In order to understand how food allergies work we must first understand what all foods are. Basically food is any material consumed by an animal to give live nutrition to organisms. Food is normally of animal, plant or fungal origin and usually contains vital nutrients, including proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, or other minerals. However sometimes food can be consumed in such a way that the nutrients are not properly used by the body can develop problems from eating too much of a particular type of food. This is known as an intolerance to food.
The body’s ability to properly digest food and absorb nutrients in food is called the digestive system. When the body is unable to digest food properly, it is unable to properly use the nutrients in that food which results in a series of symptoms. These symptoms can include general weakness, loss of weight, loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea. The symptoms tend to vary with each person, but in most cases they involve one or more of the following: difficulty swallowing, abdominal bloating, constipation, heartburn, vomiting and diarrhea. Some people may have a mild case of an intolerance to one or few types of foods, while others may be intolerant to virtually any food. What this means is that some people may have very mild food allergies while others, even those who suffer with severe allergies, cannot handle even a trace amount of food.
To understand how food allergies affect you and which foods may cause you to have an intolerance you need to know what causes an intolerance to certain types of foods. Normally the body’s digestive system cannot break down all of the needed ingredients in food before the food actually reaches the small intestines of the human body. The small intestines are designed to absorb water and other liquids and eventually the food reaches the stomach to be broken down to basic substances. This is normal but sometimes the digestive system becomes overworked and cannot process the food properly, which results in a negative reaction from the body. Food allergies can often be found in families and individuals.