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Food
allergy? It's all in the mind
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Food allergy
seems to be in the mind, for researchers claim millions of people wrongly
believe that they've a food allergy whereas in reality just a fraction suffer
from a genuine problem.
A new study has revealed that although 20 per cent of adults in Britain, around
ten million claim that they are unable to eat foods from milk to mustard, fewer
than two per cent actually have a problem. The researchers from Portsmouth
University found the discrepancy after reviewing studies into the prevalence of
food allergies, which are caused by an over-reaction of the immune system, and
intolerances, which have similar but less severe symptoms, the British media
reported.
They have blamed Internet searches, self-testing kits and celebrity food fads
for the epidemic of make-believe allergies and intolerances. As a result, they
said millions are unnecessarily restricting their diets, starving themselves of
their favourite foods and of key nutrients. Others could be suffering from
another medical problem which goes untreated because they believe their symptoms
are caused by a particular food such as milk, eggs or wheat, claim the
researchers.
PTI / Times of India
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