Top 5 Food Allergies, Sensitivities, and Intolerances

Rashes, asthma, gastrointestinal discomfort, migraines, anaphylactic shock—whatever the resulting symptom, food sensitivities take their toll on your body and your patience. Whether in the form of an actual allergy or an intolerance due to disease or illness, a significant portion of the world population is affected and must monitor their diet—some with just a watchful eye, others will full-blown vigilance. 

It is estimated that 12 million Americans suffer with food allergies alone. Typically, avoidance is the best way to keep symptoms at bay, but for some there are alternatives, such as regular/periodic allergy shots, supplements, and desensitization treatments. The best weapon you can have is knowledge, about the sensitivity and how best to work with or around it. Getting that knowledge from a reputable website, a compassionate fellow sufferer with a blog, or a book can be a good start, which is why I have incorporated recommendations, where appropriate, along with the basic details of the Top 5 Food Sensitivities.

Before proceeding to the Top 5, I also want to direct your attention to the list of “Best All-Around Sites for Info and Resources” as published by Cookie magazine. These sites are for general allergy/sensitivity information and support.

• Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network http://www.foodallergy.org/
• Food Allergy Initiative http://www.faiusa.org/
• Kids with Food Allergies http://www.kidswithfoodallergies.org/
• Food Allergy Website Just for Kids http://www.faankids.org/
• Beyond a Peanut http://www.beyondapeanut.com/
• Allergy Haven http://www.allergyhaven.com/products.htm