Corn Allergies and Corn Intolerance

Having a corn allergy is very difficult, especially if you are used to eating processed foods. Most processed foods in America contain some type of corn, whether it be corn syrup, citric acid, corn starch, or vanilla. Most people who are allergic to corn don't realize it because it is so ubiquitous. Once you know you are allergic to corn, avoiding it takes a certain amount of learning, patience and persistence.

According to the National Institute of Health, less than 1% of people are actually allergic to food. However, many more are intolerant to certain foods such as corn products, cow's milk or wheat. Whether you are allergic to corn or you are experiencing an intolerance, you should know the symptoms, and act accordingly to take charge of your health.

The easiest way to know if you are allergic to corn is to get an allergy test at your doctor's office. If you are allergic to corn, your doctor will help you review your options. Many people feel that complete avoidance is the key to getting better. If you decide to avoid corn, you will need to get very familiar with product labels as corn comes in many forms and your sensitivity may not be the same as someone else who is allergic to corn.

Another possibly less expensive option is to use a food journal to help you learn what you are allergic to. Eat only one item at a time and wait for a while. If you have a reaction, write down what you ate and what your reaction was to that food. Once you have a few days or a week's worth of data, you can probably figure out what is causing your symptoms. A quick way may be to take the foods that you love, the one's you simply can't stop eating, and cross check those foods. Chances are that they all have common ingredients that you may be allergic to.

Common corn allergy symptoms include, but are not limited to, headaches or migraines, sinus problems (stuffy nose, runny nose), tiredness after eating, cravings for foods that you are allergic to, and inflammation. Many people with allergies also tend to have weight problems, or difficulty losing weight.

Corn is here to stay and is a major part of our processed food industry for many reasons. It is present in nearly every food from cheese to yogurt, to chips and it's even added to soups and other canned foods. As a person who is actually allergic to corn, I can say that there may be one item per aisle in most grocery stores that actually does not contain corn. If you are suffering from a corn allergy or corn intolerance, watch food labels, get educated and find family members and friends who will support you. You can live corn free and gain your health back.