Advice for Food Allergy Sufferers

Coping With Food Allergies

Millions of people suffer from food allergies and sensitivities, and this number is on the rise. For many people consuming the food results in an unpleasant reaction such as hives or gastrointestinal discomfort. However, a growing number of people are coping with allergies that can kill them.

Some foods are relatively easy to avoid. If you're allergic to goat's milk, for example, avoidance means not drinking it or eating foods made with goat's milk.

Other allergies are much harder to deal with. The most common allergies are to "The Big 8" (milk, egg, peanut, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy, and wheat.). Corn is also becoming a common allergen. People with these allergies must carefully scrutinize every label on everything they eat, every single time they eat it. They must grill waitstaff and call companies to verify ingredients. Often, they must become food chemists, because ingredients like wheat can be called by a variety of names.

How do you cope?

First, get as much information about your allergy as you possibly can. There's no such thing as too much information. Talk to your doctor and read reputable information in books and on the Internet. See if there's a foundation or community of people with this allergy - these are often excellent resources for label-reading and emotional support.

Tell everyone around you about your allergy - your family, your friends, your co-workers, and anyone else you deal with on a regular basis. While they may not need to know every detail, they do need to know what to do in case of accidental ingestion. If your allergy is severe, wear a Medic Alert type bracelet and carry a wallet card with specific instructions. If you use an epi-pen, make sure someone else in your family knows how to use it in case you're unable to. Be sure to carry it with you EVERYWHERE - it does you no good if you don't have it with you! If epinephrine is administered, please know that you must go to the emergency room immediately. This drug is short-acting; if the allergen is still in your body you can have a second reaction once the epi-pen's effects wear off.