Be Aware

    If you experience symptoms such as unexplained itching, a constant urge to rub your eyes, mouth ulcers, or even vomiting and diarrhea... be aware of chronic food allergy, also known as food intolerance.      Food intolerance is a complex hypersensitivity disease where the immune system mistakenly identifies certain foods entering the body as harmful substances, triggering an excessive protective immune response against them.      If you notice any of the following symptoms, it is recommended that you get tested for food intolerance:      Skin reactions: Itching, rashes, dryness/redness, exacerbation of eczema      Eyes: Reddened and watery eyes, rubbing of the eyes      Mouth: Swollen lips, mouth ulcers      Gastrointestinal reactions: Vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain      Respiratory reactions: Coughing, sneezing, runny nose      Note that food intolerance is categorized as chronic food allergy, detected by IgG levels in the blood; whereas allergen screening falls under acute allergies, detected by IgE levels in the blood. Some individuals may only exhibit chronic allergies, hence they may test positive for food intolerance but negative on allergen screenings.      Here comes the question: should you avoid eating the foods you test positive for,…