An allergen is a substance that triggers an allergic reaction in people who are sensitive to that substance.

For example, if you are allergic to gluten, then for you, gluten is an allergen.  Gluten is not an allergen of other people who are not sensitive to this food.

Gluten

Gluten is a class of proteins found many grains.

Of all the types of gluten found in grains, it is the specific types found in wheat, rye, barley and oats that are problematic for celiacs.

When most people refer to "gluten", they usually mean the types found in the grains listed above.

Wheat gluten consists largely of two specific proteins: gliadin and glutenin. Together, they make up 80% of the total protein content in wheat.

Toxic Mold

Toxic Mould

Toxic mold (or toxic mould) refers to certain types of mold that release toxic substances into the air, causing health problems.

Not all types of mold fall into this category. In fact, there are many types of beneficial mold. We would not have cheese for example, without the beneficial action of mold on milk ingredients for example.

In most cases, toxic mold refers to certain species of mold that release mycotoxins - liquid or gaseous compounds that are harmful to human health.

Celiac

Celiac disease is a disorder that causes severe symptoms when you eat gluten.

Stop eating gluten, and the short-term symptoms are reversed.

Celiac disease is hereditary. If you have the genes for it, inherited from either or both of your parents, then you have celiac for the rest of your life.

This sounds bad, but unlike many other hereditary diseases, it is relatively easy to manage: just stop eating gluten.

Dust

When it comes to allergies, dust really means house dust. House dust consists of the shed skin of humans (i.e. tiny bits of skin that fell off off the body of you, your firends and your family), yeast, dust mites, dust mite droppings, hair, and other little bits and pieces that most people would rather not think of.

OK, don't think of it. But do get rid of it!

Dust is a major allergen, and is generally unhealthy when inhaled.

Protein

Proteins are large molecules made up of amino acids, and arranged in a very specific way. This specific size, shape and "texture" makes each protein unique and highly recognizable.

Many proteins are specific to a single species or small group of species.

Anaphylactic Shock

symptoms of anaphylactic shock tend to develop rapidly although may be delayed and/or deceptively mild.

Anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis is a set of serious symptoms triggered by a severe hypersensitivity Type I allergic reaction.

Anaphylaxis is triggered by even tiny amounts of an allergen in some people who are suseptable to it.

Anaphylaxis involved multiple systems in the body, including respiratory (upper and lower), gastro-intestinal, skin and cardiovascular.

Anaphylaxis is usually diagnosed in childhood. It can also begin later in life for some people.

Allergic Reaction

An allergic reaction is what the body does when exposed to an allergen. From the outside, this is seen as the allergy symptoms. Internally, this involves the body's immune response the the allergen which triggers the symptoms.

Strictly speaking, allergies are a type I hypersensitivity, involving an immediate onset allergic reaction (atopic, or anaphylactic). The broader definition used on this site includes all five classifications of hypersensitivity.