1. Food Allergies and intolerances
Food allergies and food intolerances affect nearly everyone at some point in their life. You may have had a unpleasant reaction to something you've eaten and wondered whether or not you have an allergy or an intolerance to that particular food. Such reactions, if severe enough, can cause devastating illness and, in some cases can be fatal.
Food Allergies
A food allergy occurs when your immune system responds to a food it mistakenly believes is harmful. When you eat it, the immune system immediately releases huge amounts of chemicals into your body to try to 'protect it' against the food consumed.These chemicals or antibodies then trigger allergic symptoms that can affect your breathing, skin, gastrointestinal tract and cardiovascular system. Each time the foreign substance enters the body, more antibodies are produced. Eventually there may be enough antibodies to protect them. This is why some children may be allergic to foods such as egg whites and by the time they have reached adolescence they have built up enough antibodies to fight the food allergy.
Common triggers are:
Food Allergies
A food allergy occurs when your immune system responds to a food it mistakenly believes is harmful. When you eat it, the immune system immediately releases huge amounts of chemicals into your body to try to 'protect it' against the food consumed.These chemicals or antibodies then trigger allergic symptoms that can affect your breathing, skin, gastrointestinal tract and cardiovascular system. Each time the foreign substance enters the body, more antibodies are produced. Eventually there may be enough antibodies to protect them. This is why some children may be allergic to foods such as egg whites and by the time they have reached adolescence they have built up enough antibodies to fight the food allergy.
Common triggers are:
- Seafood
- gluten
- cow's milk
- nuts- especially peanuts
- soy beans
- sesame seeds
Food Intolerances
Food intolerance is a condition which people are born with that makes it impossible for them to metabolise a particular food or nutrient. In most cases it is because they don't have the enzyme needed to digest a particular food substance.Food intolerance occurs when the nerve endings in different parts of the body become irritated, causing symptoms such as stomach and bowel troubles, headaches, swelling or hives. People who are affected in a way by a certain food should eliminate it from their diet. If they are unsure which food are responsible, a medical expert can help identify those foods which are causing the problems.
There are a number of types of food intolerances, these include
Food intolerance is a condition which people are born with that makes it impossible for them to metabolise a particular food or nutrient. In most cases it is because they don't have the enzyme needed to digest a particular food substance.Food intolerance occurs when the nerve endings in different parts of the body become irritated, causing symptoms such as stomach and bowel troubles, headaches, swelling or hives. People who are affected in a way by a certain food should eliminate it from their diet. If they are unsure which food are responsible, a medical expert can help identify those foods which are causing the problems.
There are a number of types of food intolerances, these include
- Gluten intolerance (coeliac disease)
- Lactose intolerance
- Galactose intolerance
- Fructose intolerance
Telling the Difference
Food allergy and food intolerance can be difficult to distinguish, as both have very similar symptoms. The main difference is that the reaction to food intolerance takes a lot longer to appear, often several hours or a day or two later. The body reacts only when a food chemical (natural or added) builds up in sufficient quantities to cause a reaction.
Common triggers for food intolerances include:
Task 1.
Research the difference between food allergies and intolerances in the following link: Better Health
1. What is the difference between a food allergy and food intolerance?
2. What are the difference in physical symptoms for a food allergy and a food intolerance?
3. What happens during and anaphylactic shock?
4. Give 2 examples of behavioural reactions to food allergies.
5. Select one of the food intolerances to research.
6. What foods does a person suffering from Coeliac disease need to avoid?
Food allergy and food intolerance can be difficult to distinguish, as both have very similar symptoms. The main difference is that the reaction to food intolerance takes a lot longer to appear, often several hours or a day or two later. The body reacts only when a food chemical (natural or added) builds up in sufficient quantities to cause a reaction.
Common triggers for food intolerances include:
- milk
- eggs
- nuts
- fish/shellfish
- wheat/flour
- chocolate
- artificial colours/flavours/preservatives
- tomato
- soft cheese
- yeast
Task 1.
Research the difference between food allergies and intolerances in the following link: Better Health
1. What is the difference between a food allergy and food intolerance?
2. What are the difference in physical symptoms for a food allergy and a food intolerance?
3. What happens during and anaphylactic shock?
4. Give 2 examples of behavioural reactions to food allergies.
5. Select one of the food intolerances to research.
6. What foods does a person suffering from Coeliac disease need to avoid?
2. Recovery from Injury or Illness
When people are recovering from an illness or an injury they are convalescing or getting better. Injury and illness create stress on the body. Adequate nutrition can really make the difference in the recovery of people with severe injury or illness.
Injury increases the body's metabolism, and larger quantities of protein, vitamins and minerals are especially important. However, hunger may decrease, as illness or injury tends to reduce appetite. A patient may not feel well enough to eat a high protein meal such as fish and vegetables yet will be able to benefit from the intake of protein by consuming a protein rich drink made from milk, eggs, or by eating yoghurt.
Smaller regular meals play an important role in the recovery from illness or injury. It is important to remember that all meals do not have to be soft for them to be easily digested, unless the patient has no teeth or is too ill to chew food. Foods that are more difficult to digest should be avoided, for example fried foods, pastries, cakes, nuts or fatty foods.
Convalescent Nutritional requirements:
Injury increases the body's metabolism, and larger quantities of protein, vitamins and minerals are especially important. However, hunger may decrease, as illness or injury tends to reduce appetite. A patient may not feel well enough to eat a high protein meal such as fish and vegetables yet will be able to benefit from the intake of protein by consuming a protein rich drink made from milk, eggs, or by eating yoghurt.
Smaller regular meals play an important role in the recovery from illness or injury. It is important to remember that all meals do not have to be soft for them to be easily digested, unless the patient has no teeth or is too ill to chew food. Foods that are more difficult to digest should be avoided, for example fried foods, pastries, cakes, nuts or fatty foods.
Convalescent Nutritional requirements:
- The need for protein is increased as body tissues need building and repairing
- Meals should include more easily digested protein rich foods, such as dairy products and eggs, as well as a variety of other foods such as fruits and vegetables
- Carbohydrates and fats should be limited
Task 2.
Task 3.
1.Use the word list below to complete the following passage.
- Outline the causes, symptoms and treatment of a person suffering from a food allergy or intolerance.
- Explain the cause and symptoms of coeliac disease.
- Define the term 'convalescence'.
- Outline the special nutritional needs of a convalescent person
- Suggest ways of making a convalescent person's meals attractive.
- Plan a day's menu suitable for a teenager with an allergy to milk and gluten.
- Plan a day's menu for:
- Someone who has a facial injury and is finding it difficult to chew
- a person who has a knee injury but has no difficulty chewing.
- Explain why you chose these menus. Are the same nutrients provided in both menus?
Task 3.
1.Use the word list below to complete the following passage.
smaller
appetite metabolism |
protein
convalescing |
eggs
stress |
confined
recovering |
nutrition
high |
When people are .......... from an illness or an injury they are ............ .Injury and illness create ...... on the body and so adequate ......... is vital for quick recovery.Injury increases the body's .......... and larger quantities of ......., vitamins and minerals are especially important.
Often after an injury or illness, a person feels too sick to eat and may have lost their ........ .They may also be ........ to bed and so maybe unable to move to a dining area to eat their meals. They may need to eat ....... meals more often throughout the day. A .... protein meal containing foods such as fish, milk, ...., vegetables, yoghurt is often best.
2. Define the term convalescence
3. Outline special nutritional needs of convalescents
4. Think of an occasion when you were sick or ill. Which foods did you consume? Did the doctor recommend any special foods?
Often after an injury or illness, a person feels too sick to eat and may have lost their ........ .They may also be ........ to bed and so maybe unable to move to a dining area to eat their meals. They may need to eat ....... meals more often throughout the day. A .... protein meal containing foods such as fish, milk, ...., vegetables, yoghurt is often best.
2. Define the term convalescence
3. Outline special nutritional needs of convalescents
4. Think of an occasion when you were sick or ill. Which foods did you consume? Did the doctor recommend any special foods?