Food allergies can cause muscle cramps, primarily experienced in the stomach. When you eat a food you're allergic to, your digestive system becomes inflamed and irritated, which leads to common gastric symptoms, such as abdominal cramping. Food allergies are more common among children, leaving only two percent of adults in America diagnosed with a food allergy, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. If you develop muscle cramps after eating certain foods, you need to talk with your doctor to receive a proper diagnosis.
Food Allergies
The most common food allergies are caused by eight foods: fish, shellfish, nuts, peanuts, wheat, soy, eggs and milk. Food allergies result a hypersensitivity of the immune system to certain proteins found in various foods. When you eat a food that you become allergic to, your immune system reacts to the proteins as if they were dangerous. The body begins to defend itself by creating immunoglobulin E, or IgE, antibodies, according to MedlinePlus. These antibodies cause mast cells to produce histamine, a chemical that helps protect the body from infection. Histamine causes inflammation and irritation in soft tissues in the body, such as the lungs, skin, intestines and the sinuses.
Muscle Cramping
Muscle cramps commonly occur in the stomach and abdomen because of swelling and inflammation in the intestines. After eating a food that you're allergic to, the body will attempt to get rid of the proteins as quickly as possible, which can lead to vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, gas, bloating and stomach cramping. Muscle cramps experienced anywhere else in the body may indicate another medical condition unrelated to a food allergy.
Other Symptoms
Abdominal muscle cramps can be accompanied by other symptoms if related to a food allergy. Other symptoms commonly associated with food allergies include hives, eczema, swelling, itching, wheezing, nasal congestion, difficulty breathing, swelling in face, lips, throat or eyelids, lightheadedness, fainting, dizziness, rapid pulse and bluish color in the skin, according to the UMMC. Severe symptoms can cause anaphylactic shock, a rare but potentially life-threatening condition.
Intolerance Consideration
Abdominal cramping may be related to food intolerance, another food-related condition that can cause similar symptoms as a food allergy. Food intolerance does not involve the immune system but instead involves the inability of the digestive tract to properly digest certain foods, according to MayoClinic.com. Talk to your doctor about testing to diagnose your condition.
