O CNN Vital Signs This week we will talk about food hypersensitivity, which is the name given to all types of excessive reactions that the body can develop against a certain food. The term can further be divided into two groups: food allergies and food intolerances. Dr. Roberto Kalil talks to experts to understand the differences, main characteristics and treatments available today.
It is worth mentioning that food intolerance occurs when the body cannot digest some food, triggering symptoms such as colic, diarrhea, bloating, gas, vomiting, headache, among others. Around 70% of humans do not have the capacity to digest lactose, for example. Of these, 1/3 will in fact be intolerant. “Among the most common are: intolerance to lactose, gluten, fructose, sucrose, corn and yeast”, says Dr. Ricardo Barbuti, assistant physician at the Department of Gastroenterology at HC-FMUSP.
On the other hand, there is allergy to some foods. This occurs when there is an immune system response. In recent years, the number of people with food allergies in the world has grown by 18%. The most common allergies are: milk protein, peanuts, seafood and sulfite (preservative present in wine, dried fruits, etc.).
O CNN Vital Signs went to UNICAMP to follow some of the routine of Dr. Ariane Yang, immunologist and coordinator of the food allergy clinic. She showed which tests are currently available in medicine to identify the main allergies and intolerances, such as a respiratory test that measures the amount of gas exhaled when a person consumes lactose.
This week's program also clarifies that breast milk does not cause intolerance or allergies in the baby. However, it can carry the cow's milk protein present in the mother's diet. This is the example of the family of little Gabriel, just 5 years old, who lives in Santo André, in ABC Paulista. The boy was born with an allergy to milk protein, and today he has a restrictive diet.
Dr. Patricia Speridão, nutritionist and coordinator of the Nutrition course at UNIFESP, states that to avoid crises, especially in children, parents should keep an eye on product labels. “The phrase ALLERGIC TO MILK, MAY CONTAIN MILK, must be in capital letters and bold. But the main guideline is that children consume home-cooked food, not processed food.”
It is worth mentioning that both intolerance and food allergies are treated in a multidisciplinary way: gastroenterologist, immunologist and nutritionists.
“CNN Sinais Vitais”, with Dr. Roberto Kalil, will air this Saturday, January 6th, at 7:15 pm, on CNN Brasil.
Source: CNN Brasil
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