Food allergens cause an allergic reaction when the body’s immune system mistakes a particular food for a foreigner invader. Learn the twelve most common allergens and their symptoms.

The 8 most common food allergies are to eggs, nuts, milk, peanuts, fish, shellfish, strawberries, and tomatoes. Symptoms and signs of a food allergy include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, itching, hives, eczema, asthma, lightheadedness, and anaphylaxis. A food allergy is diagnosed using skin tests, RAST, and ELISA tests. An Epipen may be necessary for severe food allergies.

Get a list of indoor allergens, including dust mites, cockroaches, molds, pets, and plants. Read about how allergens trigger asthma and allergies. Learn about indoor allergy symptoms, causes, test kits, and treatments.

Food poisoning symptoms include stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting. Read about different types of food poisoning, treatment, and tips for prevention.

Is The Baby Food Diet bad for you? The Baby Food Diet is a fad diet plan to lose weight fast, and was created by celebrity trainer Tracy Anderson. The way The Baby Food Diet works is, you eat one or two meals a day and substitute the other meal(s) with baby food. She also recommends keeping them in your car, purse, etc. in case you get hungry. Each baby food jar has between 20 and 100 calories per jar. So watch how many you eat!

Read about allergy treatment, symptoms, testing, shots, and medicine. Learn about the types of allergies (asthma, allergic rhinitis, seasonal, conjunctivitis, eczema, anaphylaxis, hives) causes, risk factors, and more.

Dysphagia (swallowing problems) causes vary from physical obstructions, diseases of other organs or tissues, reduced saliva, and Alzheimer's disease. Dysphagia symptoms can be swallowing related and non-swallowing related.

Gastroparesis means paralysis of the muscles of the stomach. Gastroparesis results in delayed emptying of food from the stomach into the small intestine. The primary gastroparesis symptoms are GERD, nausea, and vomiting. Learn about diet, causes, treatment options, surgery, and diagnosis.

Learn about the differences between stomach flu and food poisoning, which often have very similar symptoms but different causes and treatments.

Learn about home allergy treatment and managing your environment to reduce allergies. Read about remedies and products to reduce allergens, including dust covers, carpet care items, and cleaning agents to reduce allergens.

The allergic cascade refers to allergic reactions that happen in the body in response to allergens. A variety of immune cells and chemical messengers participate in the allergic cascade. Symptoms of the allergic cascade range from mild swelling and itching to full-blown anaphylactic shock. Allergen avoidance and medications are used to prevent or treat allergies.

Get the facts on artificial sweetener types like Splenda (sucralose), Sweet'N Low (saccharin), Equal and NutraSweet (aspartame), acesulfame K, and neotame.

Consumption of contaminated foods typically causes Salmonella infection (salmonellosis). Read about symptoms and treatment of this common form of food poisoning, find out if Salmonella is contagious, and read about current outbreaks.

Natural or home remedies for headaches include drinking coconut water, caffeine, essential oils, herbs, and vitamins. Avoid certain foods that trigger headaches, like foods high in salt, alcohol, shellfish, preserved foods, and foods rich in tyramine-rich nutrients.

Discover the food and cooking tips the experts use to prepare healthy, nutritious meals that taste good.

Learn how to read labels to make food and grocery shopping easy, nutritious and healthy for the whole family.

Learn about food safety and how to avoid food poisoning through proper food selection, preparation, handling and storage.

With all the temper tantrums, picky eating, and food throwing, you may wonder if your toddler is getting enough to eat. Get answers to your questions about toddler eating problems.

Learn about the pros and cons of the MyPlate icon and the revised dietary guidelines. Read about MyPlate vs. Food Pyramid.

What is the function of the digestive system? Read about the human digestive system and its functions and organs. The mouth, stomach, intestines, gallbladder, pancreas and more play important roles in digesting food and eliminating waste.

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is an inflammation of the esophagus. Symptoms include heartburn, difficulty swallowing food, abdominal pain, and food getting stuck in the throat. Eosinophilic esophagitis treatment usually involves medications such as proton pump inhibitors and swallowed fluticasone propionate or budesonide.

About 10% of the U.S. population has allergic eye disease. Read about eye allergy medicines, treatment (over-the-counter antihistamine eyedrops, medications such as Patanol), drops, remedies, and how to get relief from symptoms and signs. Learn how eye allergies are different from pinkeye.

Achalasia makes it difficult to swallow, can cause chest pain, and may lead to regurgitation. Learn about achalasia causes, symptoms, surgery, and treatment.

Listeria monocytogenes is a type of bacteria that can cause food poisoning. Listeriosis symptoms and signs include diarrhea, nausea, and fever. Read about diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and infection during pregnancy.

Diarrhea is watery, loose stools that occur more than three times in 1 day. Acute diarrhea lasts for about 2-3 days. Chronic diarrhea lasts for 3 weeks or more. Symptoms include abdominal pain, gas, bloating, and bloody stool. The treatment for diarrhea depends on the cause.

Chronic rhinitis (non allergic rhinitis) causes runny nose, sneezing, nasal itching and congestion. Post-nasal drip is drainage of mucus from the sinuses into the throat. Treatment includes over-the-counter (OTC) medications.

Stomach flu or gastroenteritis infection signs and symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea that lasts for about 7-14 days. The stomach flu is spread from person to person, usually via fecal to oral route from poor hand-washing or hygiene techniques. Norovirus is the most common cause of stomach flu.

There are many unusual symptoms of asthma, including sighing, difficulty sleeping, anxiety, chronic cough, recurrent walking pneumonia, and rapid breathing. These symptoms may vary from individual to individual. These asthma complexities make it difficult to accurately diagnose and treat asthma.

Read about outbreaks of botulism poisoning, causes (Clostridium botulinum toxin), symptoms (muscle paralysis, dry mouth, constipation), history, treatment, and types (foodborne, infant, wound). The botulinum toxin is one of the most lethal known substances.

Learn the difference between emotional eating and binge eating, plus, recognize the emotional problems, habits, and triggers that cause people to overeat, and find out how to prevent and treat compulsive eating.

Intestinal gas and painful bloating are common. Learn about what causes gas pain and how eliminating certain foods from your diet can help relieve symptoms.

Hay fever is another name for allergic rhinitis. Learn about hay fever symptoms, rash, treatment, and remedies. Discover how to treat perennial allergy rhinitis and what to do about nonallergic rhinitis.

Find practical weight management tips to get you through the holidays, including dietary downfalls and how to eat healthier.

Taking vitamins and calcium supplements can help you to meet your nutritional needs. Learn about vitamin deficiencies, drug interactions, food sources, health benefits, and overdose and absorption information.

Foods with a high glycemic index put people at risk for getting insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and becoming obese. Highly processed foods like soft drinks, cookies, fruit juice, breakfast cereals, white bread, and white potatoes are examples of high glycemic index foods.

Nonceliac gluten sensitivity or intolerance may be a medical condition. Symptoms and signs of gluten sensitivity include abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloating, gas, and abdominal cramping. Inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis) mimic gluten intolerance symptoms.

Get the facts on obesity and being overweight, including the health risks, causes, reviews of weight-loss diet plans, BMI chart, symptoms, causes, surgical and nonsurgical treatments, and medications.

Worried about bisphenol A (BPA) and other plastic chemicals? Read about types of plastics, how they're made and what the resin identification (recycling) numbers mean.

Learn about biorhythms (your body's clock) and how it affects disease such as heart attacks, strokes, asthma, allergies, high blood pressure, angina, and more.

Popular weight-loss and diet plans include the Atkins diet, Jenny Craig, Zone diet, Weight Watchers, South Beach diet, Pritikin diet, Eat More, Weigh Less diet, and NutriSystem Advanced. Learn why fad diets or crash diets are bad and exercise is essential to any healthy weight loss or diet program.

Peanut allergy signs and symptoms and include rash, hives, redness, and itching. Severe reactions may cause difficulty breathing, nausea, decreased blood pressure, lightheadedness, and behavioral changes. People with a peanut allergy should carry an epinephrine auto-injector with them at all times.

Learn about the most common diet and nutrition 7 mistakes and how to avoid them for better health. Learn how to avoid them

Get the facts on the different types of vegetarian and vegan diets, the benefits and disadvantages of each diet, and see the vegan and vegetarian food pyramid guides. Learn about vitamins and supplements and recipe resources.

Schatzki's ring, is a narrow ring of tissue located just above the junction of the esophagus and stomach. The cause of Schatzki ring is not clear, but some doctors believe long-term acid reflux is the source. Symptoms include food stuck in the esophagus. Treatment is generally surgery to stretch or fracture the rings.

Indigestion (dyspepsia, upset stomach) can be caused by problems related to, or not related to the gastrointestinal tract. Signs and symptoms are upper abdominal pain, belching, nausea, vomiting, abdominal bloating, and abdominal distention. Treatment depends upon the cause.

Find out if pinkeye is contagious, learn how it's transmitted, its contagious period, and discover when to seek medical care for pinkeye.

Get information on atopic dermatitis (a type of eczema) in different age ranges causes, home remedies, symptoms, diagnosis, management, treatment, and medications. Learn if this itchy skin rash can be contagious. Plus, see pictures.

Read about pregnancy power foods or superfoods, which are healthy foods that provide nutrients for you and your growing baby. Learn why each food is healthy for you and your baby, and find out how to enjoy these power foods.

Learn about a gluten-free diet. Read about the types of gluten allergies, recipes, gluten-free foods, and products that are safe to eat. Plus, find out about foods, products, and medications to avoid because they contain gluten.

A type 1 diabetes diet is important for people with type 1 diabetes to maintain proper blood sugar control. Meal timing, eating high glycemic index foods such as quinoa, vegetables, fruits, beans, beans, eggs, seafood, tofu, soy, and lean meats can help someone manage his type 1 diabetes.

Cholera is an infectious disease that can cause signs and symptoms like severe watery diarrhea and dehydration. Ingestion of the bacterium Vibrio cholerae causes cholera.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), also called acid reflux, can cause symptoms like heartburn, chest pain, regurgitation, and nausea. Learn about causes, diagnosis, treatment and prevention.

Find healthy recipes for low-calorie, healthier foods that taste great on MedicineNet.com

Probiotics are live microorganisms that can treat and prevent some illnesses. Learn the benefits of probiotics, and read about side effects, types, and foods that contain the most probiotics. Find out how to take probiotics.

When do you stop breastfeeding? Weaning your baby, whether from breastfeeding or formula feeding, can be a challenging situation. Learn the signs of when to know it's time to wean your baby, such as wanting to breastfeed or drink formula often, doubling their birth weight, being interested in solid foods, and more.

Get the facts on anorexia nervosa symptoms, warning signs, 3 types, treatment, diagnosis, effects, and statistics on this eating disorder. Anorexics starve themselves or use laxatives, enemas, or diuretics to control their weight.

Get the facts on treatment of the common cold, influenza, and allergy symptoms (headache, fever, sneezing, cough, sore throat) with over-the-counter (OTC) medications.

Cyclospora is a small parasite. Ingesting Cyclospora causes an infection with symptoms and signs that include profuse diarrhea, abdominal pain, gas, and cramping. Read about treatment, diagnosis, and prevention of cyclosporiasis.

What is a hydrogen breath test? Hydrogen breath tests assist in diagnosing a variety of gastrointestinal problems, including lactose intolerance, bacterial overgrowth of the small bowel, celiac disease, and pancreatic insufficiency. Learn about results, preparation, and testing.

Learn how skin testing for allergies can trigger and identify causes of allergic symptoms and reactions to specific allergens.

Get tips for healthy weight loss and control, and find out why the best dieting plans and programs often fail. Fast weight loss may be unsafe and is difficult to maintain. Learn about the no-diet approach to losing weight.

Colon cancer is the third leading cause of cancer in the U.S. Learn about early signs, symptoms, 4 stages, survival rate, treatment, screening, causes, surgery, and prevention.

Get travel tips on preventing and treating traveler's diarrhea, malaria, yellow fever, hepatitis A, typhoid fever, polio, cholera, and meningococcal meningitis.

Find out if a staph infection is contagious, learn how a staph infection is transmitted, and discover the incubation period and when to seek medical care for a suspected staph infection.

Traveling can easily derail your diet and exercise plans. Learn how to stay healthy while you travel and at least avoid gaining weight.

Symptoms and signs of norovirus infection include vomiting, watery diarrhea, and stomach pain. Read about treatment, diagnosis, outbreak prevention, causes, contagious, transmission, prognosis, and complications. How long does it last?

Amebiasis is a disease caused by an amoeba infection. Symptoms and signs include diarrhea, abdominal pain, weight loss, and blood in the stool. Read about treatment, home remedies, and recovery time.

Learn about types of bioterrorism and preparedness (food supply, vaccine), bacterial agents (Ebola virus), and disease (anthrax, plague, smallpox, botulism, tularemia).

Learn about Enterovirulent E. coli (EEC), a strain of bacteria that causes bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever. The major symptoms of EEC are diarrhea. Transmission of EEC infections is through contaminated food or drink.

Hurricane preparedness is critical if you live in an area where hurricanes occur. Hurricanes are rated in 5 categories, with 5 being the worst. Check out this hurricane first aid disaster kit list providing how to make fresh drinking water, food safety, and how to cope with the mental stress of facing and surviving a hurricane.

Get information about the Jenny Craig diet. Learn about foods on the Jenny Craig menu, and read expert reviews of the Jenny Craig weight loss program.

Learn about the esophageal manometry (esophageal motility) procedure used to assist in the diagnosis of swallowing problems, GERD, and chest pain originating in the esophagus. Find out about esophageal manometry test results and how to interpret them, as well as the procedure.

E. coli (E. Coli 0157:H7) is a contagious bacterium that causes symptoms like nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and diarrhea (that may be bloody). This bacterial infection results from eating raw or undercooked meat or unpasteurized dairy products (raw milk or cheeses).

Nausea and vomiting are symptoms of many conditions including motion sickness, pregnancy, emotional stress, gallbladder disease, and other illnesses. Learn about causes, treatment, and when to be concerned.

Learn about healthy eating during pregnancy, what foods to avoid, staying on a vegetarian diet, dealing with lactose intolerance, pregnancy food cravings, and foods to eat when you are not feeling well during pregnancy.

A healthy type 2 diabetes diet plan includes low glycemic load foods like vegetables, beans, and brown rice. Sample diets (Paleo, Mediterranean, ADA Diet, vegetarian) are provided, which can help treat type 2 diabetes.

Gastric emptying studies evaluate patients who are having symptoms due to abnormal emptying of the stomach. Learn how and when medical professionals use a gastric emptying study, plus understand your test results and side effects.

The importance of a healthy lifestyle in disease prevention is widely understood and most people know that lifestyle changes and choices can be critical to good health. Learn about healthy behaviors that constitute healthy living.

Heartburn is a burning sensation in the throat from acid reflux. Symptoms of heartburn include chest pain, burning in the throat, and difficulty swallowing. Causes of heartburn include lifestyle habits or medical causes. Treatments for heartburn include OTC and prescription medication and lifestyle changes.

Consumer information on eating right with Parkinsons disease: food and medication interactions, controlling nausea, dry mouth, maintaining your weight and the importance of proper nutrition on your health.

Find out how to get the vitamins and minerals you need through the nutrients in food and nutritional supplements.

Read about staph infection treatment and complications: impetigo and cellulitis. Staphylococcus aureus bacteria may cause these symptoms and signs: boils, furuncles, pain, rash, pus drainage, redness, swelling, and fever. Learn about contagious and antibiotics.

Read about anaphylaxis and how it differs from an allergic reaction. Learn about shock, symptoms, treatment, diagnosis, causes (insect stings, latex allergy, food allergy, medication allergy), COVID vaccine, and prevention.

Learn about influenza (flu) symptoms, treatment with antiviral drugs, flu shot side effects, and prevention during flu season. Discover when to get the flu vaccine, how long the flu lasts, the contagious period, flu types (influenza A, B, and C), and how it spreads.

Healthy parenting is not easy. Get some tips on good parenting and how to raise a healthy, happy child.

Fast-food consumption and lack of exercise are just a couple of causes of childhood obesity. Get the facts on childhood obesity prevention, treatment, statistics, health effects, and research.

Irritable bowel syndrome or IBS is a GI disorder with symptoms of constipation, abdominal pain, bloating, and gas. IBS treatment includes medications, dietary changes, and lifestyle changes.

Learn about Bob Greene's Best Life Diet book, a weight loss plan that advocates healthy eating and regular exercise. Read reviews by experts, and learn what you can eat on the program.

Delicious super bowl party recipes including appetizers, finger foods, main courses, special needs diets for diabetes, gluten intolerance, and vegetarian and vegan.

Barrett's esophagus is a complication of chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Learn more about Barrett's estophagus, including symptoms, causes, treatment, cancer risk, related dysplasia, and survival rate.

Esophagitis symptoms include difficult and painful swallowing, heartburn, mouth sores feeling something stuck in the throat, nausea, and vomiting. Learn how to recognize esophagitis symptoms, warning signs, and treatment.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) triggers include foods, drinks, drugs, stress and other psychological factors. Learn about foods that may trigger diarrhea and foods that may trigger constipation to formulate the best IBS diet plan.

Prediabetes is a condition in which a person's blood sugar is higher than it should be, but it's not high enough to be full blown diabetes. Symptoms, signs, foods to eat, foods to avoid, healthy diet, exercise, and an prediabetes or HbA1c chart are provided.

Eating more than necessary is considered overeating. Binge eating disorder (BED) is a mental health condition in which one has uncontrollable and recurring episodes of excessive eating, often even when feeling full or when not hungry. Signs and symptoms of BED include rapid eating, secret eating, feelings of disgust, and feeling physically uncomfortable after eating.

Get information on breastfeeding and formula feeding benefits and disadvantages. Read about common breastfeeding problems and pumping tips, and learn about how certain foods in a mother's diet affect her nursing baby. Discover how to handle breast soreness and discomfort.

Get information on gastric bypass surgery (stomach stapling, bariatric surgery) complications, risks, types (Roux-en-Y, extensive), and how the operation is performed.

Alcohol has a big nutritional impact. Therefore, it is important to understand how alcohol is processed by your body in order to appreciate how it affects blood alcohol concentration and blood sugar, impacts weight, and contributes to vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

Learn about the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet, foods that are part of the meal plan, and diseases that the diet is supposed to prevent.

The liver has many functions. Signs and symptoms of liver disease include abdominal pain, jaundice, nausea, and weakness. Causes, treatment, and life expectancy vary. Lifestyle changes may slow the progression of some types of liver disease.

Caffeine is a stimulant that may be found in beverages, supplements, and medications. Common food sources include coffee, chocolate, green tea, and soft drinks. While caffeine addiction is not considered a real addiction, it can cause withdrawal symptoms, such as headaches, tiredness, decreased energy, sleepiness, depressed mood, and more.

Read about the usage, side effects, interactions and differences between antihistamines, decongestants, nasal sprays, mast cell inhibitors and other antiallergy medications.