Food Allergies & Food Intolerance

Recently Answered

• QWhat foods can I eat if I have a soy allergy?

  3 Answers

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  A Intermountain Healthcare answered

  Eating out can be a challenge with a soy allergy. Many restaurants use soy either as a main ingredient or added to plain foods. Vegetarian, Japanese, Chinese, Thai and other Asian-type meals probably have soy products in them. Fast food and other commercial products often contain soy protein and flour extenders or expanders. Check with the restaurant or the company's web site to find out if there is soy in their food.

  The following are foods you can eat (no soy) if you have a soy allergy:

  Drinks:

  • Carbonated drinks
  • Cocoa mixes (check label to see if soy free)
  • Coffee
  • Fruit juice and other fruit drinks
  • Gatorade
  • Tea

  Milk and dairy:

  • Cheese
  • Whole, low-fat and skim milk
  • Cottage cheese
  • Cream
  • Yogurt from dairy

  Meats and other proteins:

  • All fresh meat, fish and poultry
  • Baby food meats or combination dinners without soy proteins
  • Cold cuts without soy
  • Eggs, plain
  • Kosher frankfurters
  • Prepared dinners without soy protein
  • Beans and lentils prepared without soy
  • Nut butters and peanut butter without soy

  Fruits:

  • Fresh, frozen or canned fruits
  • Baby food fruits without soy

  Vegetables:

  • Plain, fresh, frozen, cooked, or canned vegetables
  • Vegetable juices

  Breads, cereals and pasta:

  • All-purpose flour and cake flour
  • Bread and rolls without soy flour
  • Cold or hot cereals without soy flour or protein
  • Crackers made without soy
  • Pasta, macaroni, noodles and spaghetti without soy

  Soups:

  • Soups without soy or soy products

  Fats:

  • Avocados
  • Bacon
  • Butter or margarine with no added soy
  • Coconut (milk or shredded)
  • Gravy mixes if no added soy
  • Oils, non-soy
  • Olives
  • Peanut butter (natural)
  • Salad dressings without soy
  • Sour cream, cream cheese

  Desserts and sweets:

  • Angel food cake
  • Cakes or cookies without soy flours
  • Candies without soy
  • Gelatin
  • Ice cream without soy
  • Puddings and pies without soy

  Miscellaneous:

  • Artificial sweeteners
  • Ketchup
  • Honey
  • Jam and jellies
  • Mustard
  • Pickles
  • Popcorn without soy
  • Seasonings without soy
  • Spaghetti and other sauces without soy
  • Sugar

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• QIs there a difference between a food allergy and a food intolerance?

  5 Answers

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  A Sky Ridge Medical Center answered

  Trying to determine if a reaction is a food allergy or a food intolerance is important regardless of the trigger because the treatment for food allergy is very different than that of food intolerance.

  An allergy is an immunoglobin E (IgE) antibody-mediated immune system response to a specific trigger (in this case, a food). The main problem is that your body thinks the food is attacking it. As a result, your body reacts as if the food were bacteria or viral infection. This leads to true inflammation and activates a full immune response.

  As a general rule, if a food causes a symptom that is not that of a food allergy, it is a food intolerance. This means the majority of reactions are actually food intolerance. It also means there are many different causes of food intolerance, including the following:

  • foods that can directly irritate your skin or body
  • foods that can be processed into something that irritates your skin or body
  • foods that can cause a chemical response that is undesired
  • foods that can cause a normal response that is undesired

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• QHow can I live with a food allergy?

  4 Answers

  A

  

  A Dr. Scott H. Sicherer, MD , Pediatrics, answered on behalf of The Mount Sinai Health System

  First, it is important to make sure that an accurate diagnosis has been made. Make sure to work with your doctor, preferably a board certified allergist, to make sure that you know what foods need to be avoided and how to manage symptoms and allergic reactions. Briefly, areas of special education about food avoidance include reading ingredient labels on manufactured products, understanding how to get safe meals in a restaurant, understanding food avoidance at home including avoiding cross contact of foods with allergens, and, for children, special issues for schools and camps.

  The other major issue with living with food allergy is to learn how to recognize symptoms and treat them. The primary treatment for a severe allergic reaction is epinephrine which, for people with severe allergies, is carried at all times as a self injector. Talk to your doctor about when and how to use this life-saving device. For children, an adult must be knowledgeable about recognizing and treating symptoms. Consider obtaining medical identification jewelry as well. Sometimes living with a severe food allergy can take a nutritional, social and emotional toll on the individual and family. Be sure to talk to your doctor about this as well, to consider advice from dietitians, mental health professionals and other resources.

  Resources are available through the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network, Food Allergy Initiative, and the Consortium of Food Allergy Research.

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• QHow serious are food allergies?

  6 Answers

  A

  

  A Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics answered

  Food allergies affect 4 to 8 percent of children and 2 percent of adults. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the US, food allergy incidence increased by 18 percent from 1997 to 2007. Reasons for this increase range from misdiagnosis to potential increases due to extreme approaches to cleanliness.

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• QHow are food allergies diagnosed?

  5 Answers

  A

  

  A NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital answered

  An allergist will perform a physical examination and ask you about your signs and symptoms. You may be asked to keep a food diary and start an elimination diet. In this diet, you are asked to eliminate certain foods from your diet for about two weeks and then reintroduce those foods one at a time to determine which food is the cause of your symptoms. Sometimes, a skin or blood test may be used to diagnose the allergy.

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• QWhat should I do if I think I have a food allergy?

  5 Answers

  A

  

  A Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics answered

  Food allergy testing is very clearly defined, but many people are relying more on self-diagnosis based on how they respond to particular foods. While your response to a food is part of the diagnostic process, you should not rely on this alone, just as antigen testing cannot be used alone. Given that a food allergy diagnosis can mean elimination of foods, the potential impact on your nutrition is a concern.

  If you suspect an allergy, keep an accurate account of the foods you are eating and the symptoms you experience and contact your physician. If you do have an allergy to a particular food, work with a registered dietitian to develop an eating plan that ensures proper nutrition.

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• QWhat is a food allergy?

  8 Answers

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  A UCLA Health answered

  Food allergies are allergic reactions to foods—most often milk, eggs, soy and wheat, peanuts and tree nuts, fish and shellfish. These account for a large number of emergency room visits and a few deaths each year in the United States. Exposure to these foods may cause adverse reactions in the digestive or respiratory systems, on the skin or, in the most severe cases, anaphylactic shock or death.

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• QHow can I help my child manage a food allergy?

  2 Answers

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  A Ms. Vandana R. Sheth , Nutrition & Dietetics, answered on behalf of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

  As a registered dietitian specializing in food allergies and mother of a child with severe food allergies, here are some tips:

  • Start by educating your child on his/her specific food allergy.
  • Discuss "safe" foods and foods to avoid.
  • Practice label-reading and have a plan for parties, school holiday events, food-related projects, etc.
  • Depending upon the age of your child, consider doing a food allergy awareness program at the preschool/school to educate others in supporting your child. Involve friends and family members in the process to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for your child.
  • Consider scheduling a session for your child and you with a registered dietitian specializing in food allergies. The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network is good resource.

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• QHow do I manage my peanut allergy on a daily basis?

  2 Answers

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  A Sigma Nursing answered

  Though it may seem obvious, the best way to manage a peanut allergy is to avoid peanuts. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) enforces laws that require clear labeling of ingredients, particularly ingredients that can cause allergic reactions. Read labels carefully; generally, if the word "nut" is on the list, you shouldn't eat it. There are foods that less obviously contain peanuts or may have come into contact with peanuts, including ethnic cuisine such as African, Chinese and Thai food; chocolate; baked goods; cereal; salad dressing; ice cream; and spaghetti sauce. You must be diligent in reading labels and asking questions at restaurants and bakeries.

  No matter how vigilant you are, you should be prepared for accidental peanut exposure. Make sure you're acquainted with the signs and symptoms of a reaction: rash or hives, swelling, trouble breathing and dizziness. Inform friends and family members of your peanut allergy, and carry emergency medications such as antihistamines and an epinephrine injector in case of a serious reaction.

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• QWhat are the treatment options for peanut allergy?

  1 Answer

  A

  

  A Sigma Nursing answered

  Unfortunately for peanut lovers, the most effective way to treat peanut allergy is to completely remove peanuts from your diet and from your environment. Depending on your sensitivity, you may experience an allergic reaction not only by eating peanuts but also by eating something that came into contact with peanuts or by inhaling peanut protein. Because of this, try to avoid any products that contain peanuts or are processed in the same places as peanuts. For milder reactions, there are some medications—such as antihistamines—that treat symptoms like swelling and hives. For people with more severe allergies, it's important to be prepared. Anaphylaxis is a serious health threat that can block normal breathing, so doctors usually recommend that people with serious peanut allergy carry an epinephrine injector in case of an anaphylactic reaction.

  There's not much evidence to support the effectiveness of many alternative treatments for peanut allergy. Some people report that herbal remedies relieve symptoms. For example, a 2007 study showed that a Chinese herbal formula may help prevent peanut allergy reactions. Others claim that acupuncture is beneficial. Other alternative treatments include special diets with supplements and certain foods eaten at certain times.