G, Food Allergies Are Serious Business!

G, Food Allergies are Serious Business!

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G, What Happened To You?

Itching for a food allergy cure

I personally think it was overexertion that triggered food allergies when I was 38. In August 2009, allergy tests noted allergies to , peanuts, fish, dairy, eggs, bananas (triggered my dormant latex allergy) and strawberries was the worst of all. Fabulous news when you're growing banana trees and have a few hens in the back yard. Along with my usual bag of money saving tricks, I'm also packing an epi-pen these days. Fortunately, with maintenance medication I'm 95% better. Still don't eat strawberries, bananas or peanuts though.

Ironically, I'd worked on Food Allergy course curriculum for child care professionals a year earlier (based on my experience as a kitchen manager at a peanut free school). I had practical experience working with children living with food allergies but never knew adult onset allergies existed. What's on this page comes from my previous notes and information I put together for food pantries.

Adult Onset Food Allergies

"People aren't always born with food allergies. In fact, you could enjoy a nice peanut butter and jelly sandwich for 20 years only to discover a month later that you're allergic. Adult onset food allergies are not only possible, but they are also on the rise."

You can go to Life123.com to finish reading Lisa Bower's Adult Onset Food Allergies article.

Food Allergy Symptoms

People can live with hidden symptoms (like headache and fatigue) for years before a common food allergy can occur? Tingling in the mouth, hives, swelling of the lips, face, tongue and throat, trouble breathing and dizziness or fainting are only a few common food allergy symptoms?

There are three types of food allergy reactions?

INGESTION - when you eat the allergenic food.
CONTACT - when the allergenic food in contact of the skin (like shaking someone's hand who has touched the allergenic food).
INHALATION - when the allergenic food is inhaled (like flour in a bakery or steam from a boiling fish).

Non-food items like paints, medicines, soaps, makeups, lotions, hair care products, stuffed animals and/or furniture or pet foods can contain food allergens. People can be allergic to many different foods but 90% of allergies are linked to 6 types of food:

Flu Shot News for People with Egg Allergies?

"Influenza (flu) vaccines are grown on egg embryos and may contain a small amount of egg protein. If you or your child is allergic to eggs, speak to your doctor before receiving a flu shot."
(http://www.foodallergy.org/page/egg-allergy)

Along with flu shots, FAAN wants you to watch for egg products that might be hidden in a number of other foods

the foam on your specialty coffee drink
egg substitute
processed pastas for soup (like chicken noodle, etc.)
the egg wash that gives pretzels their shine

If you or someone you love suffers from egg allergies, FAAN's website also lists a few great egg substitutions you can try.

Anaphylaxis - The Food Allergy Danger Zone

Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that can lead to death. Recognizing the symptoms early to save a life!

Hives
Swelling of throat, lips, tongue, and around eyes
Difficulty breathing or swallowing
Metallic taste or itching in mouth
Anxiety or a sense of doom (like choking)
Low blood pressure (with pale skin)

Wonder what can cause anaphylaxis? Epipen.com provided tons of good information on the subject.

FOOD: Peanuts, tree nuts (walnuts, pecans, etc.); shellfish; fish; milk; soy; wheat and eggs.

MEDICATIONS: Penicillin; flu shots; Sulfa antibiotics; allopurinol, seizure and anti-arrhythmia medicines; NSAIDS like aspirin and ibuprofen; muscle relaxants and some post surgery fluids.

STINGING INSECTS: Bees; wasps; yellow jackets; hornets; ants (esp., fire ants)

LATEX, EXERCISE , OR OTHER UNKNOWN SOURCES

Top 6 Food Allergy Hall of Fame

Milk - avoid milk and milk products, and some artificial butter flavor, deli meats and hotdogs. Hidden names for milk: lactalbumin, lactalbumin phosphate, lactoglobulin, casein or sodium caseinate, lactose (milk sugar).
Eggs - avoid whole eggs and egg products. Flu shots should be skin tested before use. Hidden names for eggs: Globulin, albumen, apovitellenin, livetin, ovalbumin, ovomucin, ovomuciod, ovovitellin and phosvitin.
Peanuts - Watch out for any peanut products and products that are made on equipment used to process peanuts, like cookies and baked goods. Hidden names for peanuts: hydrolyzed plant protein and hydrolyzed vegetable protein.
Tree Nuts - take care with almonds, brazil nuts, cashews, chestnuts, hazelnuts, hickory nits, macadamia nuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios and walnuts.
Fish - Along with fish and fish products, Worcestershire sauce (may contain anchovies), Caesar salad, and imitation seafood.
Shellfish - Abalone, clams, crab, crawfish, crayfish, lobster, oysters, scallops, shrimp, sea urchin and mussels.
Soy - Soybean and soybean products like flour, nuts, milk, sprouts, soybean granules and curds, miso, soy sauce, tofu, tamari, tempeh and vegetable broth. Soy ingredients to look for: Soy protein, textured vegetable protein (TPV), hydrolyzed plant protein, hydrolyzed soy protein, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, natural and artificial flavoring, vegetable gum and vegetable starch.
Wheat - Whole wheat or enriched flour, high gluten flour, high protein flour, bran, farina, graham flour, bulgur, durum, semolina, wheat malt, wheat starch, modified food starch. Wheat ingredients to look for: Gluten, gelatinized starch, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, vital wheat gluten, wheat bran, wheat germ, wheat gluten, vegetable gum and vegetable starch. Playdough, glues and adhesives can also contain wheat.

Read Non-Food Labels to Prevent Food Allergies

Paints: May contain many different food ingredients that could make them dangerous for people with food allergies.

Medicines, vitamins, and supplements: Milk, wheat, soy and other allergens are some of the ingredients used to make these pills. Check both the active and inactive (or inert) ingredients.

Soaps: Soap may contain soy, milk, nut oils, and other ingredients.

Hand, body lotions and hair care products: Most lotions contain coconut, tree nut, sesame, or a form of peanut oil and wheat extracts. Hair care products may contain wheat or wheat extracts, almond and other nut oils, soy protein, and other allergens.

Makeup and lotions: Lipstick and other makeup may list wheat, sesame oil, or other allergens as ingredients. Many lotions contain coconut, tree nut, sesame, and a form of peanut oil. Lotions may also contain grain extracts.

Fruit and Vegetable Rinses: Many fruit and vegetable rinses contain starch, which could be made from wheat, potato, corn, or rice.

Stuffed toys or chairs: Ground peanut and tree nut shells are used as stuffing in bean bag chairs. Some stuffed animals that feel like bean bags can also include this type of stuffing.

Pet Food and Bird Seed: Food for dogs, cats, guinea pigs, and other pets can contain wheat, peanut, egg, milk, and other ingredients that can cause a reaction. Along with the seeds, some bird seed mixes may contain peanut, wheat, milk, and other allergens.

Source: Cleveland Clinic; Dr. Wood