Bagels should not trigger any stomach cramps after eating. In case this infrequent symptom occurs consistently every time the individual, a doctor should be consulted for further assessment.
Bagels might contain some food allergens such as eggs, wheat, milk and even nuts. A typical symptom of a food allergy is bloating, stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhea. It is vital to avoid eating any bagels until the individual is properly diagnosed by a doctor.
Food allergy
Food allergies are not quite common among adults. The usual culprits that are known to trigger an allergic reaction include milk, wheat, soy, eggs, peanuts, fish, wheat and nuts.
Always bear in mind that a food allergy can trigger minor to severe symptoms that vary from one individual to another. Even consuming trace amounts of a specific food that the individual is allergic to can result to the manifestation of the common food allergy symptoms.
Possible causes of stomach cramps after eating bagels
When an individual eats bagels, the immune system overly reacts to the proteins if he/she is allergic to any of the ingredients. The body establishes resistance against the food proteins and generates antibodies to ward off the allergen. The introduction of these antibodies into the bloodstream causes the mast cells to release histamine.
Take note that histamine is the usual chemical present in the body that helps fight off infection. Once present in large amounts, histamine triggers the evident swelling and inflammation.
Ensuing effect
The heightened levels of histamine in the digestive tract can cause the intestines to become inflamed. The inflammation in the gut can lead to the contraction of the stomach, resulting to stomach cramps.
The cramps can be accompanied by abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea, bloating, diarrhea and gas. The histamine that is released in other soft tissues all over the body can cause skin rashes, asthma and nasal issues. In some cases, the individual can develop wheezing, difficulty breathing, eczema, hives, nasal congestion and itchy skin.
Diagnosis
The doctor will recommend allergy testing in order to properly diagnose the possibility of a food-related allergy. The allergist will test for common food allergy components present in bagel.
The skin prick test and blood test are utilized to observe how the body reacts once specific food proteins are introduced. Once the body produces IgE antibodies, the individual is diagnosed with a food allergy.
In case the individual experiences a severe allergic reaction along with symptoms such as lightheadedness, low blood pressure, hives, difficulty breathing, rapid heart rate and swollen lips, tongue or throat, call for immediate emergency assistance. Remember that a severe allergic reaction is capable of causing death if not promptly and properly treated.