When you’ve gone through poverty and homelessness, you know what it’s like to go to bed hungry. Wasting food or money probably isn’t your favorite pastime. And you’re careful about how you spend your pennies.
A teen has told how she barely scrapes together $5 every week to be able to contribute to Sunday dinners with her friends. They take turns hosting, but one particular home always seems to serve up problems for the young, cash-strapped woman.
When the hosts recently made food the teen was allergic to, she decided to eat it anyway — instead of wasting money or causing a scene. Her attempt to be polite quickly backfired and now friendships are at stake.
Sunday rotational dinners are a highlight for this group of friends
Image credits: freepik (not the actual photo)
But they could soon be a thing of the past after one of them deliberately ate food she was allergic to
Image credits: Jonathan Borba / Unsplash (not the actual photo)
Image credits: freepik (not the actual photo)
Image credits: katemangostar / freepik (not the actual photo)
Image credits: throwaway_dish
The young woman provided more info when prompted by netizens
Food allergy or food intolerance… What’s the difference?
Image credits: EyeEm / freepik (not the actual photo)
Even a tiny amount of an allergy-causing food can trigger symptoms such as hives, swollen airways and digestive problems, warn the experts at Mayo Clinic. And in some people, a food allergy can be fatal.
An estimated 8% of children under age 5 and up to 4% of adults have at least one food allergy. But some people confuse a food allergy with a much more common reaction known as food intolerance. This is a less serious condition that doesn’t involve the immune system.
“A food intolerance or a reaction to another substance you ate may cause the same symptoms as a food allergy does — such as nausea, vomiting, cramping and diarrhea,” explains Mayo Clinic. “Depending on the type of food intolerance you have, you may be able to eat small amounts of problem foods without a reaction.”
If you have a true food allergy, even a trace amount of the food may trigger an allergic reaction.
“When you have a food allergy, your immune system mistakenly identifies a specific food or a substance in food as something harmful. In response, your immune system triggers cells to make an antibody known as immunoglobulin E (IgE) to recognize the allergy-causing food or food substance, called an allergen,” notes the site.
When you next eat that same food again (even a small amount), IgE antibodies sense it. They raise the alarm and signal to your immune system to release a chemical called histamine, among other chemicals, into your bloodstream. These chemicals are what cause allergy symptoms. Sometimes the symptoms are so severe that they result in a life-threatening reaction known as anaphylaxis.
Conditions that get mistaken for food allergies
There are a few conditions that can mimic a food allergy. One is when you don’t have enough of some of the enzymes needed to digest certain foods.
“Insufficient amounts of the enzyme lactase, for example, reduce your ability to digest lactose, the main sugar in milk products. Lactose intolerance can cause bloating, cramping, diarrhea and excess gas,” Mayo Clinic explains.
Similarly, some people have digestive reactions and other symptoms after eating certain food additives. “For example, sulfites used to preserve dried fruit, canned goods and wine can trigger asthma attacks in people with sensitivity to food additives,” notes the site.
That reaction you had to last night’s fish might not have been due to an allergy. According to the Mayo Clinic, certain fish (like tuna or mackerel) that aren’t refrigerated properly and have high levels of bacteria can contain a lot of histamine. This can trigger symptoms similar to those of a food allergy. This isn’t an allergic reaction, but rather something known as histamine toxicity or scombroid poisoning.
Celiac disease is sometimes also mistaken for a food allergy. While it’s sometimes referred to as a gluten allergy, it does not result in anaphylaxis. While it does involve an immune system response, celiac disease is a bit more complex.
“This ongoing digestive condition is triggered by eating gluten, a protein found in bread, pasta, cookies and many other foods containing wheat, barley or rye,” the Mayo Clinic explains. “If you have celiac disease and eat foods containing gluten, an immune reaction happens that causes damage to the surface of your small intestine. This leads to an inability to absorb certain nutrients.”
Experts advise seeing a doctor or allergist if you have food allergy symptoms shortly after eating. “If possible, see a care professional when the allergic reaction is occurring,” suggests the Mayo Clinic site. “This can help make a diagnosis.”
“Homelessness and food insecurity”: People sympathized with the teenager
A few netizens felt everyone played a part in the situation
“What did you expect him to do?”: Some people had harsh words for the teen
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