If you are following a gluten-free diet and mistakenly consume gluten, the harmful effects of gluten can appear within a few hours and last for a few days or even up to a few weeks or months, long after gluten has been cleared of your intestines.

Thermogenic foods may help increase metabolism and calorie burning by enhancing thermogenesis, a process in which the body burns calories to utilize the foods you have just eaten, converting those calories to heat.

Whitefish refers to round- or flat-shaped fish with fins that live near or on the bottom of sea or lakes that are white in color. This includes cod, haddock, halibut, haddock, whiting, bass, hake, flounder, cat fish, pollock, perch and whiting.

A food allergy to papaya occurs when your immune system mistakenly identifies a protein found in the skin and flesh of the papaya as a threat and creates antibodies in a reaction against it. These antibodies cause your body to exhibit certain symptoms in an attempt to flush out the offending protein.

Gluten intolerance, also called celiac disease, is an autoimmune disorder that damages the small intestine and causes the malabsorption of vitamins and other nutrients. Celiacs have a chronic reaction to glutens found in cereals such as wheat, barley and rye, and oats when contaminated with these other grains.

Food allergy affects approximately 5 percent of children and 4 percent of adults in the United States, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

A food allergy refers to an abnormal immune system response triggered by the interaction of food-specific proteins and antibodies against them. Certain foods are more likely to trigger allergies than others. An allergy to citrus fruits is relatively uncommon, as are allergies to most fruits and vegetables.

A full body rash that occurs after you eat is a serious sign of a severe allergic reaction. You need to call your doctor or 911 immediately to prevent further complications. Around 90 percent of all food allergies are related to fish, shellfish, soy, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, milk and eggs.

Allergy to egg is one of the most common food allergies in infants. Allergic reaction to egg usually becomes noticeable when the baby is about 10 months old, according to Dr. Ralf Heine in the March 2006 issue of “Current Allergy and Asthma Reports.

Food allergies occur when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks food proteins, causing the body to release large amounts of histamines and other immune chemicals. The body releases these chemicals so suddenly that a person can have a life-threatening allergic reaction within moments of eating a trigger food.

An almond allergy can be serious and life threatening. It can cause hives, a blistering rash, or worsen underlying eczema.

Iodine is a mineral that contributes to thyroid gland function. Your doctor may suggest a low-iodine diet if you have thyroid cancer or before a medical test called a radioactive immunoassay. According to "Essentials of Thyroid Cancer Management," by Robert J. Amdur and Ernest L.