What if we re-named Food Allergies to Food Cancer? Would you believe us then?

10 Stupid Things People say to Food Allergics: 

1.  "Oh that's ridiculous, food allergies are in your head."
2.  "Having food allergies, helps you stay skinny." 
• trust me, not by choice, 1/2 the time we are starving and malnourished and dying to eat something. We don't wish this upon anyone. We often love the very food we are allergic to. This is not a choice or some fad diet you will see us go off of in 4 weeks. We can't "cheat.". 
3. "I could never give up _____________." 
• (yeah, I don't want to either, but I can die if I have it. I bet you'd give it up if it sent you to the hospital every time you ate it.)  
4. "So you are on one of those new age diets, I can't wait until that trend is over." 
• (uh, the trend, dear people, is more and more people are developing severe multiple food allergies! It ain't gonna go away until we start focusing on research as to why- it's like cancer, not like a fad diet.) 
5. "What about just a little bit of _#enterfoodallergy___. It won't hurt you. Come on!" 
• (really? you really want to see me get sick and take a chance with my life, don't be a food pusher... it's not that I don't want it, it's that if I eat it, I'll get sick.)  
6. "I only used a very tiny bit of your #food allergy in it." 
• (a little bit can KILL us. It's not like it's a diet I chose to be on. Yes some people can tolerate a little bit of something one day and then 8 hours be throwing up, skin reactions, etc.) 
7. "But you ate everything before, now why?" 
• (Do you ask people with cancer the same question? I don't know what happened. One day I was fine and the next day I got food cancer. It's a million $$$$ question no one can answer. Yet only a few people actually donate to food allergy research.  If I knew the answer, don't you think I'd be running to sign up for the cure?) 
8. "I didn't know you could be allergic to _________." 
• (Yep, there are over 170 foods you could become allergic to, it's way beyond peanut and shellfish.)  Read more information on foods known to cause allergic reactions, click here.
9. "Food Allergies are not real." (Then they argue with you)
• (I really wish I had a magic wand when someone says that to me, because I want to zap my food allergy reactions right into them at that moment. #ignoranceisirritating I wonder if they go to hospitals where chemo patients are and tell them that their cancer isn't real. 
• I want these people to talk to families who have lost children directly as a result of a sudden allergic response. Go ahead, bring that kid back to life who didn't know they had a food allergy and died after eating it. Tell them food allergies aren't real.)
10. "You just need to _________, to get rid of them." 
• (There is no cure for food allergies, btw and I would never pay someone who claims they have a cure, yet, because I've heard the horror stories. Remember anyone can say anything, it doesn't make it true. If there really was a cure for food allergies, I'm sure our doctors would call us, I'm sure the FDA would approve it. I'm sure less than 15 million people would have it.) 

Food Allergies Are VERY Real! Just like cancer is. There is no cure. It may kill you in seconds if you have an anaphylaxis reaction or it could slowly kill you over many years and mask itself as some other medical condition, if you don't take care of yourself with food allergies. 

After running Food Allergy Gal for 2 years and being part of the food allergic community for 12 years, there is still so much we don't understand. Additionally, funding for special services, research and education is very low. Right now there is more education going on and more concern being shown to GLUTEN intolerance and 3 million celiacs than there is to the 15+ million Americans medically diagnosed with food allergies. 

Facts EVERY PERSON needs to KNOW about FOOD ALLERGIES:

1. There is no cure for true food allergies
2. Food Allergies are as real of a medical condition as cancer is
3. Any person, any where, at any time can develop a food allergy. (One day they can be eating peanuts, orange and banana and the next day they can eat the exact same thing and go into anaphylaxis shock.) 
4. The severity of food allergies can increase or lessen over time. Children & adults can outgrow food allergies. There is NO Explanation as to why; just as there is no explanation as to why they come on.  
5. Foods that people are allergic to can be found in many products beyond just food- such as medicines, soaps, shampoos, cleaning agents, paper goods products, beverages. (They are not required to be labeled on non-food products in plain English.) 
6. There are over 170 foods documented which cause allergic reactions in humans. 
7. Reactions may vary in each person, but all of them are REAL! 
8. There is a significant RISE in adults being medically diagnosed with MULTIPLE food allergies. 
9. Food Allergies do not discriminate. They impact every economic & cultural class. They are worldwide not just for "spoiled, trendy Americans." (220 million people worldwide, diagnosed with food allergies)

The Social Hand UP

THE SOCIAL HAND UP
          4/24/14         

             7-9  PM        
THE  HANGAR ATLANTA

The Social Hand Up is an event bringing 
entrepreneurs, creatives, nonprofits & community members together to build awareness of our city's issues. 
Work together to create change
 -- all while having a good time.  

Everyone has a chance, right now, to help save the world. Will you join me?  
Join the Event, get tickets here. 

Join Food Allergy Gal. We are giving our time to cook for anyone who wants to donate raw ingredients by making some delicious allerfriendly appetizers, so everyone can enjoy eating. 

www.thesocialhandup.com

Find Ways you can participate, click here.

<iframe height="480" src="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B53MI_70EnM8ekp0d1JZSklnM0E/preview" width="640"></iframe>

Connect with Food Allergy Gal on Facebook or Twitter

What's in your Toolbox?

One of the most common problems people with multiple food allergies have is,  they are starving. We focus on what we cannot eat versus we can. There are over 170 foods that cause food allergic responses. So let us focus on what we CAN eat versus what we CANNOT eat.

Say that we have 12 to 24 food allergies. That means we need to focus on 156 Foods we can eat. We put together some snack safely ideas and then Food Allergy Gal really went overboard and created The Cucumber Series on top of this.

The biggest investment you will need to make in all of this is your TOOL "Lunch"  box & fancy tupperware. I highly recommend glass or metal over plastics, but that's just because it won't get yucky over time and food will keep better.

Read the articles and share some food love:

Snack Safely: http://www.examiner.com/article/snack-safely

The Cucumber Series:
One: http://www.examiner.com/article/the-cucumber-series-one
Two: http://www.examiner.com/article/the-cucumber-series-two
Three: http://www.examiner.com/article/the-cucumber-series-three
Four: http://www.examiner.com/article/the-cucumber-series-part-iv
Five: http://www.examiner.com/article/the-cucumber-series-five
Six: http://www.examiner.com/article/the-cucumber-series-six
Seven: http://www.examiner.com/article/the-cucumber-series-seven
Eight: http://www.examiner.com/article/the-cucumber-series-eight
Nine: http://www.examiner.com/article/the-cucumber-series-nine

Meals for Love

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With multiple food allergies it is difficult to go out to eat already.  Then try to add prix fixe menus for special occasions,  forget about it. 

Food is a great way to show our love and when we create delicious, full flavored meal that are free of specific food allergens and looks beautiful too, love is bound to be expressed.

Add some beautiful flowers, candles and special plates and your getting even warmer. When the plated meal not only tastes great but looks great too (because you've carefully taken the time to decorate it with beautiful food), you are a rockstar lover/friend.

Read more about the "Food for Lovers," click here.

Find out why pineapple, sweet potatoes, mushrooms, steak, and red cabbage are considered "Lovers foods." When you share this information with those eating it, I bet the food tastes even better.
Read the full article: http://www.examiner.com/article/food-for-lovers

 Weather you make a meal for Valentine's Day or just on a random Wednesday night, love the food, prepare it with kindness and time and it will reflect.

For the 220 million of us out here with food allergies, we will really appreciate those who can safely make us a meal with making us sick.

 http://www.examiner.com/article/food-for-lovers





Happy February.

With love,
Food Allergy Gal

 

Now Available Muff'n Stuff  Mix (Dairy, Nut, Soy, Peanut, Wheat, Shellfish, Fish, Gluten, Vanilla, Sesame, Corn FREE) they taste great too! Please place your order now. 

Adults with Food Allergies Support Group

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In the United States alone there are 15 million people diagnosed with one or more food allergies. In the world, there are over 220 million diagnosed cases of food allergies. 

Trending today, more and more Adults are being diagnosed with multiple food allergies. There is no cure for FOOD allergies. A true food allergy is an autoimmune disorder that can affect multiple parts of the body. 


Food Allergies can strike at any point in a person's life. Allergic reactions can be severe and sometimes are known to become more severe with age. 

While children are very supported are this subject and parents remain very active, there are few places adults can turn to for support. Food impacts every aspect of our lives. It's emotional, it's mental, it's physical and it's social.

Food Allergy Gal has been fortunate to hear 1000's of stories of adults dealing with multiple food allergies in her career and has searched high and low to find a group in the United States that is only devoted to creating solutions and focusing of managing food allergies as an adult. 

Starting this group is a foundation for other support groups to develop in local areas. The goal is to bring adults together not to complain (although it's totally normal to discuss the struggles and be emotional, because it is) but to help each other by talking about solutions, ways to promote and support change, share safe food products, recipes, experiences and much much more.

 The more we come together and unify in numbers, the more we can create a community that creates change. 

Food Allergy Gal will host an ONSITE and VIRTUAL support group for food allergic adults. You can see or hear from others managing the same disorder. Gain the strength and support from the numbers coming together and know you are not alone in a world that often times can feel isolating and misunderstood. 

Even if you don't feel you need support, someone else may need your support, so consider joining to help others. 


How to sign up for Adults with Food Allergies Support Group: 

1. Email: info@ilaraholland.com with subject: Adults with food allergies support group to be added to the group meeting list. 
2. Meetings are now Tuesday nights @8:30 PM EST) 1,3, 4th weeks of the month. (Subject to change- so please connect directly to confirm)
• Dial–in Number: (712) 432-1212
• Meeting ID: 270-856-126

Still not ready to join but want to stay connected to people with food allergies here are some suggestions. Like these pages or request to join these groups:

1. Food Allergy Gal Facebook Page

2. Food Allergies Group on Facebook

3. Food Allergy Network

4. Find Support Other Food Allergy Support Groups

5. SF Bay Food Allergy Support-
6. Adults with Food Allergies Support Group

Not a fan of Facebook and want other suggestions, e-mail us. 

Cross Reactivity in Food Allergies

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I recently interviewed a few board certified allergist about my specific food allergies. 
The doctor who diagnosed me is a board certified allergist and he talked in depth about cross reactivity of food allergies and recently I saw another allergist who backs up the same story on cross reactive or intolerance. 
I have an orange allergy as one of my 10 diagnosed food allergens. Doctors told me citric acid, lemon, lime and grapefruit might also be cross reactive to my orange allergy- so I followed this strict policy for over a year of avoiding all these foods and products made with citric acid.

Based on my interviews with a recent specialist who said it was "impossible to be allergic to citric acid," I went ahead and tried a product that was sent to me which contained citric acid.

Standing in the library 10 minutes after eating it, my chest was sore and my face felt like it was on fire- I forgot I had just eaten and kept thinking-"what the heck is wrong with me..." 

While I didn't go into anaphylaxis- the effects of eating citric acid lingered for over 3 hours. My kids love the product but this mommy now realizes these doctors who say citric acid is a cross reactive with a citrus allergy, may have been right.

Here is the original article I wrote: http://www.examiner.com/article/food-allergen-myths-dispelled

Read More about cross reactivity with food allergies

While the allergy specialist I interviewed say there is not enough information available to make 100% conclusions about anything in food allergies- every person reacts differently and no one is really uploading information to one medical database to help others who may experience the same things so other specialist and patients can learn and understand more to connect the dots.

Those suffering with the reactions are the experts on how their bodies respond, but doctors will still say, "the mind is a very powerful thing," meaning what we think or believe to be true may not always be real. It's still hard to say. I don't wish to have any food allergies or wish it upon those who are true food lovers, but it is difficult to argue with your body when it is reacting.  

What's Your Story with Food Allergies

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Stories like this (below from Iris Brown) come across my desk every day and while I try to keep up and publish special articles and share with the world, especially the food and medical world, it doesn't always happen in a timely fashion. 

These stories are what keep me running Food Allergy Gal and iLaraHolland, Special Dietary Needs Consultancy for restaurants, bakeries, cafeterias, etc. 

I don't know of a single food consultant in the world who does what I do exactly and is active in helping bridge the gap between medical and food industry by bringing real solutions to business, that actually work through education, technology and hands on solutions.  

I surround myself  with more than just other food allergics or food allergy support groups. I am in the face of the restaurants and businesses across the world. I am with the people, for the people on the ground floor of life and business, every single day. 

I don't sit in a fancy office making executive decisions. I am usually making executive decisions when I am on the road or in a restaurant kitchen and public dining rooms- not just my own kitchen. 

While food allergies are first world problems and the last thing someone can think about when they can't even put food on the table because they can't afford it (which I really understand, as I've been there many times) It's an issue that if not addressed can kill or make someone very sick and unable to function for weeks at a time. 

I share these stories to help others, help others and create a world where living life isn't just about food allergies, it goes back to being able to LIVE and ENJOY life again. 

Iris Brown writes and shares this story from an online Food Allergy Support Group. 
"I could use some support.
My allergies are: dairy, eggs, yeast, corn, pineapple, melons, all peppers, avocado, cranberry, clam, oysters, radish, scallops.
A couple of those produce severe reactions, some are delayed, most are minor, but uncomfortable. 
Needless to say I feel my best when I avoid them all. Yet, my menu is extremely limited and I'm finding it more and more depressing to eat dry plain salad every time I'm away from home. Not to mention some people just don't understand and I get so so so tired of explaining that I'm not picky, a food snob and yada yada.
So I've been eating some items more regularly and my health is getting poor and I've put on 10 pounds.
Due to the depression of feeling left out, misunderstood, and severe inconvenience I'm having trouble sticking with my desire to choose to better my health by saying no.
Does anyone else deal with this everyday?  Does anyone else deal with depression about food allergies?
If so do you have any suggestions?
Thanks!" 

E-mail me your story!

If you feel compelled to help Food Allergy Gal stay alive and active, please donate as every $1.25 goes a long way to making a BIG difference in 220 million peoples' lives, like Iris Brown. 

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Your stories make all the difference in the world to me. I want to know because I care and sharing your story helps others too. 
 I want to make a difference in your life and for those who come after you. I am interested in building a world where you can enjoy eating, shopping and cooking again so you can function doing the things you love. E-mail me your story: info@ilaraholland.com

A baby's cry for help

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Breast milk and Infant Allergies

By Debra Guckenheimer

Last August, my spouse and I got the call. There was a baby who needed a home. The next day, we drove to the hospital and picked up the newest addition to our family.  As a person with food allergies, I paid attention to his digestive troubles and the rash he got when I gave him a massage with coconut oil. His pediatrician diagnosed him as possibly having an allergy to cow’s milk and/or coconut, both ingredients in most infant formulas. While the doctor had previously said my baby just had colic and there was nothing to do to help him, I saw everything change for my baby when he started receiving breast milk from the Mother’s Milk Bank in San Jose.

The Mother’s Milk Bank of San Jose is the only nonprofit milk bank providing tested, pasteurized milk in California and much of the Western United States. Their supply is running dangerously low, and we often are delayed in receiving our shipment. Their milk is donated by generous moms who produce extra milk.  Their milk is available to babies like mine by prescription.  Many of the recipients are preemies in the hospital.

Breast milk helps babies like mine with food allergies. Formulas tend to contain common allergens including cow’s milk, soy, wheat, and GMO corn. By avoiding these, babies with sensitivities or even allergies have time to heal and potentially grow out of these food issues. Breast milk is thought to help protect babies from developing allergies as well. Breast milk is easier to digest and fights disease.

Since my baby started receiving breast milk, he sleeps better; has less gas; when he has gas, it is no longer painful; and he cries less. This change happened like magic, immediate and long lasting. We have tried so many formulas that did not work for him. 

It is so heartbreaking when the bank does not have enough milk for him. So many of my friends who previously breastfed their children told me they were not aware of milk banks. 

Please help me spread the word so that babies like mine can overcome their food allergies or food sensitivities. 

Contact Debra: 

debraguckenheimer@gmail.com
Twitter: @dguckenheimer


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Dining Tips for a Food Allergic

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Eating out

Some people with severe food allergies feel it is too risky to eat out, but some food facilities have good allergy controls in place and can offer accurate ingredient information.  

By taking care and asking direct questions, you won’t have to be denied the pleasure of going out for a meal.

Some helpful tips for eating out:

• Call the restaurant in advance. Ask whether they will help you choose a suitable meal.
• If a group is dining out, bring a snack from home for the food allergic to start eating while their meal is being prepared.  (It could take longer than normal.)  This will give the staff time to be extra careful without having to watch everyone else eat.  
• Be clear in explaining the risks and how serious the food allergy is.  
• Question staff very directly.  It may be necessary to speak to a Manager or Chef when possible.
• If something looks suspicious, or if the information you have been given seems inadequate, don’t be embarrassed to mention it and find out more.
• People who are allergic to peanuts or tree nuts often choose to avoid Thai, Chinese and Indian restaurants altogether.
• If you have multiple food allergies, have them written down in your phone or on a chef card. Having chef cards in multiple languages can be very helpful. (Include latex if you have a latex allergy, to ensure latex gloves and instruments are not being used in the kitchen) (https://www.brokerfish.com/food-allergy-translation-cards)

These are examples of "Chef Cards"

Cooking

Preparing food for someone with a severe food allergy can be challenging, but managing the risk is a matter of common sense.

Sometimes it is impossible to ban certain foods from public food facilities therefore, be scrupulous about keeping risky foods apart from the safe ones by practicing these techniques. 

• Wash your hands before preparing a food allergics meal. We don't recommend latex gloves be used due to high number of people diagnosed with latex allergy.  
• Use separate cutlery, chopping boards and utensils to prevent cross-contact.  Purple is the recognized allergen friendly color in the kitchen. You can purchase safe kits online or from a distributor like Sysco or US Foodservice. 
• Use plenty of hot, soapy water to clean the area around where food is being prepped.
• Avoid splatters and spillages by covering food up.
• If you are a food facility that caters to the public it is a good idea to have all ingredients and sub-ingredients listed. If you don't use an electronic system such as AllerSmartMenu then keep updating an ingredient book. You never know when someone is going to come in who has a food allergy or food intolerance. If you are unsure what ingredients are in a product and need a quick reference, you may also use Fooducate.com

Shopping

• Food labeling laws state that food companies must always declare the presence of 8 major allergens when they appear in pre-packed food (Milk, Peanuts, Tree nuts, Shellfish, Fish, Soy, Wheat (not gluten) and Egg).   The place where they must appear is the ingredient list.  
• People with food allergies must read the ingredient list every time they buy a product, even if they have bought it before.  Recipes sometimes change and no notice is given. 
• Warning labels stating that a product “may contain” a particular allergen, such as nuts, are infuriating because they limit choice and make shopping complicated, but often these warnings are there for a reason because of the risks of cross-contamination during the production chain.  Don’t ignore these warnings.  You may eat a product numerous times without having a reaction but the next time you may not be so lucky.  Cross-contamination can be intermittent.

• Be careful of the words "Natural flavoring" and "Spices" if you have a food allergy that is not one of the Big 8, as many people who have been diagnosed with multiple food allergies now have a list that goes far beyond the big 8. 

Food Allergy Gal to the Rescue

• Shopping for food is going to take much longer than normal, always. Once you become familiar with a store and certain products it will become easier but it will also take a lot of creativity to adjust and modify meals. 

For a list of alternative cooking products or to customize recipes, 
please contact a Food Allergy Gal, AllerCoach. 

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An Exclusive Interview with 'Top Chef" fan favorite Chef Kevin Gillespie

In Part 3 of of our Food Perspectives series I shared Chef Kevin Gillespie's view on special diets in today's world. Read more. What are your thoughts? Contribute in comments below or send a message to Food Allergy Gal.

Each chef is really talented and they have a lot 'on their plates' literally and figuratively. If you asked a novice to prepare a meal for 20 people they would be terrified and probably not enjoy the experience of cooking very much. The point is, the reasons why the foodservice industry doesn't like to accommodate food allergies is because they generally don't have the education and tools they need to easily make adjustments. Once you start doing it and are equipped with the tools and knowledge, it's a wonderful and enriching experience.
I hope each chef will take the time to let down their perceptions and egos for a minute and come join Food Allergy Gal in the AllerSmartMenu program.

Follow or subscribe to Food Allergy Gal to get the complete series of Food Perspectives articles.

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