Advisory

Allergen

An allergen is a substance that can trigger an allergic reaction in sensitive individuals. Allergens can be present in various forms - food, medications, chemicals, dust, pollen, animal dander, etc. An allergic reaction usually manifests as an inflammatory response of the immune system to the presence of an allergen. Symptoms may include sneezing, itching, rash, shortness of breath, and in severe cases, anaphylactic shock.
There is a list of foods that most frequently trigger allergic reactions in the population. These include:
A1 - cereals containing gluten
A2 - crustaceans
A3 - eggs
A4 - fish
A5 - peanuts
A6 - soybeans
A7 - milk
A8 - tree nuts (almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, cashews, pecans, Brazil nuts, pistachios, macadamia)
A9 - celery
A10 - mustard
A11 - sesame seeds
A12 - sulfur dioxide and sulfites (at concentrations higher than 10mg, ml/kg, l, expressed as SO2)
A13 - lupin
A14 - mollusks
Individuals affected by food allergies are therefore compelled to carefully monitor their diet and avoid foods that may trigger an allergic reaction.

Hello,
some types of tempeh contain fermented wheat, but it is not listed as an allergen. Does that mean there is no gluten in fermented wheat?
Thank you for your response.

In tempeh, wheat appears in situations where it is part of fermented soy sauce. Because the food has undergone complete fermentation, during which the structure of gluten has been entirely broken down (enzymatic hydrolysis), it is not present in the food.

Hello,

I would like to ask if taking folic acid can have a positive effect on allergies (I would say primarily allergies that occur in the spring/summer period to various pollens, grasses, etc.). Honestly, I don't see any connection as to why folic acid should be beneficial in this regard, but my husband's mother claims that five of her colleagues suffering from allergies started taking folic acid and all of them feel relief from their allergies. Is that possible?

Thank you very much!

Research indeed points to this relationship - it has been found that higher levels of folate are associated with lower levels of the immunoglobulin E antibody. Increased intake of folic acid thus also has significance in relation to supporting the function of the immune system.

Questions answered by

Mgr. Martin Jelinek
Lecturer and author of the educational system

Nutrition educator, lecturer, and author of the educational system and the ZOF learning application.

Mgr. Martin Jelínek has been systematically involved in nutrition education since 1999. He is the founder of ATAC, the educational company behind NutriCourses, and the author of an educational system focused on nutrition, healthy lifestyle, and the practical application of nutrition knowledge.

He graduated from the Faculty of Science at Masaryk University in Brno. Throughout his professional career, he has combined nutrition, education, and the practical application of acquired knowledge. His educational system also includes the ZOF (Zone of Optimal Functioning) learning application, where students turn theory into practical work with meal plans.

In 2007, he launched the first intake of a six-month course focused on the education of nutrition advisors. Over time, this course became the foundation for the further development of the educational system and a range of specialised courses.

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