the chemicals are released and the person starts experiencing chocolate allergy symptoms. This reaction should not be taken lightly because it can lead to shock. Some of the beginning signs that this could be happening are itching in the roof of the mouth, swelling of the eyes, hives, shortness of breath, increased heart rate, and swelling of the throat.

There are additives in chocolate that may be the reason for the sensitivity. Much of what is purchased in stores contains milk, nuts, wheat or gluten, soy, and corn. These may be listed on the ingredient list as casein, whey, gluten, soy lecithin, and corn syrup. So individuals who think they have chocolate allergies may really have sensitivities to one or more of the ingredients. A person who has sensitivities to ingredients may not have any symptoms unless a large amount is consumed. For a proper diagnosis and the latest treatment a person should see a physician for an examination and inform the doctor about any symptoms that he or she is experiencing.

Caffeine Allergy Symptoms

Caffeine allergy symptoms range from a minor rash to life threatening seizures. The severity of the reaction depends on what the person is actually allergic to and to what extent a person is allergic. Some of the reactions associated with caffeine allergies include difficulty breathing, shock, tongue, and facial swelling. These reactions are different than those associated with consuming too much caffeine which include jitters, headache, insomnia, and irritability. An uncommon component to caffeine that people experience adverse reactions to is tannins, but it does happen. Tannins are not only found in coffee and soda, but in chocolate and red wine as well. Adverse reactions to herbicides and pesticides used to grow coffee beans is a much more common culprit of adverse reactions. Keeping a diary of food consumed, physical and mental feelings each day, and physical activity will aid in discovering specific reasons for allergic reactions.

Changing diet to include more organic and natural foods will not solve caffeine allergy symptoms, but create a sound platform for overall wellness, which will strengthen the immune system. With a strong immune system a person can better combat proteins and other consumable nutrients causing adverse effects to the human body. This task can be overwhelming, but taken piece-by-piece a person can succeed over time. Educating oneself on healthy food choices such as wheat instead of white bread will enable a person to carefully make the needed changes. Additionally, changes in food budget may be necessary to account for healthier food purchases. An important fact to keep in mind is that moderation is the biggest key to healthy eating. If serious caffeine allergy symptoms occur then complete avoidance is necessary, but if minor reactions occur then moderate consumption may be all that is necessary. Some people replace breakfast with a cup of coffee, which not only creates a dependency on coffee creating the environment for caffeine allergies, but also neglects the body of needed nutrients for all day energy and mental functioning and puts a person at reisk for caffeine allergies. Diets high in protein, Vitamin B, and Vitamin C will create a good starting platform for natural energy in which people try to extract from drinking caffeinated beverages. A multi-vitamin is an easy way to ensure the required nutrients enter the body without having to take the time to change actual food consumption. However, the more sugar and other empty calories consumed will counteract with any effort taken to live a healthier life.

Understanding what it means to have an allergic reaction or know when a reaction may occur is important. It is not unrealistic to think that a person should feel good 99% of the time. Even if a person has experienced these reactions their whole life, change is possible and realistic. Reducing stress, exercise, and changing life based on information revealed in the food diary will ensure the healthiest life. Most people do not have completely debilitating diseases, but rather have simply not discovered the reason for not feeling well. Caffeine allergy symptoms can be as subtle as tingling in the mouth, itchy skin, and minor swelling of the throat. People who have these reactions every day may not even notice them, but when these symptoms dont occur they will notice. Always striving for feeling better and treating the body better through nutrition, exercise, and mental wellness will increase enjoyment in life as well as decrease the chances of illness and disease. Americas busy lifestyle often creates the environment for neglecting to take care of the physical and mental body which ultimately results in additional problems causing more money and time to fix. Simply waking up a half hour earlier and spending possibly $50 more a month to upgrade one staple in the current diet will greatly impact overall health and wellness. This impact can also be accomplished by reducing stress. Evaluating the real need for certain responsibilities will help determine what can be removed from life in order to better the emotional and spiritual wellness. And [for] his diet, there was a continual diet given him of the king of Babylon, every day a portion until the day of his death, all the days of his life. (Jeremiah 52:34)

Many alternatives are available to replace caffeinated beverages and foods. Some people depend on drinking a warm beverage in the morning or throughout the day which can be replaced with chia tea, soy coffee, or Teeccino. All these options eliminate the consumption of caffeine, but still offer a hot beverage to be consumed. Likewise these beverages can be consumed cold and may additionally offer an alternative later in the day. Morning exercise can warm the body and stimulate the brain imitating the effects of coffee while avoiding caffeine allergy symptoms. Likewise, making sure the mattress and bedding used for nighttime sleeping does not cause irritation in any way will additionally decrease the dependency of caffeine. If adverse reactions occur when a person is lying in bed, a chemical reaction to the type of material or detergent used may also need to be addressed. There are no tests that can prove chemical sensitivity associate with caffeine allergies so trail and error conducted by the person is the only way to find relief. This means continuing the diary kept about food consumption and physical feelings. In addition to food consumption a person should record any adverse feelings while wearing certain clothing, using certain blankets, or even sitting in a certain chair. Once the potential culprits are identified, make changes one at a time in order to best identify the specific problem.

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