10 million Britons have food allergies – 大約1000萬個英國人都有食敏敏感

An estimated 10 million people in the UK are allergic or intolerant to at least one foodstuff yet many think sufferers make an unnecessary fuss about the problem, research has found.

While a third (35%) of people think those with them make a fuss, a quarter (24%) admit they feel no empathy.

More than half (57%) of those questioned who have an allergy or intolerance said they find it very difficult to live with their condition and it affects their quality of life, with nearly the same amount (53%) saying they find people are generally dismissive of the issue.

A 1997 study found hospital admissions in the UK due to food intolerance or allergies had risen by more than 500% since 1990.

The charity Allergy UK said it is unclear exactly why so many more people are suffering from food allergies and intolerances, but possible reasons could be due to diets made up of more processed foods and fewer fruit and vegetables.

Researchers are investigating whether reduced levels of nutrients like Vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids (found in fish) or antioxidants might be the reason.

The most common food allergies among adults are to fish and shellfish and nuts, while children are often allergic to milk and eggs.

Food intolerances are much more common than allergies, with lactose, or dairy, the biggest cause of intolerance.

Source: http://www.freshplaza.com/article/138876/10-million-Britons-have-food-allergies