1. Watch the Skin
Skin reactions are pretty common in people with food allergies. They can appear within minutes after eating the offending food, though it may take an hour or two to see a reaction in some people. Skin reactions to food allergies can vary quite considerably. Many people experience hives, which are medium-sized raised red bumps that are very itchy. The hives may be present in just one small location, or they might spread across the entire body. Another type of skin reaction is a general redness, which could also show up in just one location or many. Some people even get redness on their lips and tongues (which makes those body parts even more red than they already are). Finally, swelling may appear in more serious allergic reactions, especially around the face and on the tongue.
2. Be Suspicious of Any Digestive Reactions
Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea after eating can all be symptoms of food poisoning or a virus. However, these symptoms can also be caused by food allergies. Like skin reactions, digestive reactions usually appear within a few minutes to a few hours after eating. Sometimes, an intense pain in the stomach will also be present, or it may be the only digestive symptom you experience. If you get digestive reactions each time you eat a certain food, then you can be pretty sure that it's because of an allergy and not just an isolated incident of eating some bad food.
3. Respiratory and Circulatory Symptoms
Nasal and sinus congestion, coughing, wheezing, dizziness and fainting can all be signs of a food allergy if any of these symptoms appear shortly after eating. Your immune system is going crazy trying to deal with the offending food you just ate because it perceives that food as a foreign invader. As your immune system gets to work attacking and removing the offender, it can negatively impact both your respiratory and circulatory systems, causing all these unpleasant reactions. The intensity of these reactions can range from mild to severe.
4. Don't Let Anaphylaxis Catch You Off Guard
Anaphylaxis is the most serious allergic reaction you can have to anything, and it happens the most often with food allergies. An anaphylactic reaction usually includes reactions in two or more areas of the body, and may also include difficulty breathing, a drop in blood pressure and loss of consciousness. This is a dangerous reaction that requires immediate medical intervention because it can kill you it it's left untreated. If you experience any of the symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction, get to a hospital right away.
