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Quite a few misconceptions exist about food allergies and some can cause harm to those who believe them. People may do a little research and assume they have a certain food allergy and unnecessarily make changes to their diet or lifestyle, with some of those changes being quite harmful. Do you truly understand what a food allergy is? Read on for some of the fallacies and facts surrounding food allergies:

1. At least 20% or more of the population in this country assume they have a food allergy and chances are they are … wrong! What millions of people perceive as a food allergy is actually just an intolerance. Only about 3-5% of this country's population truly has food allergies. Knowing the difference between food intolerance and an allergy is important because the latter can be life threatening if not handled properly whereas the former is more of an inconvenience. Only proper testing through a doctor can accurately gauge which one you may have.

2. Children with food allergies do outgrow them eventually. This statement is both true and false. With some food allergies like milk, soy and eggs, body maturity does tend to take care of these things so as an adult you can enjoy products with these ingredients. However, there are a few food allergies such as those to shellfish and tree nuts that do carry over into adulthood.

3. With the new laws regarding food labeling, people with food allergies do not have to be as diligent. This is both true and false. While the new laws regarding food labeling do address the majority of ingredients that cause allergies, there is that small percentage that is still not covered. So if you are among the minority with odd food allergies, the new labeling laws are not going to be as effective for you. You have to arm yourself with the information yourself – i.e. the different forms your food allergens could hide in – to protect your health.

4. All food allergies start in childhood. This is false! While it is true that the majority of food allergies present themselves during childhood, many adults do still develop food allergies after a lifetime of eating a particular food item, with shellfish being most prevalent. Chemical changes in the body or outside environmental issues could be possible culprits for adult onset of food allergies.

5. If I break out in hives, then I have a food allergy. This is absolutely false. There are a number of things that can cause hives such as drug interactions, bacterial or viral infections, bug bites and even exposure to extreme heat or cold. Hives are just one small symptom out of many that are attributed to food allergic reactions.

6. Children with food allergies don't have many rights when it comes to special food accommodations at school. This is false. Every child has a right to safe public education and part of that safety is taking proper precautions and making allowances for food allergies. For this reason, many schools now ban peanut products because children have died from simple exposure to them. Should you have a child with food allergies, you have every right to work with the school to create a plan of action to ensure the health and safety of your child.

There are many other misconceptions surrounding food allergies. Only be arming yourself with knowledge and the support of your doctor can you banish the myths and lead people on the right educational path about food allergies.

What many people view as an allergy to some type of food may only be intolerance for it. One of the most common is lactose intolerance. Sometimes, people who eat dairy products become bloated and miserable and even develop diarrhea. However, this intolerance does not affect the immune system in any way which is the primary key to a food allergy.

Food allergies are not as widespread as you might think. Less than 5% of adults have food allergies while children are at just fewer than 10% of the...

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Genetic testing can decide if you and your spouse are carries of the mutant cystic fibrosis gene. Testing can also be done on your unborn child. If your child is found to have the CF gene, there is still no way to find out how severe the cystic fibrosis symptoms will be after the child arrives. Genetic testing on siblings, and both parents to see if any are carrying the mutant gene. Other members of your family may want testing to see if they are carrying the gene if they are planning on star...

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Cystic fibrosis is a disease that has no known cure. It can have devastating complications if not treated. Common and frequent complications are respiratory infections such as pneumonia, bronchitis, and chronic sinusitis. The passageways to the respiratory organs are dilated when you have these infections and can make it more difficult to clear the passageways. Asthma can develop from the chronic inflammation of the bronchial linings.

Respiratory infections are common because the mucus th...

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Alternative medicine may give hope to some cystic fibrosis patients. Although there is no known cure for
this disease, there are a few simple steps to make the quality of life better for a cystic fibrosis patient.
Changing dietary habits, changing your mood, and exercising to release stress and ease depression is a
good start. It has been scientifically proven that laughter helps relieve stress, ease depression and makes
us healthier. Try laughing a little each day, finding something funn...

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Cystic fibrosis has been around since medieval times. Infants in the middle ages who had “salty” skin were
considered bewitched because they normally died during infancy. The disease is sometimes fatal, inherited,
chronic, and progressive. There is no known cure for this genetic disease. Cystic fibrosis normally affects the
digestive and respiratory organs of the body. Thick mucus collects in the passageways and lungs in the
respiratory system and blocks the ducts that allow digestive...

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If you asked any mom if she would dare give her young child a cup of coffee for breakfast, she would 
stare at you in shock that you would even dare to suggest such a thing. Caffeine is definitely not something
healthy to give a child, yet children consume caffeine everyday, some in large quantities. 
 
Parents are just unaware, or unconcerned that there kids are eating and drinking food items that contain 
caffeine because it looks like normal everyday food and drink items. Caffeine lu...

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We are told that we need to eat healthy in order for our bodies to be healthier. Most of us 
would agree that we need to eat foods that are better for us such as whole grains, lean meats, 
nuts, seeds, vegetables and fruits as well as low-fat dairy products. It is difficult to eat 
healthier if what we have in our kitchens is processed, high-fat or sugary foods. It is 
important to buy and stock our kitchens with natural, healthier foods in order for our family 
members to have better choices whe...

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Getting kids to eat what you know is healthy for them to eat is not always easy. They usually want to eat what tastes good,

but is not necessarily good for them, so as sweets, foods high in fats and salty snacks. Face it, we as adults do the same thing at times.

If your mealtimes are battle filled, here are a few tips to help you to convince your kids that healthy foods can taste good too.

In order to grow up to be healthy men and women, kids need good nutrition and a balanced diet. T...

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There really is no “best way to lose weight” as such which will fit each and every person across the board. Since everyone is different and is unique in their own way, it can be safely said that each person will have a different requirement when it comes to weight loss options.

However, it can be said that there is definitely a best way to lose weight for every individual, and it is best if you can find this out for yourself and follow it. If you are unsure about how to go about this, to ...
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