Food Allergies - Help !! I'm allergic to birds nest and sharks fin

i ate shark fin's soup yesterday, and as expected, i had an upset stomach an hour later.. my mum actually thinks its psychological... but after many times trying it, and getting the similar result, i believe i'm allergic to it..

foods that i'm allergic to & a NONO for me :
shellfish - prawns and crab.. once i ate it and got a swollen upper lip.. and i'll get itchy all over
sharks fin soup - i'd get an upset stomach
bird's nest - i'll get wheezing and asthma attacks..


most people i know are allergic to certain food. why ? heres an interesting article below :

What is a food allergy?

When you have a food allergy, your body thinks certain foods are trying to harm you. Your body fights back by setting off an allergic reaction. In most cases, the symptoms are mild-a rash, a stuffy nose, or an upset stomach. A mild reaction is no fun, but it is not dangerous. A serious reaction can be deadly. But quick treatment can stop a dangerous reaction.

Allergies tend to run in families. You are more likely to have a food allergy if other people in your family have allergies like hay fever, asthma, or eczema (atopic dermatitis).

Food allergies are more common in children than adults. About 7 out of 100 kids have them. Only about 3 to 4 out of 100 adults do.1 Children often outgrow their food allergies. But if you have a food allergy as an adult, you will most likely have it for life.

What are the symptoms?

Food allergies can cause many different symptoms. They can range from mild to serious. If you eat a food you are allergic to:
- Your mouth may tingle, and your lips may swell.
- You may have cramps, an upset stomach, or diarrhea.
- You may have itchy skin with red, raised bumps called hives.
- You may have a stuffy nose, wheeze, or be short of breath.
- You may feel dizzy or lightheaded.

Kids usually have the same symptoms as adults. But sometimes a small child just cries a lot, vomits, has diarrhea, or does not grow as expected. If your child has these symptoms, see your doctor.

Some people have symptoms after eating even a tiny bit of a problem food. As a rule, the sooner the reaction begins, the worse it will be.

What foods most often cause a food allergy?

A few foods cause most allergies. A food that causes an allergy is called a food allergen. Usually it is the protein in a food that causes the problem.

Eggs, milk, peanuts, wheat, soy, and fish cause most problems in children. Most kids outgrow allergies to milk, wheat, eggs, and soy by the time they are 5. But kids rarely outgrow an allergy to peanuts or fish.

Peanuts, tree nuts (like walnuts or almonds), fish, and shellfish cause most problems in adults.


information derived from : http://www.webmd.com/allergies/tc/food-allergies-topic-overview