5 Foods You May Be Allergic To Without Realizing It

We've heard the expression "watch what you eat," normally in reference to healthy dieting. What about allergies, though? Before your next meal, check out these five foods you may be allergic to without realizing it.

Egg allergies, common in children, are triggered by the proteins in the whites and yolks. Symptoms include skin reactions (swelling or rashes), stomach pain, sweating, sneezing, and a runny nose.

While this allergy is less common, it can cause major problems for some people. Fruit allergies are caused by profilin, the main allergic component in pollen. Symptoms, which may include itching, tingling, and swelling of the lips, palate, and tongue, tend to occur immediately after consumption.  

Some people are naturally allergic to meat, but interestingly enough, a Texas insect called the Lone Star tick can also pass on a meat allergy to its victims. Symptoms include nausea, headaches, rashes, sneezing, and headaches immediately after eating meat products.

Many people confuse milk allergies with lactose intolerance, but intolerance doesn't involve the immune system. Symptoms of a milk allergy include hives, wheezing, and vomiting; the main effects of lactose intolerance are usually digestive.

It's important to know the difference between tree nuts (nuts grown in trees, like cashews, almonds, and walnuts) and groundnuts (peanuts), because it's possible to be allergic to one but not the other. The symptoms of a nut allergy include rashes or bloated skin, stuffy or runny nose, sneezing, and a sore throat. Peanuts are also notorious for causing life-threatening anaphylaxis.