COMMON SYMPTONS INCLUDE:

Skin
hives
red facial rash
dry, scaly, itchy skin
swelling in hands and feet
puffy eyelids
dark circles under eyes
lip swelling

Respiratory
tongue soreness
runny nose
stuffy nose
wheezing
watery eyes
rattling chest
persistent cough
congestion
bronchitis
recurring ear infections

Intestinal
abdominal discomfort
mucousy diarrhea
constipation
intestinal bleeding
poor weight gain
bloating, gassiness
excessive spitting up
constipation
vomiting

Behavior
migraine headaches
hyperactivity
crying
irritability
night-waking
anxiety
crankiness
sore muscles and joints

DID YOU KNOW?

Here's what goes on in your body when you're hypersensitive to a food.

The suspect protein is known as an allergen. When an allergen gets into your body, it comes into contact with the target organs, usually the skin or the lining of the breathing passages or intestines.

When something gets into the body that it doesn't like, it mobilizes defense troops called antibodies. When the fight breaks out between these allergens and antibodies, microscopic explosions occur that release chemicals, such as histamines (hence, allergy medicines are called antihistamines), that disturb the integrity of tissues. Blood vessels dilate and produce a rash, fluid leaks out through the injured blood vessels, causing runny nose, puffy and watery eyes, or the muscles in the breathing passages go into spasms of wheezing.

Even the brain can be bothered by an allergic reaction. A new field of research interest, called "brain allergy," describes the behavioral reactions of the brain when it's bothered by certain foods.

DID YOU KNOW?

Food allergy symptoms vary in severity. While one mother may have to rush a wheezing child to the nearest emergency room within minutes after he eats a peanutbutter sandwich, another child may develop only a nuisance-like rash around the mouth.

It may take a few minutes, a few hours, or a few days for a food to cause a reaction. Monday's chocolate bar may be the cause of Tuesday's rash. Food allergies are often known as the "eat now, pay later" phenomenon.

Food allergies are often dose related. A teaspoon of peanut butter may not be a problem, but a couple tablespoons on a big sandwich can trigger wheezing. Some people do just fine with one glass of milk, but may get bloated after drinking three glasses. Eating shellfish every day could make you break out in an all-over body rash, yet having a few shrimp every four days may not be a problem. This is the rationale for the "rotation diet" in which you eat related food groups every four days.

Even though it's possible to be allergic to just about any food, over 90 percent of food allergies, especially in young children, are caused by seven foods:

• dairy products
• soy
• shellfish
• wheat
• tree nuts
• peanuts
• egg whites
  

If you're allergic to one food in a food group, you have a greater chance of being allergic to other foods, or all the foods in that group. If you're allergic to peanuts (which is a legume and not a nut), you may be able to eat almonds, but not other foods in the legume family.

Don't be surprised if you actually crave the food you're allergic to. When you go on an elimination diet your body may go through withdrawal symptoms, triggering cravings for the very food that is not good for it.

Sometimes the wisdom of the body breaks down. This food-craving paradox is especially true in children who are hypersensitive to sugar . When the blood sugar rises and then falls, children crave the food that will send their blood sugar skyrocketing.