Allergy-Free Diets

The Mayo Clinic defines "food allergy" as an immune system's reaction to the consumption of a certain food. Food allergy symptoms include itching in the mouth, trouble breathing, abdominal pain, hives, swelling and dizziness. Some people experience anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening reaction that leads to tightening of the airways, shock and death or coma if not treated. Following an allergy-free diet is the best way to keep yourself from having an allergic reaction to something you eat.

Function

An allergy-free diet has the goals of preventing adverse physical reactions to what you eat and clearing up any symptoms you may have. The Mayo Clinic lists wheat, milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish and soy as the top eight food allergens, though you could be allergic to any food, including spices and food additives.

Types

A straightforward allergy-free diet means refraining from eating any foods you are allergic to, including by-products of the foods. For example, if you are allergic to soy, not only must you avoid tofu and soy milk, but you might also need to avoid soy lecithin, a common food additive. If you suspect you have food allergies but aren't sure what they are, you can follow an elimination diet, which involves cutting out all likely allergens and slowly adding them back in to observe your body's reactions.

Features

The main feature of an allergy-free diet is the elimination from your diet of all foods that give you allergic reactions. This regimen gives your immune system the ability to detoxify and stop producing allergic reactions. The George Mateljan Foundation suggests focusing on hypoallergenic foods such as gluten-free grains, lamb, pears, vegetables and rice. This diet also involves finding alternative sources of nutrition, such as almond or rice milk if you are allergic to dairy and soy milk.

Warnings

If you need to eliminate several foods from your daily diet, you may end up with nutritional deficiencies. Consult a nutritionist or similar health-care provider to determine whether you need vitamins or other supplements. Also, you might experience withdrawal symptoms such as headaches when you initially cut allergens from your diet. This stage could last a few days or a few weeks; everyone is different. Talk to your health-care provider if you have concerns.