NUTRITION CARE

Living Life with a Food Allergy

What Is A Food Allergy

Sub Heading

Here's important information you need to know about living with food allergies

Main Image

Alt text

Duration
OCT. 12, 20213 MINUTES
Description

Being diagnosed with a food allergy can be scary. It's something you have to be mindful of on a daily basis. Luckily, living a happy and healthy life with a food allergy is absolutely doable with some planning and education.

The first step is understanding the symptoms and triggers of food allergies, as well as how to properly manage an allergic reaction. Here's everything you need to know about living with food allergies. 

What Is a Food Allergy?

A food allergy is the body's immune system responding to a certain food. The body mistakenly classifies a food as a harmful substance and produces an immune response.

Some common symptoms of a food allergy include:

  • Itchy mouth
  • Swelling of the tongue
  • Hives or skin rash
  • Watery eyes
  • Runny nose
  • Vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal cramps
  • Tightening of the throat and subsequent trouble breathing

Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic response and if not treated immediately can be life threatening.  Anaphylaxis can occur in people with food allergies so it’s important to work with your doctor to ensure an action plan is in place and autoinjectible epinephrine is available.

Common Food Allergens

Eight foods most common food allergens are the proteins in : peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, soybeans, wheat, shellfish and fish.  Earlier this year, sesame was named as the 9th food allergen in the US. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), the most common food allergies in children are milk, eggs and peanuts. As children age, they might outgrow allergies to milk and eggs, but peanut and tree allergies tend to persist through adulthood. The most common allergies in adults are peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish.

5 Tips for Managing Food Allergies

If you're diagnosed with a food allergy, you can take several steps to manage your condition and decrease the risk of  a reaction. Here are five strategies to consider:

1. Read food labels. The Food Allergy Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 (FALCPA) made it necessary for food manufacturers to identify common allergens in simple and clear language on a food label. The food allergen may be listed in the ingredient listing or as a separate statement.  Food manufacturers often change ingredients, so it is important to read the label every time you purchase the product.  Precautionary allergen labeling (PAL)  statements, such as "may contain," "might contain," "made on shared equipment" or "made in a facility with X food” are voluntary statements, are not standardized and are not required by law.  PAL statements do not provide a clear understanding of the risk associated with consuming the product so work with your healthcare team to determine if you should avoid foods with PAL statements. 

2. Meet with a Registered Dietitian. Although food labeling laws have made this easier, it can be difficult to identify major allergens and alternative names for major food allergens. To help manage food allergies,  meeting with a registered dietitian can be beneficial. They'll be able to offer tips for identifying potential allergens and help to identify nutritious options to maintain a well-balanced diet. 

3. Make your food allergy known when eating out. Call ahead to make sure the restaurant can accommodate your needs. Always tell your server about a food allergy and ask to speak with or confirm with the chef. You may need to educate the restaurant staff about the need for separate preparation surfaces and cooking supplies.

4. Always carry an epinephrine pen. After a food allergy diagnosis, your doctor may prescribe an epinephrine pen to keep with you at all times. This is the first line of defense against an anaphylactic reaction. Make note of the expiration date on the pen and set a reminder to refill the prescription before it expires.

5. Know when to use an epinephrine pen. If you experience shortness of breath, tightness in your throat, trouble breathing or swallowing, weak pulse or other severe symptoms, use the epinephrine pen right away. Be sure to review your anaphylaxis emergency action plan with your  doctor at least annually.

If you think you have an undiagnosed food allergy, it's important to talk to your doctor. Managing food allergies is absolutely possible — you can live a full and healthy life with an allergy.

How to Help Prevent Stomach Flu and the Influenza

Main Image

Alt text

Description

Last flu season in the U.S., there were as many as 49 million estimated cases of influenza, causing around 940,000 hospitalizations and nearly 80,000 deaths. Those numbers might sound daunting, but there are steps you can take to help prevent the flu. To get ready for flu season, we spoke with two Abbott experts to answer the most frequently asked questions.

Jennifer Williams, MPH, a nutrition research scientist specializing in hydration and Dr. Norman Moore, Ph.D., director of scientific affairs and infectious disease, discuss how to prevent stomach flu and influenza (flu), and how to recognize and treat it in the instances when you can't. 

Reference Page Path
/content/an/newsroom/us/en/nutrition-care/illness/What-You-Can-Do-Now-to-Help-Prevent-the-Flu-Later.html

What to Eat When You Feel Sick

Main Image

Alt text

Description

On average about 8% of the U.S. population gets sick from flu each season, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For many of them, eating is the last thing they’ll feel like doing. It’s common to feel this way, and your symptoms can drive down your appetite. Congestion can also accompany the flu and this can limit your sense of smell, which is linked to your taste buds, so a decrease in appetite may also be caused by your inability to taste foods. It’s okay to eat a little less when you’re fighting the flu, but you'll still need small amounts of the right foods and drinks to make sure you’re fueling your body with the energy and nutrients you need to recover and regain your strength. So even if you don’t want to eat, it’s important that you at least try to eat some of these immune-supporting foods

Reference Page Path
/content/an/newsroom/us/en/nutrition-care/illness/what-to-eat-when-you-feel-sick.html

SELF QUIZ

 
Required