It is quite possible our pioneering forefathers were oblivious to an allergy. Today, however, allergies seem prevalent -- almost all of us know someone that has to avoid wheat or gluten, eggs, dairy or lactose, nuts, seeds, soy or seafood. We do know allergies are on the rise and there are many theories as to why this is.

Along with allergies, we also see an increase in people with food intolerance or sensitivities. A common scenario occurs when the body cannot properly digest, absorb or assimilate a particular food. This may be caused by a lack of certain enzymes in the body and in many cases this situation is remedied or some symptoms are alleviated by altering diet, ensuring good balanced nutrition, and adhering to a beneficial lifestyle.

Society’s recent inability to cope with many common foods may be related to the pesticides, flavourings, colourings and preservatives that have made their way into the food chain over the last century. These artificial additives are foreign to the human body and, over time, may cause weaknesses that contribute to allergies. Alternatively, as in the case of gluten, it may be that through hybrid breeding our wheat today is higher in gluten content. Still others may have become allergic, intolerant or sensitive after an illness. We also know many conditions such as Autism, Crohn’s and IBS may bring sensitivities to various foods as part of the disorder.

So what is an allergy? An allergy is an inappropriate immune response to a foreign substance our body perceives as ‘threatening’. Symptoms that may occur are:

• Skin: hives, eczema, swelling, itching
• Respiratory: sneezing, asthmas, difficulty breathing, cough
• Gastrointestinal: swelling and itching of the lips and mouth, vomiting, reflux, colic, diarrhoea, cramps, constipation
• Circulation: low blood pressure, dizziness, anaphylactic shock

At Ceres, we are continually expanding our range of options for those with allergies, intolerances or sensitivities-- ensuring that whatever your current state, you still have numerous healthy and delicious options. In some areas you may have to limit yourself, but we are here to help you expand in a whole new direction. Organic food eases the load on our body, and may assist our system recuperate and rejuvenate without the use of potentially harmful chemical substances. As well as our commitment to providing a wide range of hypoallergenic foods, we pride ourselves on our extensive range of organic choices. From dairy free cereals to gluten free flours, we have a huge range of options. When it comes to food, Ceres can help put the “un” back into any “limited” diet.