Health Conditions / Allergies / Food Allergies

Many people with allergies experience mild symptoms, like itchy eyes, that are annoying but generally harmless. But some allergic reactions called anaphylaxis can be so severe that they become life-threatening. Anyone with allergies can experience anaphylaxis. However, some people with other underlying medical conditions, such as allergic asthma, may be even more susceptible to having a severe reaction, meaning it’s especially important for them to have anaphylaxis on their radar.Normally, your immune system attacks potentially harmful substances like viruses and bacteria to keep you feeling healthy, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM). In people with allergies, the immune system attacks a benign substance, like food or tree pollen. The same basic process happens during anaphylaxis, except the reaction and symptoms are more severe1 and affect the entire body rather than an isolated area, like the upper respiratory system.About 1 in 50 people in the U.S. have experienced anaphylaxis, but some experts believe the rate is even higher, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). You can’t predict when you or someone you love may have a really severe allergic reaction, but you can identify anaphylaxis and react quickly if you ever need to.Here’s what happens during anaphylaxis:First, you are exposed to an allergen.Allergens are essentially substances that trigger an allergic response in your body. They can be ingested, touched, injected, or inhaled, according to the AAFA. Allergens vary by person, but foods are one of the primary causes of anaphylaxis, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Common culprits include:EggsCow’s milkMany types of nuts, including peanuts, cashews, and walnutsShellfish such as shrimp, lobster, and clamsFishSoy, which is found in numerous foods like edamame, ice cream, and tempehWheat, a common ingredient in bread, cereals, and pastaMedicines (most often injectable medications), insect venom from bees and wasps, and latex can also trigger anaphylaxis, according to the Mayo Clinic. Very rarely, some people experience anaphylaxis during intense physical exercise, such as running, for unknown reasons, according to the Cleveland Clinic.Your body reacts, setting off a wave of symptoms.Once your immune system senses that you have been exposed to an allergen, it launches an attack, releasing inflammatory chemicals such as histamine to fight off the perceived invader.“Anaphylactic symptoms occur because your immune system is releasing several chemicals in large quantities after the allergen exposure,” Thanai Pongdee, MD, an immunologist from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., tells SELF.An anaphylactic reaction typically occurs within minutes or seconds of exposure to an allergen, according to the Mayo Clinic. But anaphylaxis can also be delayed for hours, which can make it a little more difficult to figure out the potential trigger.

Back to topWhat are the most common allergic reaction symptoms?Symptoms of an allergic reaction can range from mild, localized flare-ups in a specific part of your body to severe allergic reactions that set off alarm bells throughout your body. Here’s what to look out for.Congestion, sneezing, and a runny noseWhen you breathe in an allergen like tree pollen, mold, or dust, your immune system triggers the release of histamines from cells inside your nasal passageways, Dr. Abdeldaim says. This causes “allergic rhinitis,” or inflammation in your nose, and in turn an uptick in the production of mucus. Seasonal and year-round allergens alike can trigger an itchy, stuffed-up nose, sneezing attacks, and postnasal drip (that uncomfortable sensation as mucus from your sinuses trickles down your throat).You might feel like you just have the common cold, Dr. Tam says. But one way to tell the difference is that a viral infection typically clears within one to two weeks, whereas allergy symptoms are chronic and could last for several weeks.Itchy, irritated eyesIf allergens like pet dander or dust mites make their way into your eyes, histamines could flare up and make them swollen, red, itchy, and watery, Marc F. Goldstein, MD, a board-certified allergist and immunologist at The Asthma Center in Philadelphia, tells SELF. This is called allergic conjunctivitis because allergens cause the protective covering of the eye and eyelid—the conjunctiva—to swell. Your eyes might also feel like they’re burning or more sensitive to light.A rashThe release of histamine can also make your skin itchy, Sanjeev Jain, MD, PhD, a board-certified allergist and immunologist at Columbia Allergy in California, tells SELF. In fact, irritated skin is one of the most common signs of an allergic reaction whether you’ve eaten, inhaled, or brushed up against an allergen.Symptoms can vary. You may develop dry, itchy patches due to eczema after your skin’s been exposed to an irritant or allergen, or you could have itchy, red bumps or hives.Trouble breathing, coughing, and wheezingIf histamines make their way to your lungs, they could also trigger asthma symptoms like shortness of breath and coughing fits, Dr. Tam says. If you’re one of over 25 million Americans with asthma, allergens (like cockroaches, pet dander, mold, and dust mites) are also one of the most common triggers for trouble breathing and wheezing. Even food allergies can cause asthma-like symptoms.Gastrointestinal distressWithin minutes, even a small amount of food—like a sip of milk, traces of eggs, or peanuts—could trigger an allergic reaction in your G.I. tract. Inflammation in your stomach could cause symptoms like cramping, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and even diarrhea, Dr. Goldstein says.It’s easy to confuse food allergies with food intolerances. But food intolerances tend to be limited to G.I. issues while food allergies often come with additional symptoms like tingling or itching in your mouth, swelling in your mouth and throat, itchy skin, hives, wheezing, nasal congestion, trouble breathing, and even dizziness and fainting.AnaphylaxisFinally, one important cluster of symptoms to be aware of is anaphylaxis, Dr. Tam says. This severe allergic reaction is life-threatening, so immediate emergency medical attention is a must. Anaphylaxis is most commonly caused by foods, insect stings, medications, and latex allergies.

Ice cream brand Turkey Hill Dairy is voluntarily issuing an ice cream recall on certain containers of its Chocolate Marshmallow Premium Ice Cream, as it may contain undeclared peanuts. While only 385 containers have been affected, people with peanut allergies will be at risk if they come into contact with these products. The ice cream recall is being carried out in cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).Turkey Hill Dairy was first informed of the contamination by a customer, who noticed that some containers of the Chocolate Marshmallow Premium Ice Cream variety seemed to have been accidentally filled with the Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream variety instead. Turkey Hill Dairy, which is the fourth-largest premium ice cream brand in the country, according to the FDA, is sold in 50 U.S. states as well as internationally. Fortunately, there have been no reports of illnesses linked to these affected products to date. If you are concerned about whether you have purchased one of the affected products, here are the container details to look out for:Product: Chocolate Marshmallow Premium Ice CreamContainer size: 48 ozUPC code: 020735420935Sell-by date: 03/02/2023 (located on the bottom of the package)Purchase date range: 4/14/2022 and 4/19/2022No other Turkey Hill Dairy products with different UPC codes and sell-by dates or in different sizes or varieties have been affected. In a statement, the FDA said: “People who have an allergy to peanuts run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), along with milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, wheat, soy, and tree nuts, peanuts are the cause of some of the most severe allergic reactions in the country. An estimated 1.2% of the U.S. population is allergic to peanuts. It’s also the most common kind of food allergy in children, with around 2.5% of children affected. Unfortunately, they are a leading cause of allergy-related deaths in children. An allergic reaction to peanuts typically occurs within just minutes after the individual comes into contact with a peanut or peanut-containing product. According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of a peanut allergy can include hives, swollen skin, tightened throat, shortness of breath, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, a runny nose, or an itchy mouth or throat. Anaphylaxis is the most severe allergic reaction to peanuts. This is a whole-body response to an allergen and can be life-threatening. Symptoms can include impaired breathing, swelling of the throat, a severe drop in blood pressure, pale skin, blue lips, rapid pulse, fainting, and dizziness. The only way to treat someone in anaphylactic shock is with an EpiPen (an adrenaline auto-injector) and by heading to the emergency room.All stores that received the recalled Turkey Hill Dairy ice cream have been advised to remove these products from their shelves. Shoppers who have bought the recalled ice cream can return their containers to the place of purchase for a full refund. Alternatively, you can also contact Turkey Hill Dairy at 1-800-MY-DAIRY (1-800-693-2479), Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. E.S.T.Related:

There are so many types of allergic reactions. Some of us get rashes or hives after eating certain foods, some of us develop allergic asthma due to triggers like mold or dust, and some of us have a higher risk of dangerous complications like anaphylactic shock.You might have some idea of what an allergic reaction can look and feel like (Itchy spots! Watery eyes! Swelling!), but your body can respond in all kinds of unexpected ways when it comes in contact with something it perceives as a threat.If you deal with allergies, then keep on reading to dig deeper into the different types of allergic reactions you may experience. Understanding your personal triggers can clue you in on how to best treat them, so you can hopefully feel better faster when symptoms strike.What is an allergic reaction?Typically, your immune system tries to keep you healthy by attacking things like potentially harmful viruses and bacteria. Sometimes, however, your immune cells see other substances as a threat to your body, even if they don’t generally cause harm for most people. In most cases, your body attacks the perceived “invaders” and causes an allergic reaction by producing antibodies called immunoglobulin (IgE). It’s these antibodies that release chemicals that trigger symptoms, according to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI).People can be allergic to so many different things, including various types of food, insect venom, latex, or certain medicines, as well as airborne substances like pollen, mold, or animal dander, among other allergens.Allergic reactions are common and often happen within minutes to hours after a person has been exposed to the offending allergen, Lara Gross, MD, an allergist and immunologist with Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, tells SELF.People who have a family history of allergic conditions like hives, hay fever, eczema, or asthma are more likely to have allergies, according to the Mayo Clinic. But anyone can develop allergies regardless of these factors.Back to topWhat are some common allergic reaction symptoms?Sometimes, allergic reactions cause mild symptoms like itching or congestion. But in other cases, they can make a person extremely uncomfortable—think stomach cramping, chest pain, vomiting, diarrhea, or dizziness. Occasionally, a severe allergic reaction can be life-threatening if you don’t get quick treatment, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). What’s more, if a reaction repeatedly happens, like in the case of having pollen allergies all spring, it can lead to other complications such as sinusitis, Dr. Gross says.According to the NIH, mild allergic reaction symptoms can include:Moderate-to-severe allergic reaction symptoms can be less subtle. You may experience the following side effects, depending on the type of allergen you’re dealing with:Stomach painNausea or vomitingDiarrheaCoughingChest tightness or discomfortDizzinessBecoming flushedFeeling anxiousHaving trouble breathingHaving difficulty swallowingSwollen eyes, face, or tongueHeart palpitationsThe above symptoms can also be a sign of the most severe allergic reaction, which is anaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction. Additional signs of anaphylaxis include severe shortness of breath, a rapid or weak pulse, a drop in blood pressure, and loss of consciousness. Generally, severe symptoms happen within minutes of inhaling, consuming, or injecting (as you might with certain medications) an allergen. But some allergic reactions can take a few hours to present symptoms, especially when it comes to food allergies, the NIH notes. Severe allergic reactions call for an immediate shot of epinephrine and emergency medical attention. Keep in mind that some allergens tend to be more likely to cause certain symptoms. For example, food allergies are more commonly associated with mouth tingling, facial swelling, hives, or possibly anaphylaxis. Allergies to pollen or dander, on the other hand, are more likely to trigger sneezing, a runny nose, or watery eyes, says the Mayo Clinic.

Damascus Bakery is voluntarily recalling some of its Bantam Classic Bagels due to undeclared allergen issues. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), one production lot of the classic bagels (plain bagels stuffed with plain cream cheese) was accidentally exposed to an item with an undeclared egg allergen. This means that individuals with an egg allergy might be at risk of a severe or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume the bagels in this lot.Alongside milk and peanuts, egg is one of the most common food allergies, according to the Cleveland Clinic. An allergic reaction can include the following symptoms: skin rash, hoarse voice, shortness of breath, cough, itchy mouth or throat, swollen lips, tongue or eyelids, lightheadedness, abdominal pain, or vomiting. On the more serious end, you might experience anaphylaxis, the most severe allergic reaction to food. This is when the body goes into shock, the blood pressure drops and the bronchial tissues (which help to transport air) swell. Anaphylactic shock requires immediate treatment in the form of an adrenaline shot to save the person’s life.Fortunately, no adverse reactions related to this lot of bagels have been reported. If you are concerned about whether you have purchased one of the affected products, look for the best by date printed on the left side of the carton and on the top of the bag. On the recalled product, it will read May 27, 2023. The popular stuffed bagels also are available in flavors pretzel, blueberry, french toast, and garden veggie, but it’s only the classic flavor that has been affected. Bantam Bagels are sold throughout the U.S. in 16,000 stores, including Starbucks. This means that bagel-lovers across the country will need to check if the recall applies to their product. In 2013, the bagel brand was founded by husband and wife team Nick and Elyse Oleksaks in their Brooklyn apartment, eventually opening a small shop on Bleecker Street, Manhattan. The couple rose to prominence on ABC show Shark Tank in 2015, when they were offered a $275,000 deal by shark Lori Greiner. It’s been a big few weeks for product recalls, with skin-care brand Jergens voluntarily recalling its Ultra Healing Moisturizer because it might contain traces of Pluralibacter gergoviae, a type of bacteria that usually poses low medical risk to most people but can result in infections in people with weakened immune systems. A single lot of Great Value Buttermilk Pancake and Waffle Mix is also currently being recalled nationwide after fragments of a cable were found in some boxes.If you have purchased the affected bagels, Damascus Bakery advises you to dispose of the bagels immediately and phone Bantams Bagels Customer Service at 866-451-6744 for a replacement coupon.Related:

Digestive troubles, for many people, top the list of symptoms that are straight-up miserable to live with. After all, who wants to feel constantly gassy or bloated while running to the bathroom left and right? Not only can these symptoms feel uncomfortable (or even downright painful), they can seriously impact how you feel about yourself and the way you live your daily life. If you’re not sure what’s going on, don’t fret. Oftentimes, there is a simple explanation for gastrointestinal (GI) issues. But if they’re starting to feel constant, it’s worth exploring whether something more complicated could be lingering under the surface. Take this quiz to find out what might be causing your stomach problems, and when you should consider seeing a doctor about them—because you deserve to feel good in your body.

Real talk: Everybody farts, including supermodels, politicians, actors—everybody. While it can be embarrassing and awkward to let one rip in front of a crowd, that doesn’t mean it’s not perfectly normal (same goes for burping).Still, if you’re suddenly letting flatulence fly like it’s your job, you might take a beat to wonder, “Why do I have so much gas?” Also, if you’re farting that much, you might be a little uncomfortable, too, whether you’re also dealing with bloating or just feeling anxious about the idea of accidentally clearing a room in public.Again, farting is a fact of life, but it’s not typical to desperately hold back your gas to the point of constant discomfort. Not sure if you should be concerned? Here are the most common excessive gas causes, and how to get some relief already.What causes gas in the first place?Gas forms in your digestive tract for two reasons: from the air that you swallow and from the breakdown of undigested food by the trillions of bacteria that live in your large intestine, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. “We all have bacteria in our gut, which produces gas—and it has to go somewhere,” Sophie Balzora, MD, gastroenterologist and assistant professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, tells SELF.Whether you fart or burp, gas comes out of your body in one form or another. In fact, we all pass gas an average of up to 20 times each day, according to the Mayo Clinic. In most cases, the gas you expel from your body is odorless, a mix of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, hydrogen, and sometimes methane. Sometimes, however, the bacteria we mentioned release gases that include sulfur, which is the culprit behind the unpleasant odor associated with passing gas, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.Occasional gas is perfectly healthy. Excessive gas, however, can cause discomfort to the point of bloating and abdominal pain, and it can actually be a symptom of a more serious condition.Back to topWhy do I have so much gas?There’s a pretty wide range of excessive gas causes, and some are more easily remedied than others. Here are the most common ones to be aware of:1. You’re eating a lot of fiber-rich food.Usually, the food you’re eating can be to blame for any excessive gas you’re dealing with. A food that causes gas in one person may not in another, but there are some common culprits. “The classic food groups are high-fiber foods such as whole wheat and grains, fresh fruits and cruciferous vegetables (such as broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, kale, etc.),” Felice Schnoll-Sussman MD, gastroenterologist and director of the Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, tells SELF.Fiber is usually recommended to combat constipation, but it can lead to excessive gas if it’s eaten in excess. This is because fiber isn’t fully digested by the small intestine, and the bacteria required to ferment or break down fiber-rich foods in the large intestine produce gas as a by-product, per Johns Hopkins Medicine.So, as with all good things, moderation is key. “Fiber must be slowly incorporated into the diet,” Dr. Schnoll-Sussman explains. “If you binge on kale for its obvious nutritional value, you will most likely feel it with gas and bloating.”Another tip? Make sure you’re drinking enough water, as fiber promotes healthy bowel movements best when there’s an adequate amount of water in your body.2. You have a sneaky food sensitivity.“Many people as they get older have difficulty digesting milk products,” Dr. Schnoll-Sussman says. So even if you’re not full-on intolerant, your body’s level of lactase (the enzyme that breaks down lactose) may be lower than it used to be, making dairy a problem food. “Someone who is very lactose intolerant may experience bloating, cramps, and flatulence as soon as they ingest milk or other dairy products.” But your level of gassiness will vary depending on how sensitive you are.

There are many ways to jazz up your lunchtime salad. Sprinkle over some toasted nuts. Stir in some crunchy homemade croutons. And of course, drizzle on a tasty salad dressing. But before you do that last one, check to see it hasn’t recently been recalled. Conagra Brands, Inc. is recalling a small number of its Wish-Bone Thousand Island and Chunky Blue Cheese salad dressings. The popular varieties were found to contain egg, despite it not being disclosed on the product label, the U.S. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported.If you are yet to whip one up yourself, a traditional Thousand Island dressing is typically made up of a symphony of ketchup, sweet pickle relish, paprika, yellow onion, and mayonnaise. When it comes to blue cheese dressing, lemon juice, sour cream, blue cheese, parsley, and mayonnaise are combined to create this crowd-pleaser. While mayonnaise is traditionally made using egg yolks, these Wish-Bone bottled dressings are not meant to contain egg, in that it has not been listed on the ingredients.This means that people with an allergy to egg are at risk of an allergic reaction if they consume these dressings. According to the Mayo Clinic, egg allergy reactions vary according to the individual but do occur soon after consumption. Some symptoms can include: signs of asthma such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath, inflamed skin or hives, a congested or runny nose, cramps, nausea, and vomiting. When it comes to severe egg allergies, a reaction can include anaphylaxis, a life-threatening situation that requires an instant shot of adrenaline. Signs of anaphylaxis can include a swollen throat, a quickening pulse, shock, dizziness, lightheadedness, and abdominal pain. Fortunately, there have been no reported reactions to these dressings yet. Conagra is currently working with related retailers to ensure the recalled varieties are stripped from shelves as soon as possible.If you need to double check which dressings have been affected, we have rounded up the specific ones below:Wish-Bone® THOUSAND ISLAND DRESSING, 15 oz – BEST BY JAN312023, BEST BYFEB012023Wish-Bone® THOUSAND ISLAND DRESSING, 24 oz – BEST BY FEB112023Wish-Bone® CHUNKY BLUE CHEESE DRESSING, 24 oz – BEST BY NOV092022If you have any other Wish-Bone dressings on hand, fear not, it’s only these specific products being recalled. If you have purchased any of the above-mentioned products, you can throw them out (even if you don’t have an egg allergy, you never know if it might be served to someone with one) or return the products to the store where you purchased them for a full refund.Related: 

We’ve all felt the pain of heartburn after eating a delicious burger. On the quest for relief, you’ve probably found yourself asking: What’s the difference between heartburn and acid reflux, anyway? And what the heck does GERD mean?In the moment, those buzzwords and questions may not seem to matter as much as finding something that will make the awful sensation stop, but understanding what’s going on in your digestive tract—especially if this is a frequent problem for you—can be the key to preventing future episodes. Here’s a simple breakdown of what causes acid reflux, how heartburn plays a role in the condition, and what you should know to keep both out of your future and finally enjoy your meals in peace.First, what is acid reflux?To understand why stomach acid might move in the wrong direction, let’s start with a quick anatomy refresher: The tube that stems from your mouth to your stomach is your esophagus, and at the very end of your esophagus is your lower esophageal sphincter (LES), which is a bundle of muscle that acts as a valve above your stomach1.This valve allows food to pass through into the stomach and, when operating properly, prevents powerful stomach acids—which break down what you just ate—from splashing back up into the esophagus.That’s the ideal operation. But when there’s weakness or relaxation in your LES, then the valve doesn’t close as tightly as it should. That’s when you’re at higher risk of stomach acid and partially digested food coming up into the esophagus. This upward flow is called gastroesophageal reflux, according to the National Institue of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).Many people who aren’t familiar with acid reflux may assume the issue is happening just near the stomach, “but acid can come all the way up the esophagus, especially if you’re lying down,” Gokulakrishnan Balasubramanian, M.D., a gastroenterologist who focuses on esophageal, neurogastroenterology, and motility disorders at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, tells SELF. “For example, you may get acid damage in the vocal cords or trachea, and that acid may then go down into the lungs as well, so you could have coughing or other respiratory symptoms.”What’s the difference between heartburn vs. acid reflux?Heartburn is just what that term implies: You feel a burning pain in your chest just behind the breastbone. Asking whether you have heartburn or acid reflux is actually a trick question because heartburn is simply considered a symptom of acid reflux, per the NIDDK. If you have heartburn, you’re experiencing some form of reflux. It’s similar to asking whether you have swollen gums or gingivitis—the former is a symptom of the latter.However, not everyone who has acid reflux experiences heartburn, just as you may not have swollen gums even though you struggle with gingivitis. But it’s more likely that you will deal with heartburn since it’s the most common symptom of acid reflux, says Dr. Balasubramanian. Heartburn implies that your acid reflux has come up to the level of your heart, and it’s usually worse after eating common trigger foods like chocolate or tomatoes or when lying down after eating or drinking. You may also have a bitter or acidic taste in the mouth, which Dr. Balasubramanian says is an effect of the acid traveling higher up your throat.How is acid reflux diagnosed?First, your primary care doctor or a gastroenterologist will ask about your symptoms before doing any type of imaging or lab tests. Beyond heartburn, symptoms of acid reflux include:Difficulty swallowing or feeling like food is caught in your throatNauseaRegurgitation of undigested or partially digested food, which may lead to vomitingCoughing, which implies acid may be affecting your throat or lungsChest pain, particularly burningSore throat or feeling of your vocal cords getting “burned”Breathing issues if acid is in your lungsBad breathDifficulty sleeping, and/or waking up with pain

Have you ever had a painful stomach ache or felt lethargic after eating something sugary? Same. But could that mean you’re allergic to sugar, or is something else going on? In many cases, feeling crappy post-sweets is really just a “sugar hangover” that happens if you eat a ton of sugar. That sugar overload can cause your blood sugar to spike, then crash and burn. While it’s extremely rare to have a real sugar allergy, some people may be super sensitive to even a small amount of the sweet stuff.“There are people who cannot tolerate high sugar intake,” Tanya Freirich, M.S., R.D.N., tells SELF. “Often, people will get a headache and other symptoms from the sugar ‘high’ and reactive ‘low.’” But that’s still not necessarily an allergy, which we’ll get to in a bit. An important thing to remember when we talk about sugar intake is the difference between naturally occurring sugars and added sugars. Naturally occurring sugars would include those that are inherently part of the food and not added in during processing—like the sugar that’s naturally found in fruit, vegetables, and many dairy products. Added sugars, on the other hand, are any sugars that were put in during the manufacturing process—whether it’s honey, high fructose corn syrup, or something else.Listen, sugar is delicious. And having sugary foods, if they strike your fancy, can absolutely be part of a healthy, well-rounded diet. That’s true whether they’re naturally occurring or added. But if you have questions about a post-sugar pattern you’ve noticed in how your body feels, it can be helpful to know that while our bodies can’t really tell the difference between the sugar in a piece of fruit and the sugar in a candy bar, it’s true that many foods with a lot of added sugar also happen to not have a lot of certain other nutrients—like fiber—that can help your body slow the breakdown and absorption of sugar in the bloodstream, leading to a less drastic blood sugar spike. That could be why you feel more of a sugar high after eating a bunch of sweets rather than after eating a bunch of fruit. Ready to keep reading all about sugar? Let’s dive in. Why some people feel strange after eating sugarWhen sugar enters the body, it causes your blood glucose level to rise, which then prompts the pancreas to release insulin to help move that glucose from the bloodstream into the cells, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). A large release of insulin can also result in a sugar crash later on, which you may experience as a headache, nausea, or gastrointestinal upset, Lauren Harris-Pincus, M.S., R.D.N., author of The Everything Easy Pre-Diabetes Cookbook, tells SELF.Some people may experience this more drastically than others, especially if you’re prone to high blood sugar, or hyperglycemia, which happens when there’s a buildup of excess glucose in the bloodstream. This is typically an issue for people with diabetes or pre-diabetes, but it’s possible to have these conditions and not even know it, so it’s worth knowing the symptoms to watch out for. Signs of high blood sugar include fatigue, increased thirst, frequent urination, headaches, and blurred vision, among others. But it’s also possible that you’re having a reaction to the sugar itself, which can happen if you have an allergy or intolerance to certain ingredients. Back to top.The difference between a sugar allergy and sugar intoleranceEveryone has certain foods that just don’t sit right with them, or that cause not-so-desirable symptoms like indigestion, painful bloating, or cramping. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you have a true allergy to that food or ingredient. And while some people use the terms interchangeably, a food allergy and a food intolerance are two different things.A food allergy is a reaction that occurs when your immune system overreacts to a food protein, thinking that it’s a harmful substance. According to Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), symptoms of a food allergy can range from mild to life-threatening and include:HivesAbdominal pain or crampingDiarrheaSneezingTrouble breathingAnaphylaxis (a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction)A food intolerance means that you have trouble digesting whatever that food is. In general, this causes digestive issues, and the symptoms are not as severe as those of a food allergy, per the Mayo Clinic.There are a variety of reasons that you could be intolerant to a particular food. Sometimes, it’s a result of your body not producing an enzyme necessary to break that food down (for example, if you’re lactose intolerant, you lack the enzyme lactase that’s needed to break down lactose, the sugar in milk). Other times, it has to do with an underlying health condition, like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), or even stress or anxiety, the Mayo Clinic says.According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI), symptoms of a food intolerance include:Intestinal gasBloatingAbdominal painDiarrheaIt’s easy to confuse an intolerance and allergy because the symptoms can overlap (we’re looking at you, diarrhea and abdominal pain). But a major difference is that food intolerances are not the result of an immune system dysfunction. What’s more, people with food intolerances may be able to have a small amount of the food without any issues (or they can take something to help aid digestion), whereas with an allergy, you generally can’t have any of the food allergen. Back to top.How to know if you’re allergic to sugarWhile an intolerance to a certain type of sugar is fairly common, it’s extremely rare to have a true allergy to sugar. In fact, there seems to just be one documented case of fructose-induced anaphylaxis, which was published in a 2018 letter to the editor in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice1.