Allergy Relief Resource and Guide

Recently there has been a lot of news coverage regarding a new treatment for peanut allergies.  A study of children with peanut allergy has been conducted by Dr. Wesley Burks of Duke University Medical Center.  The initial study was small at 33 children with the main approach being oral immunotherapy. The children were challenged  with increasing small amounts of peanuts over an 8-10 month period on a daily basis.  5 basically ended up being totally free of their peanut allergy.  Here is a video which shows one of the successes.

I have seen some other reports that have also discussed how oral immunotherapy can be used in the same way to desensitize those suffering from milk allergy.

Please keep in mind this should not be done at home.  It was done as part of a supervised medical study.  Until bigger studies are done and it is approved for use for your allergist it is still advised to continue to “treat” your allergy by avoiding peanuts.

For more on immunotherapy review our post on Allergy Shots.

This is just a brief post to announce a new service for our website visitors. We have added a directory of allergy related videos. We feel it is a great addition to the information that we provide in our guide. The full directory of allergy related videos is here. Whereas we will provide periodic picks on on our allergy videos page.

We hope that you enjoy the wide range of videos available on this topic. As with any other information please be sure to check with your doctor. The amount of videos really demonstrate to me how big the problem of allergies is. It also helps to know that we are not alone…

As we start off the new school year I thought it would be helpful to provide an idea list of peanut and nut free snacks. I am sure that many of us are starting to learn the rules and regulations of our schools. We have discussed it many times the challenges and the fears associated with those of us who have children that are either allergic to peanuts or nuts. More and more facilities are going nut free. This year our school has a new nurse. She has been kind enough to share some thoughts regarding snacks. Whether you are the parent of someone with this type of food allergy or not you are expected to make sure you bring in snacks that keep other children safe as well.

Please keep in mind that some of these snacks are brand names which I have no association with and I have not tried them all. You should ALWAYS CHECK LABELS FOR CHANGES IN INGREDIENTS.

all fruits and vegetables
cheese
Thomas, lenders, or Ray’s bagels
pudding
cream cheese(check ingredients of flavored ones for not*)
raisins
yogurt

Graham crackers
Goldfish
Teddy Graham’s
vanilla wafers
plain Ritz crackers
saltine crackers
bread sticks
Cheez-its
pretzels
Smart food popcorn
Nutri-Grain bars
Triscuits
wheat thins
Plain Tostitos tortilla corn chips
Salsa
Nabisco sugar wafers
Jell-O
Tings
Hostess mini muffins
pizza

*Nowadays everything seems to come in a flavor so be sure to check ingredients since listing of peanuts and nuts is the law.

Though a sandwich may not be considered a snack ,depending on who you talk to, no list of peanut and nut free snacks would be complete without a discussion of peanut butter substitutes. Other nut butters like almond, hazelnut and cashew butters offer the closest experience to the comforting pb and j but be sure to check it out with your allergist first since though a peanut is not technically a nut your child may be allergic to the nuts in the substitute butter as well. One peanut butter alternative I recently heard about that has actually been around since 2002 is SunButter which is made from sunflower seeds and is marketed as “Great news for peanut and nut allergy sufferers” again consult with your allergist for their opinion.

Hopefully this list will be a good reference for ideas when your child needs a new snack which is also safe for his allergic classmates.

Food allergies can affect many lives. I have written about a variety of foods and ingredients that can cause allergies. An egg allergy is one of those in the top 4 that are usually mentioned, milk, fish, peanuts and eggs. Until January 2006 manufacturers were not required to identify what products contained eggs which made it very difficult for those with an egg allergy.

Food allergies are found in about one percent of the population in the United States. While this may seem like a small number, this statistic actually translates into millions of people who are dealing with this condition. Egg allergies can include reactions from a mild case of hives and a stomach ache, to severe symptoms that include difficulty breathing and a dangerous drop in blood pressure. These severe cases are known as anaphylaxis, and can be life-threatening in some situations. This is why it is so important to understand and identify any allergies that you might suffer from, and know exactly how to manage them.

Egg allergies are typically found in young children, and the lucky ones outgrow them by the time they are five years old. The most common cause of an egg allergy is the egg white. Some proteins found in egg yolks can also cause an allergic reaction in some folks as well. An egg allergy occurs when the immune system in a person’s body mistakenly identifies the protein in an egg as a harmful substance. The body then produces antibodies like histamines that will cause symptoms like wheezing, runny nose, hives and a stomach ache. These symptoms can affect the skin and a number of the bodies systems including the respiratory, digestive and cardiovascular systems.

Learning More About Your Egg Allergy

If you suspect that you have an egg allergy, you have probably experienced some of these symptoms shortly after eating an egg product. Your doctor can confirm your suspicions with a blood or skin test, although he may refer you to an allergist for testing and expert guidance in managing your allergy.

While the obvious solution to preventing an egg allergy is simply to avoid eating eggs, this can be much easier said than done since eggs are hidden in many of our food products. As mentioned in the beginning of this article manufacturers are required to identify when they use eggs as an ingredient but it isn’t that easy when you go out to restaurants.

I went to dinner with a friend who has an egg allergy and we chose a Chinese restaurant. In the middle of dinner she told me she was starting to get an itchy throat and that she probably had eaten something with eggs. I was really concerned because I know that anaphylaxis is a possible reaction to this type of allergy. Fortunately this wasn’t one of those times.

So the reality is you need to be aware of all the possible ways you can be exposed to eggs. If you have a child you may also have to be more careful since an egg allergy and immunizations can be a lethal mix. Many of the shots given to our children are exposed to eggs in the development process. It is up to you and your doctor to keep up on the latest ways to keep you safe.

Let’s face it, my sister has a hard life. She has been plagued by allergies much longer than I have. Not only does she have the normal airborne type of allergies but she also suffers from dairy allergies. This is a sad diagnosis for a cheese lover but she has found ways to adapt. She carries around cans of soy milk for her coffee just in case they don’t have it. She also does her best at using the substitutes provided by dairy allergy recipes that she has found.

The moment you find out you have dairy allergies, it is life changing. At least it is for those who love their dairy products. Can you imagine being told that you can’t ever have milk, cheese or any other dairy product ever again? Unless of course if you are willing to put up with the suffering. That suffering varies from person to person when it comes to dairy allergies. One person could get major migraines after they drink a glass of milk while another gets very bad intestinal reactions. Don’t despair though because you should be able to enjoy dairy by following a certain dairy allergy diet and having a prevention plan. This of course is determined by how severe your dairy allergies are.

Your Dairy Allergy Gameplan

First of all, you have to determine if you are, in fact, allergic to dairy products. The first thing you should do is schedule an appointment with an allergist. An allergist will test you to determine if you have dairy allergies. They will test you with small amounts of dairy products to see if you have a reaction.

If you do have a reaction, usually your skin will turn red and inflamed, that’s when your allergist will inform you of your specific allergy and should give you a dairy allergy diet and prevention plan.

The most common dairy allergy diet and prevention plan is to refrain from the dairy products that cause you the most discomfort. This is basically an elimination diet. This is different for each person with dairy allergies. For example, some people may have dairy allergies when it comes to milk but they may be fine when they eat ice cream. That would mean that there is something specific in the milk you’re drinking that might not be in the ice cream you’re eating that is causing you to have a dairy allergy reaction. Even further some people can tolerate skim milk better than regular whole milk.

Your allergist may also prescribe certain dairy allergy supplements. Vitamin stores carry such products for those with lactose intolerance. This may help in some cases, but again, it all depends on the severity of the dairy allergies.

The right attitude is the key to dealing with any food allergy. Dairy allergies are no different. As my sister has shown you learn to change your routine and your diet so that you can maintain the quality of life you want. With the help of a dietician and your allergist you can find ways to adapt and every once in while you might want to take the hit for that one little piece of cheese.

When I think of soy I don’t think that it is a common type of food ingredient. I typically associate it with Chinese food and soy sauce so I thought a soy allergy shouldn’t be that big a concern. Unfortunately for those that have a soy allergy it is contained in more foods than I thought.

When a person develops a food allergy like a soy allergy the immune system malfunctions and identifies a type of food as a potentially harmful substance to the body. The immune system responds by producing antibodies called immunoglobulin (IgE’s) that create histamines to help protect the body from these “harmful” substances. The result is symptoms like a runny nose, watery eyes, hives and itching, wheezing and gastrointestinal problems. Some people will have an intolerance to certain types of food instead of an actual food allergy. While this condition may include similar symptoms to a food allergy as far as a stomach upset and pain, the immune system is not involved. Food allergies can be a reaction to nearly any type of food, but the most common triggers are milk, eggs, fish, and legumes which can include soy products.

So Where is Soy Found?

Soy can be used as an ingredient in many foods that you would never consider. Some of these are:

• Ice Cream
• Tofu
• Vegetable Broth
• Vegetable Protein
• Salad Dressings
• Vegetable Oil
• Mayonnaise
• Margarine…

Since soybeans are a legume, if you suffer from a soy allergy, you may also have a reaction to related foods like beans, peas and peanuts as well. The symptoms of soy allergies can run the spectrum. Some reactions to these products will be mild and include itching, wheezing or diarrhea. There are many other symptoms that can appear as well, and some can become quite severe.

Can a Soy Allergy be Prevented?

While food allergies affect a small percentage of the population, the number can still translate into millions of people in this country who suffer from some type of food allergies. Statistics show that the percentage of the population who is diagnosed with a soy allergy is at about .5%. Often this type of allergy is found in children, and many times it is not detected until the second or third exposure to the food.

There are some ways to cut down on the chances of developing a soy allergy. Doctors recommend that mothers nurse their babies for at least the first six months of life. It is also a good idea to wait until your child is at least six months old before offering any solid foods. This will not only reduce the risk of an infant soy allergy, but may cut down on the incidence of other food allergies throughout life as well.

A soy allergy is a potentially dangerous condition and should be definitively diagnosed by your doctor and allergist. You should also see a dietician whenever a food allergy is involved. They can help you not only avoid the food involved but also lead you toward choices that can replace some of those cravings a soy allergy can deprive you of.

Sophie-Safe Cooking: A Collection of Family Friendly Recipes that are Free of Milk, Eggs, Wheat, Soy, Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Fish and Shellfish