No ifs, ands or NUTS!

So, you’ve had an allergic reaction…now what?

Always contact a certified allergist – never try to diagnose an allergy on your own.  There are many tests that an allergist can perform to help determine the extent of your allergies.

1. Skin prick test (SPT) – a small amount of an allergen is put on the skin and the doctor pricks the skin to allow some of the solution to enter the skin.  If an allergy is present, an antibody, immunoglobulin E (IgE) will be released by the immune system and a reaction will appear on the skin.  If there is no allergy, no reaction will be seen.

2. Blood Test – blood is drawn to determine the level of IgE antibodies in the blood stream.  The higher the level of IgE, the more likely the person has an allergy.
3. Oral food challenge (OFC) – while this is the most accurate of testing, it also has the greatest potential for serious side effects.  During an OFC, the patient is fed a small amount of a food protein. If no reaction is seen, the dosage of the protein is increased.  Once any sign of reaction is observed, the OFC is halted.  Generally, hives, itching or swelling will occur if there is an allergy present.

I have had all three of these tests performed.  None of them are painful and they have provided my doctors with valuable information for my treatment plan.  If you suspect you have an allergy to some food, get it checked out.  It could save your life!

Keep out of the nut house!!

Poll Answer

The correct answer is A!!  Louisiana is not a peanut-producer.  The top 10 producers are Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Virginia, and New Mexico.

Come back tomorrow for a new poll!

Keep out of the nut house!

NUTS and Bolts of Food Allergies

Did you know…

Peanuts are NOT nuts!  Well, what are they then?  They are legumes…

Legumes are plants with seeds that grow in pods like peas and beans.  Unlike tree nuts, peanuts grow underground.  Peanut seeds grow above ground and then migrate underground to mature.  Peanuts are harvested by pulling the plant out of the ground.

Common names for peanuts include goobers, goober peas, groundnuts, earthnuts, monkey nuts, and grass nuts. 

It takes about 540 peanuts to make a 12 ounce jar of peanut butter.  In my food challenge, I experienced anaphylaxis after ingesting the peanut protein from less than ½ of a peanut. 

Hey, all you “goobers” out there, be conscious of your peanut-eating ways when you are with someone with a peanut allergy!!

Keep out of the nut house!

Which One Wednesday: Chicken Nuggets Answer

If you chose Wendy's chicken nuggets as being peanut-free, you chose correctly!  Congratulations!

Wendy's has always been a great place for me to get chicken nuggets... and a chocolate Frosty!  

Chick-fil-A uses 100% refined peanut oil to fry their chicken nuggets and other food items.  According to the Chick-fil-A website, 100% refined peanut oil is not considered an allergen by the FDA, and therefore, the company does not list this with their allergy information. 

When I research peanut oil, I get words like "most" and "usually" when asked if peanut oil is safe to consume.  So until it says "ALL", I will have to leave Chick-fil-A nuggets and fries to my family and friends to enjoy.

Tune in next week for another edition of Which One Wednesday.

Keep out of the nut house!

Which One Wednesday: Chicken Nuggets Edition

Even though it may not be all that healthy, everyone needs some fast-food chicken nuggets every once in a while.  You might even choose to splurge with some fries, too!  Which fast-food restaurant do you think I choose as a peanut-free source - Wendy's or Chick-fil-A?


Comment below with your best guess!
a. Wendy's
b. Chick-fil-A
c. Both 
d. Neither

Keep out of the nut house!

A Few of My Favorite Things: Allergic Solution Products

While my blogs generally focus on coping with a peanut allergy, many of the same principles can be shared with people who have all types of allergies.

One company that all allergy-sensitive people should investigate is Allergic Solution.  Allergic Solution produces mixes that are safe for people who have concerns about food allergies.  They are peanut-free, tree nut-free, egg-free, dairy-free, soy-free, gluten/wheat-free, and corn-free!  These mixes are also diabetic-friendly and vegan-friendly.  Their products help support their motto, “Having Food Allergies Doesn’t Mean You Don’t Deserve a Delicious Treat”.

The company produces mixes in the following varieties: Yellow Cake Mix, Carob Cake Mix, Yeast-Free Bread Mix, and Pancake-Waffle Mix.

If you are a Seton student, keep watching this blog to learn about my upcoming allergy information seminars…I will have some of these delicious, allergy-free treats to share.

 

 

Keep out of the nut house!

No ifs, ands, or NUTS!

There is nothing like a college football game…The fun!!  The excitement!!  The peanuts??  Oh, about that…

People with severe peanut allergies are often restricted from attending sporting events because of the abundance of peanuts at most venues.    

On Saturday, October 16, 2013, Northwestern University made history as it hosted University of Minnesota in a college football game. This monumental day wasn’t because of the score, but what was happening in the stands. This was the first time a university promoted a “peanut-free” athletic event to accommodate people with peanut and tree nut allergies. Peanut products were removed from the concession areas and fans were prohibited from bringing peanuts into the facilities.

Thank you NU for raising public awareness about peanut allergies!!

Keep out of the nut house!!