Food Health

In May 2015 we traveled to the FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) conference in Long Beach, CA where we met new CEO, Dr. Jim Baker.  

We learned that one thing we can do to improve our overall health and give us a better chance of fighting food allergies, was to eat a more fiber rich diet. Leading medical researchers spoke at the conference on food allergies. When they were asked about taking probiotics, the researchers claimed there was no probiotic on the market that showed significant value, therefore go with fiber rich diets instead. 

So our research began. Of course instead of taking fiber pills, we are much more interested in food that will fuel our system with appropriate amounts of fiber. As a side note we found that those looking to maintain weight or lose weight have a greater likelihood to do so with high-fiber diets. 

Researchers found overall, eating an extra portion of fruit a day led to a weight loss of 0.24 kg, while eating an extra daily portion of vegetables brought a weight loss of 0.11 kg.

Eggplant is  low in calories, but high in dietary fibers, vitamin C and B-6.  

A one-cup serving of eggplant meets 10% of daily fiber needs, 5% potassium, 3% vitamin C, 5% vitamin B-6, 1% iron and 2% magnesium.

Vitamin B6  is needed for normal brain development and function, and helps the body make the hormones serotonin and norepinephrine, which influence mood, and melatonin, which helps regulate the body clock. 

The average adult 19-50 years old needs about 1.3 mg per day of vitamin B6. 
People who have food allergies, celiac, kidney problems or alcohol dependency have difficulty getting enough vitamin B6 in their diets and may require more B6 rich foods. Click to see children's B6 requirements. 

People almost never get too much vitamin B6 from food. But taking high levels of vitamin B6 from supplements for a year or longer can cause severe nerve damage, leading people to lose control of their bodily movements. Hence we try to avoid supplements. 

What if you don't like Eggplant? 

The first question is- do you know how to prepare and cook eggplant?  Often times we don't like something because it's not been prepared in a way that allows the flavors of the item to be highlighted.

Recently at a private dinner party for some members of  (Nappy Roots), Chef Lara made an eggplant and mushroom cream sauce to go over a pasta dish served with chicken and shrimp. Very few people at the table that evening believed they like eggplant, but everyone's dish was clean that night, no complaints. 

It's very simple to create the sauce. While the skin of an eggplant is rich in antioxidants- it also turns the sauce a little more purple, therefore it's up to each chef to remove the skin or leave it on.

3 cups eggplant cut into small chunks
1/2 cup white mushrooms cut into small pieces
3 cups of rice milk plain
1 tablespoon of salt
2 tablespoons of finely chopped basil
3 tablespoons of garlic
1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper

Place ingredients into a blender and liquify for about 2 minutes.
Place contents into a sauce pan and simmer on low heat stirring occasionally until heated
Pour over spaghetti squash or other noodle of choice.
Garnish with fresh parsley or basil.

Ask us about more great eggplant recipes. The trick is the olive oil, salt and roasting technique often. Grilled eggplant remains nutritionally in tack and flavorful.


Other foods high in Vitamin B6 are potatoes, chicken, fish and non citrus fruits. 

Check out the latest video on potato health, subscribe to the Food Allergy Gal, YouTube Channel. 

Balancing Safe and Healthy Foods

By Tami Pyles

Making sure you are eating healthy can be a challenge for anyone, but especially for those who are also dealing with food allergies or celiac disease.  Restricted diets and foods that are off limits can make it seem difficult for both healthy and safe eating, but Food Allergy Gal Dietician, Lisa Musician, explains how it can be done.  I had the privilege of hearing her address this topic recently at the Gluten Free Food Allergy Fest in Columbus, OH.

Musician, a registered and licensed dietitian in Northeastern, Pennsylvania with expertise in the area of food allergies, was one of the shows featured speakers.  She shared simple and effective strategies for maintaining health and safety when eating with food allergies or celiac disease.

Focus on What You Can Eat
When you are dealing with food allergies there is often a tendency to focus on the foods you cannot have.  Musician says by simply shifting your focus to what you can have, your “safe” foods, you realize there are still many options for you to enjoy.  Creating a list of safe foods help you focus on what the possibilities are rather than your restrictions.

Get Back to Basics
Cooking doesn’t have to be fancy to be good.  Musician suggests sticking to simple ingredients- think a protein, starch and fruits and vegetables.  Get creative with preparation to explore new flavors, for example roast your vegetables instead of boiling them.  Build meal plans so you can reference the plan when you are feeling stuck or need some inspiration.  Other great tips include cooking ahead of time and making extras as well as determining your safe staples and making sure they are always on hand in the pantry.

Make Mindful Choices
A visit to the grocery store will reveal that there are many safe convenience foods available for food allergic and celiac diners, but at the end of the day are these choices truly healthy?  Musician says making it yourself is always a better choice.  Processed foods, even those that are safe, often have increased levels of fat, sodium and sugar.  Convenience foods are an easy choice, especially when you tire of cooking so much, but over time there is no doubt that your health will suffer if convenience always wins.

Eating healthy and safe is possible- it just takes some planning and preparation.  The investment in time will pay off both in terms of staying healthy and exploring all the safe options you have available.  

Tami Pyles is an AllerCoach and owner of Thrive On Consulting.  You can follow her blog, Thoughts for Thriving On, by visiting her website thriveonconsulting.net

Great Finds at the Gluten Free Food Allergy Fest Columbus, OH

By Tami Pyles

On March 24th and 25th the gluten free and food allergy community came together in Columbus, OH for the Gluten Free Food Allergy Fest hosted by Gluten Free and More (formerly Living Without).  It was two wonderful days of sharing, learning, and coming together as a community.  Food allergies can create feelings of isolation as our food crazed culture excludes us, but the GFFAFest provided an opportunity for those with food allergies to come together and provided access to multiple products and resources so we do not have to live without.

GFFA Fest was full of product samples, lectures and cooking demonstrations throughout the two day event. Food Allergy Gal and our team were presenting and scouring the exhibitors to find great products. Numerous companies offered great products, but there were three unique finds we wanted to share with you.



Master’s Hand BBQ
Master’s Hand makes BBQ sauces, rubs, dip mix and BBQ snacks that are all free of gluten, soy, dairy, MSG, smoke flavoring and artificial preservatives.  They also make jerky that is nitrate free.  Steven J. Beers, CEO, is also the creator of the sauce.  He began making the mild sauce 25 years ago and at his daughters urging he founded the company in 2010.  Based in Fort Wayne, IN , you can find their products in 80 regional stores or online at www.mastershandbbq.com.







Soodles Bake Shop
Bakery treats can be difficult for food allergic individuals to eat but Amy McCrea, whose own children have food allergies, has made it possible since her tasty baked goods are all free of  gluten, nuts, tree nuts (except coconut), soy, egg and dairy.  They can also do special order items free of allergens such as corn, rice or coconut. Soodles, based in Columbus, OH with a bakery on Dilmont Dr. and numerous local retail outlets, offers a full array of baked treats as well as breads, mixes crusts.  You can also order their items, including their most popular item the cinnamon coffee cake, online at www.soodlesbakeshop.com





The Soapy Soap Company

Personal care products, such as soap, can be tricky for food allergic individuals as they often contain oils or other allergens.  This company offers a wide array of soaps under their brand Sābūn.  These bars are all gluten free, vegan, halal, free of GMOs and cruelty free.  Started by two college roommates they have established their company in Bloomington, IN and are committed to making high-quality soaps.  Their Body Be Gentle line is made with olive oil and has very few ingredients making it a great choice for food allergic individuals.  Their soaps, and other products such as lip balms and essential oils, can be purchased online at www.soapysoapcompany.com.  When ordering online you can use the code GFOH2015 to receive a free lip balm with your purchase (while supplied last through 7/31/15) .


These, and other vendors, offer great products and resources for managing life with food allergies. To check out the full list of exhibitors at the Columbus GFFAFest click here. We will be writing more about the GFFAFest to continue to share the great information shared at the event.  Our next post about the GFFAFest will provide highlights from the presentation by Food Allergy Gal’s dietitian, Lisa Musician on balancing safe and healthy food choices. The complete list of speakers, can be found by clicking here.


Stay connected to Food Allergy Gal via Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Instagram. Check out our new AllerCoach program.

Organic vs. Conventional foods

The debate continues on organic vs. conventional grown produce and products:

Which is "better for you?" 

A recent survey of college students in America showed that 114 students thought that just because the label said, "Organic" meant that the product could have less calories and would ultimately help a person to lose weight.

University of Michigan researchers showed 114 students a label from either ordinary Oreos vs. Organic Oreos “made with organic flour and sugar.” Then the researchers asked: “Compared to other cookie brands, do you think that 1 serving of these Oreo cookies (the organic version)  contains fewer calories or more calories?”

Results: Students believed "Organic Oreos" contained fewer calories.

In a second experiment, students were asked about a 20- year-old female named Susie, who was trying to lose weight. “Would it be okay for Susie to skip her usual three-mile run after dinner to spend more time on schoolwork?”

Most students answered “yes” when told that Susie’s dinner (roasted vegetables over brown rice) had finished with a small bowl of organic ice cream or an organic cookie than if the desserts were not described as organic.

An organic food (or its ingredients) is grown without pesticides, antibiotics, or growth hormones. While organic junk may not harm the environment, it can still have the same or more calories and cause the same harm to a body.

How many people buy Organic Newman-O’s when they’d never buy Oreos, Whole Foods 365 Organic Cheese Crackers instead of Cheez-Its, or Nature’s Path Organic Frosted Toaster Pastries but not Pop-Tarts?

"Which is less likely to cause poisonous outbreaks?" 

Research professor, Charles Benbrook states, "Both organic and conventional foods can be a source of poisoning outbreaks. However, in an organic system, there's a much higher level of microbial biodiversity, so there are more naturally beneficial microbes in the system and soil."


“Studies show that when you introduce pathogens into an organic system, they often don’t survive very long because the biologically rich community of organisms that’s naturally there either competes effectively with them or uses them for lunch,” says Benbrook.

“Pesticide use in conventional agriculture tends to reduce microbial biodiversity, both in the soil and on the surfaces of the plant. So when a pathogen does take hold, there’s more of an ecological vacuum there, and the pathogen populations can grow.”

“Most bacteria need nitrogen, and a ready source of nitrogen can fuel spikes in their levels. So in conventional systems that have an excess of nitrogen, there’s extra “gas” that can drive up pathogen levels,” explains Benbrook.

Does organic produce have higher levels of nutrients?

“About 30-35% of the time, there’s no statistical difference. In 5-10% of studies, the nutrient levels are higher in conventional foods. That’s based on studies that compare the same varieties of fruits and vegetables grown in similar locations, which is the ideal way to do these comparisons," says Charles Benbrook research professor at Washington State University’s Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources

Coming to Columbus: Food Allergy Experts

by Tami Pyles

What's happening in the Food Allergy & Gluten Free Community that's fun, exciting, educational, and inspirational?

Come find out on April 25-26th in Columbus, OH for the Gluten Free Food Allergy Fest sponsored by Gluten Free & More magazine (formerly Living Without).  The event is one of seven being held nationwide this year that includes opportunities to learn from experts, meet exhibitors and sponsors with gluten-free and allergy-friendly products, and network and meet with others who are living well without.

Food Allergy Gal's founder, Lara Holland, will be conducting live demos both days on how to meal plan and invent recipes on the fly with multiple food allergies.  Joining Food Allergy Gal will be Lisa Musician, a licensed nutritionist and certified food allergy manager and Tami Pyles, certified AllerCoach and owner of Thrive On Consulting.  Lisa will also be presenting both days and Tami will be covering media for the event.




Want to join Food Allergy Gal and her team in Columbus?  Visit our Food Allergy Gal's AllerCoach facebook page and enter your name to win a free ticket. If you can’t make it to the event be sure to follow #GFFA tags @FoodAllergyGal or @Pyles_ThriveOn on twitter for live updates throughout the event.

Winners of 1 Free Ticket to this show announced 4-20-2015: 

The Gluten Free Food Allergy Fest is this coming weekend in Columbus, OH!  We are excited to announce that the winners of our ticket give-away are Tiffany Monroe and Nikki Marcum!

Tiffany and Nikki, be sure to have your ID and visit the will call booth at the conference to pick up your tickets.

We look forward to meeting many of you this weekend. If you are unable to attend the event in Columbus you can follow us on Twitter @FoodAllergyGal or @Pyles_ThriveOn for live updates throughout the event using ‪#‎GFFAFEST‬

Living with IBS and Lactose Intolerance

Living A Happy Lactose-Free Life

by Guest writer Carly Trigg 


What’s the difference between lactose intolerance and a dairy allergy?
Be careful not to confuse an intolerance with an allergy, otherwise you’ll be restricting your diet based upon symptoms which are not your own. So how do your symptoms match up? Here’s the lowdown on what the differences really are…

Lactose intolerance 
This occurs in 168 million people worldwide and is generally acknowledged as the inability to break down the sugars found in dairy products.

If you suffer with a lactose intolerance, you are unable to digest ANY dairy product without a nasty feeling of abdominal discomfort and nausea experience afterwards. This is because the sufferer does not have enough of the enzyme ‘Lactase’ which is needed to break the sugar molecules properly.

Dairy allergies
This is an allergic reaction to the proteins in dairy, most commonly associated with cow’s milk products. Those who suffer with this might feel stomach pain, skin rashes, lip swells or breathing problems immediately after ingesting the dairy. Reaction to this can be much more extreme than those with a lactose intolerance including anaphylaxis shock. Products including butter, creme cheese, sour cream, milk, cheese, whey, casein can all cause dairy allergic individuals allergic reactions.

Click to read more about the difference between food allergy and food intolerance

Can I consume lactose when I have IBS?
It's all about trial and error. As symptoms and trigger-foods differ from IBS sufferer to IBS sufferer, it’s inconsequential to say that all of those with digestive ailments cannot digest lactase. I, personally, can. Considering this, I do have to ensure it is only in small quantities and/or combined with some other food source, such as milk in my porridge, or yoghurt with some berries.
Having said this, IBS and lactose intolerance are completely different problems, and are not to be confused. IBS sufferers are not necessarily sensitive to ALL dairy foods and should also consider whether their problems with digesting lactase is linked to a gastrointestinal infection, food allergy or Coeliac disease before restricting their diet of lactose.

Lactose-free alternatives to try
Going lactose-free is pretty simple nowadays due to the great range of free-from foods you can find in your local supermarket. Instead of cow’s milk, why not try soya or nut milks?

You can also find loads of dairy-free chocolates online, like from MooFree and DandD chocolates.

Other lactose-free foods include lactose-free cheese and lactose-free yoghurts.

There are great varieties available online too, with some of the best sitting pretty on LactoFree.com.




Dairy-free Cupcakes Recipe 
(Email me for US conversions) 

Ingredients 
30ml vegetable oil
2tsp lemon juice
50g caster sugar
100g coconut flour
2tbsp cocoa powder
½ tsp baking soda
120ml soya milk
Icing
100g icing sugar
3tbsp tepid water
1sp cocoa powder (optional)
Food colouring (optional)
Dairy free mini eggs (I used D and D Chocolate’s mini eggs which are dairy, egg and wheat-free)

Preparation 
1. Set the oven to 180c.
2. Mix together the wet ingredients (milk, oil and lemon juice).
3. Stir together the dry ingredients (sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking soda).
4. Add the wet to the dry and mix quickly so that the lemon juice is completely combined with the baking soda and flour.
5. Distribute the mixture with 1 tablespoon per cupcake case.
6. Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown.
7. Whilst these are baking, mix the ingredients for the icing. Add all the icing ingredients together so that it’s thick but no lumpy (it needs to sit atop the cake but not slide off). If you’re looking to jazz it up, add your food colouring at this stage.
8. Once the cupcakes are cooked and have chilled for half an hour, add the icing. Don’t be inclined the spread the icing during this part – it will naturally move around the cake’s exterior and shouldn’t be melded into the sponge any more than it needs to.
9. Top with mini eggs or dairy-free grated chocolate.
10. Enjoy!


Did you enjoy this recipe? Head over to Carly's blog and check out healthy oatmeal raisin cookie recipe – a real favourite amongst the family and everyone in the office!

For more nutritional advice and IBS advice, go to My Well Being Journal (Note: reading the blog may cause irrational hunger pangs) 

Stay connected to Carly on Twitter or Instagram @mwbjournal

Roasted Okra

Try okra in a whole new way. I like to use fresh okra right from the local urban farm. Try to avoid using frozen as it can get mushy.

Okra is a good source of Protein, Niacin, Iron, Phosphorus, Zinc and Copper, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Folate, Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium and Manganese.

What you'll need: 
20 fresh okra pods
Olive Oil
Sea Salt
Black Pepper
Chile Powder
Cookie Sheet
Oven

How to make:
Wash Okra
Place whole pods on cookie sheet
Drizzle with olive oil
Sprinkle Salt, Pepper and Chile Powder over pods
Bake at 425 for 10 to 15 minutes

Want more recipes from Food Allergy Gal?  Click here or contact to get customized meal plans.

11 year old boy dies due to food allergic reaction because of mislableing

USAToday.com full article: http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2015/03/24/family-sues-publix-wrongful-death/70381282/

An Alabama family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Publix Super Markets Inc. because of their 11-year-old son's death after eating a cookie they say was mislabeled from a store in Clarksville.

Derek "Landon" Wood, 11, of Sterrett, Ala., died of anaphylactic shock on June 3, 2014, after eating a cookie from the local Publix, which the family says had not been marked as containing a food allergen.

“The purpose of the lawsuit is to raise the awareness of food allergens that are potentially fatal in children.”

Eddie Schmidt, family's attorney

At a bakery counter that displayed ready-to-eat desserts such as cookies, brownies, pastries and muffins, there were no signs at or behind-the-counter warning of allergens or cross-contamination with allergens, the lawsuit said.

According to the lawsuit, before purchasing the cookie, Cline was told by a supermarket associate that a chocolate cookie, called a "Chocolate Chew," did not contain any tree nut allergens.

No label on the cookie disclosed the presence of allergens or a list of ingredients, the lawsuit said.

When the family returned home, Cline took a bite of the cookie, saw there were no nuts, and gave the rest to her son. Landon had three bites of the cookie and was sure there was something in it because his mouth was burning, the lawsuit said.

The cookie did contain walnuts.

-------------------------------Our take at Food Allergy Gal----------------------------------------

While Food Allergy Gal is not in favor of starting lawsuits for the sake of starting one, this is an area where I feel like we should be doing more in our community. Proper labeling is not only required by the FDA on packaged foods for 8 major allergens, but should just be good common sense practice. 

People aren't taking food allergies seriously and there is no mandated requirement for food service professionals to be properly trained on the consequences of mislabeling or not taking proper precautions in food service. We (the food service industry) all need to be trained from the grower to the restaurant. 

There are over 170 different foods known to cause allergic reactions. Allergic reactions can be deadly within seconds. While epinephrine is a medication that may stop anaphylaxis from finishing it's cycle (which is death), there is not a 100% guarantee. The medication cost over $350 for each dose usually, but is absolutely required for those with food allergies. 

Today in the United States over 15 million people have been diagnosed and reported as having food allergies that can be life threatening. Globally the number soars above 220 million people. 

The biggest trend we are seeing today is adult onset food allergies <---- (yes that is plural). Multiple food allergies are being diagnosed in adults for the very first time in their life. These allergies go way off just what the US deems as the major 8. 

There is a support group with over 300 members (www.FAadults.org) devoted to late onset food allergic adults. These adults ate normally for most of their lives until one day their immune systems decided to go haywire. It can happen to anyone, anywhere, anytime. Anaphylaxis does not discriminate. All ages, ethnicities and genders can face anaphylaxis to any one or multiple foods found in the 170 reported. 

This is where clean labeling of all products becomes essential.  Any product found anywhere that contains any food ingredient should be labeled in plain language. For example, if a soap contains citric acid and avocado, it should clearly state, "Contains citrus and avocado." If a restaurant has a Meatball Sandwich on the menu it should have a separate menu, book or e-menu that defines every ingredient (ex. tomato, beef, veal, parmesan cheese (milk), corn meal, wheat, egg, oregano, basil, salt, pepper, garlic, onion, sugar). The reason why: because someone may have a garlic and dairy allergy and the staff may not be thinking of those "minor" ingredients so they recite something simple and seemingly harmless like, "so you should be fine." 

Customers with food allergies also need to take responsibility and ensure everyone in the process knows they have a food allergy, even if it might not seem like banana would be in that salad, but you just never know what might hiding in the dressing. It's important to triple check though. To save time, just do clean labeling upfront. It can get annoying after the 80th person has walked thru the door and said, "what's in that?" or "does the main dish have ____,_____,____ in it?" So be prepared up front whenever possible.

Trust me it pays off royally in the end. Food Allergic guests, their friends, family members, and co-workers will become loyal patrons if they know they can safely be accommodated in your facility or with your product that's on the shelf that has simple, plain language ingredients listed on them.  -Avoid the lawsuit and especially avoid having death on your hands, where a mistake could have been prevented-. 

Life of a Food Allergic: A Break from the norm

by Lauren Pechack, Certified Allercoach

In the world of special dietary requirements there is much talk of how clean is clean, endless label reading, grilling manufacturers about how they maintain their facilities. Delving into the minutia, constantly can make one feel a bit cross-eyed and can wear very quickly.

Then there our interpersonal relationship discussions. What soaps do they use? Did they hand wash or use the dishwasher? Is this a home I feel safe in or wary? Please don't put your lips close to my face if you've eaten something I'm allergic to.

And then there are the blessed weekends when we find a place where we feel like we belong. The last weekend was spent in Austin, TX at Living Without's, Gluten Free Food Allergy Fest.

What a joy this conference was from the every day "Norm" of allergic living. It was a bit of a break from treading through the weeds to have the opportunity to pop up and say, "hello." Hearing people's stories, was so refreshing, so varied! Some shared stories with the long batter to diagnosis, to being diagnosed years before there was much information or help, and others, just recently diagnosed desperately looking for help with their new normal. 

Most of the vendors were really fantastic. Not only were their products amazing, but they were extremely open about their manufacturing processing- which as so refreshing. I love the small companies who are driven by all the right things: openness, quality, and genuine care for their customers. Amazing stuff.

The best part was seeing the support shared. How sweet it was to my heart to see someone walk in with their friend or relative tagging along for support! Yes, please! Life has its ups and downs. Not everything is going to go my way or be perfectly suited to me, but if I have the support and care of a friend, it makes all the difference.

Much of what I saw this weekend was a direct result of that very thing. People lost in the minutia, reading labels, going cross-eyed and one day deciding to take a leap and do it for others. The micro and macro are tied and intertwined together, each individual thread embodying its color coming together in a tangled mess to create a beautiful masterpiece.

What type of Food Allergy test is most reliable?

From Allergy Asthma Network's Ask an Allergist 

It's very important to see the right doctor for Food Allergy Testing, which is a board certified Allergist. They will ask about your medical history to see if it is consistent with a possible food allergy. The allergist can then determine the specific allergens to test.

Allergy testing for foods can be done either by skin prick testing, or by testing the blood for specific IgE directed against the potential food allergen. Both tests provide reliable results, although there’s not always complete agreement in the results between the two tests. Some allergist choose to use both  tests in their practice.

The skin test provides almost immediate results with a small, localized reaction that you can actually see. Follow up can be done with a blood test that gives an actual IgE level for the food (or other allergen). The blood test can then be tracked every 6-12 months to determine whether or not the person is outgrowing the allergy (typically more common in children)

Interpretation of blood test results for food allergy can be tricky. A very low positive result is not always clinically relevant, and an allergist’s input can be helpful in determining which foods should be eliminated from the diet.

If the reactions are restricted to eczema (40% of eczema patients have food allergies) then elimination of those foods that tested positive can be helpful. If the clinical relevance of the positive test is unclear, gradual reintroduction (per your doctor’s instructions) of one food at a time can help determine which foods are contributing to eczema.

However, if the person has experienced an allergic reaction not related to an eczema flare, then reintroduction of a food allergen at home without medical supervision could be dangerous.

People with food allergies are prescribed two epinephrine auto-injectors and urged to avoid the food allergen in their diet. Allergist should follow the blood test results to determine whether the person's IGe level is decreasing. If the doctor thinks that it may be safe to reintroduce a food, usually they do an in-office food challenge under medical supervision before clearing the person to eat the food at home.

- See more at: http://www.allergyasthmanetwork.org/ask-the-allergist-food-allergy-testing/#sthash.8KdKtcjf.dpuf

Don't avoid any food until...

As a mother of two children and a food allergic adult,  I never had a single doctor tell me that avoiding peanuts would be a good way to go, because of the risk of allergies. There are years and years of studies showing that eating a well balanced diet and introducing children to a variety of foods is the best way to go early on.

People  have started making the assumption that foods that caused allergic reactions were "bad for everyone" and that just simply is NOT the case! Just because a headline says, "Gluten is the leading cause in autoimmune disease!" does not mean we should all avoid eating gluten, for example. The 1% of Americans diagnosed with Celiac Disease should 100% avoid eating gluten. And in the off chance you have a Gluten INTOLERANCE, then yes you should also avoid, but it's not an ALLERGY. The point is this DON'T stop eating foods unless you are having a reaction, as it won't help you or your child in the long run. 

Of course there are exceptions. When our child is having an allergic reaction to foods- then it is important to pull them off the food and it's easier said than done and requires a lot of work to narrow down the results.

4% of the United States population has been diagnosed with food allergies. That's 15 million people. It's important not to go overboard here. There is way too much generalization happening about health in general. Every person has a different body and many have different things that work for them. Food Allergies are not a FAD diet. It's not something that you start and then go off of. It's also not something that you should choose to do, unless it is actually harming you because of allergic reactions.

The Akins diet suggested that "eating protein rich diet" was good for you and helped you lose weight. So a lot of people went to extreme protein portions and many people got very sick or became unhealthy.

We MUST read the fine print on these diets and not just read headlines. I am very supportive of every person without a food allergy, eating all the fabulous foods they can. For example, I support the peanut industry. I loved peanuts (real food) for a long time and they were a great snack that was much better than eating Cheetos or a snickers bar (not real food).

Even at 22 when I was diagnosed with a peanut allergy, I still encouraged other people to eat peanuts. I still made my kids peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, until my reactions got much worse and I started reacting to touching peanut butter. It was not until I became airborne allergic to peanut butter that I banned it from my house, but that doesn't mean I encourage people to stop eating them. Peanuts can be very good for you. They are part of the legume family and a great source of protein.

The AAAAI recently held their national conference in Houston where they announced studies about this and now the media is a feeding frenzy about it. This is all coming out wrong from start to finish and really dragging the food allergy community down.

We have now WASTED a lot of research dollars on a study that should never have been in the first place. What idiot person didn't do their research to begin with. Kids are not the only people who have or develop food allergies.

If medical researchers and doctors had worked together to compile information they would have seen that adults who had eaten all these foods before (i.e. peanuts) were suddenly developing severe allergic reactions. It is NOT because they weren't introduced to them.

This is a fabulous example of the fact that no one knows what food allergies and you can't prevent them. Eat all the foods possible until you can no longer. Most people will never react and some people will and that's it. Let's focus on why adults/teens suddenly develop food allergies and then we may be able to help everyone much more. We are doing it backward though because we are far more prone to wanting to help kids than adults. (I get it but at the same time I don't like it anymore, because I see it differently).

My children have eaten as many things as I can put in front of their face. My rule is, "You just have to eat 1 bite." My son was never diagnosed with food allergies and then at 15 years old he went into anaphylaxis shock, 4 times. It just happens. There is nothing that I did wrong as a parent. I have no tools to prevent true IGe reactions from developing. It was the same thing with me, I ate everything until one day I could not due to allergic reactions.

This is EXACTLY why I DO NOT recommend "going Gluten Free," especially for kids, unless there is a true gluten intolerance or celiac disease. If you have an IgE wheat allergy- then please 100% avoid wheat- but eat spelt, rye, oats (contain gluten) all day long, if you can because it's not gluten bothering your system.

I don't recommend having a snickers bar, a bag of Cheetos and a coke for snack under any circumstance, by the way. But if you have a snickers bar and you don't have food allergies, it will not kill you, I promise. No one is going to shoot you either, especially not me. I will actually be jealous because I haven't been able to eat one in 13 years.  It's about moderation. It's about knowing what works for your body.  It's also mostly all about moderation and finding the right balance.

Here is the actual report received about the study with a shIT headline: (because people without food allergies don't understand and are taking it wrong) 

Exposing kids at risk for peanut allergy to peanuts may actually help prevent an allergy.

A study suggesting that exposing kids at risk for peanut allergy to peanuts may actually help prevent an allergy was covered by all three of last night’s national news broadcasts for a total of more than four minutes. The study also received extensive coverage online and in print. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, which provided funding for the trial, is quoted in nearly every article. Most sources tout the study, with some calling the findings a “landmark” or “ground-breaking.”

        The CBS Evening News (2/23, story 5, 1:56, Pelley) reported, “A new medical study...could transform the way doctors prevent peanut allergies. Turns out keeping kids away from peanuts may be the wrong thing to do.” ABC World News (2/23, story 6, 1:42, Muir) and NBC Nightly News (2/23, story 4, 0:31, Holt) also discussed the study during their respective broadcasts.

        The AP (2/24, Marchione) reports that the research, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, “involved more than 600 children ages 4 months to 11 months old,” all of whom “were thought to be at risk for peanut allergy because they were allergic to eggs or had eczema.”

        The New York Times (2/24, Pollack) “Well” blog reports that these children “were randomly assigned either to be regularly fed food that contained peanuts or to be denied such food.” Those “feeding patterns CONTINUED until the children were 5 years old.”

        USA Today (2/24, Szabo) reports that “babies regularly given peanuts for at least four years cut their risk of peanut allergy by an average of 81%, compared with children who avoided peanuts.” These “results are ‘without precedent,’ said” Dr. Fauci, who added that “the results have the potential to transform how we approach food allergy prevention.”

        The Washington Post (2/24, Bernstein) “To Your Health” blog reports, “An accompanying editorial described the research as a ‘landmark study,’ called for quick issuance of new guidelines on peanut consumption by children and recommended that some infants between the ages of four and eight months who are at risk for the allergy be started on small amounts of peanut protein.”

Gluten Free Food Allergy Fest

In a world where we often feel isolated or alone in our disease, it's important to find opportunities to connect with others, find some additional resources and tools and have some fun. This year, 2015 there are a few ways to do that, thanks to these organizations. Click on each picture to get more details.

This year GFFA Fest will be in:
Austin, TX (Feb 28) (Certified AllerCoach, Flourish with Food Allergies will attend)
Tampa, FL (March 14)
Columbus, OH (April 25) (Food Allergy Gal, Thrive on Consulting, Food Allergy Dietician will all be there)
Portland, OR (September 26)

The National FARE convention will be in Long Beach, CA May 16-May 17, 2015. Food Allergy Gal will be attending. 

Waiving the magic wand

Every week for almost a year we've been connecting a very unique group of people from coast to coast in the United States via phone. We've developed a sub-culture in our disease. The online forum now has about 280 members. Each week 4-9 of us hop on a call to discuss various topics related to adult onset food allergy disease. 

The last couple of weeks we've discussed two great topics. 

The first was: 

"In a perfect world, if anything was possible, what tools would you like to see to better help navigate food allergies." 

Of course finding a cure is the first one for all us, but apart from that here is what the group asked for:

1. Better labeling: Because the majority of adults with food allergies have things that are not on the 8 required to b

in the US, we would just like all labeling on all products to be listed in plain language. So if there is orange in shampoo, can the ingredients just say, "Orange" please?!

2. Better educated food staff: Everyone thinks they know about food allergies but when the person with food allergies asks for help and boldly WRONG statements are being made it can turn into an ugly illness for the food allergic that lasts for weeks. All we are asking for is that every person in the food industry have proper, certified training on food allergies with some type of regular update required. It's knowing what questions to ask, knowing what to look for and how to assess safe or unsafe with confidence that is key. Some states mandate food allergy training. The federal government even mandates it but if the state doesn't agree to it or isn't checking to make sure there is at least one certified food allergy manager onsite at all times, it's worthless. 

In a perfect world, if you could waive a magic wand; what solutions would you put in place to help better manage allergic living? 

Here is the reality about finding a cure for Food Allergy Disease:  Health related non-profit organizations for things like Brain Tumor cures, Cancer, Heart Disease and Kidney disease get 10 times the amount of funding that organizations that support Food Allergies do. 

I hate to be a pessimistic person but I don't see us finding a cure in my lifetime. 

If they can't figure out cancer, heart disease and kidney disease with all that money, then I kind of don't think they are going to figure out Food Allergy disease anytime soon. It's far more mysterious than people think it is, actually. Especially because kids can outgrow it whereas adults can grow into it. I just ask that we create better tools to help navigate so we can stay positive, productive citizens of the world who don't continue to get sick and have reactions that can take us out for weeks at a time. 

Our second topic was: 

"What tools do you use in your daily life to better help you manage food allergies." 

Stay tuned for the next blog post to hear what tools may help you. You can also sign up to receive email alerts. 

If you know of a restaurant group that you'd like to see get trained, please refer them to one of our resources in Food Allergy Training & Management, there are now a handful of companies offering this service. Contact info@foodallergygal.com for more details.