Food allergies can be really annoying, especially if they keep you from eating your favorite dishes. Fortunately, there are ways to deal with them. Read this article to understand how to avoid foods that trigger allergic reactions and how to prepare yourself if you have one.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Know the Foods to Avoid
Step 1. Whenever you can, read food labels
The products you buy may contain ingredients that you are allergic to. Many packages indicate the list of substances contained that are most likely to cause allergic reactions. So, when in doubt, read the list of what the foods you intend to consume contain. Here are some of these components:
- Egg (ovalbumin, albumen).
- Milk (casein, whey, lactalbumin).
- Peanuts (avoid the Satay sauce or the peanuts offered when ordering a beer).
- Soy (don't eat tofu, tempeh, tamari).
Step 2. If you are eating out, ask the waiter what ingredients you want to order
You should always inquire about how foods are prepared, so that you can avoid the one that causes you allergies. In case you want a certain dish, you can also ask to cook it without the offending ingredient, if it will not be changed too much. You should remember that some restaurants use different types of oils, such as peanut oil, so don't just ask about the specific food you're allergic to, ask about all the ingredients the dish contains.
For example, if you are allergic to peanuts but you really want to eat a certain salad that contains them, you could ask the waiter not to add them, so you can enjoy it without problems
Step 3. Pay attention to additives that can trigger a reaction
Some food additives can trigger outbreaks and allergic reactions, even though they are not directly related to the foods you are allergic to. This happens especially if you have a very sensitive stomach. You can talk to your doctor about getting tested to find out which additives are hurting you. They include:
- Sulphites: These are used as preservatives and can be found in soft drinks, certain meat products, such as hamburgers and sausages, and some fruit or vegetable preserves. They could also be present in wine and beer.
- Benzoates: These additives are also used as preservatives to prevent the formation of fungi and mold, especially in soft drinks. Benzoates are also naturally produced in certain types of honey and fruit.
Step 4. Try egg alternatives
Eggs are used in many recipes. If you want to eat the dishes you love but know that eggs are bad for you, you can try some of the following alternatives, which offer the same result in different recipes.
- Try one and a half glasses of warm water mixed with a teaspoon of yeast.
- You can also give it a try with two tablespoons of warm water mixed with a packet of gelatin.
- Another option is to use a tablespoon of fruit that can be mixed well (for example, bananas and apricots) or three tablespoons of water mixed with a tablespoon of ground flaxseed.
Step 5. Try milk alternatives
If you can't drink it but want to make some recipes you love, you can give the following alternatives a chance:
- Soya milk.
- Almond milk.
- Avena's milk.
- Rice milk.
- Hemp milk.
- Cashew milk.
- Coconut milk.
Step 6. If you have a particularly severe allergy, avoid the places where this food is sold
Some people are so allergic to a food that they can have a reaction just by smelling it. Is this the case for you? Generally, you should avoid places where this food is present in large quantities.
For example, if you are particularly allergic to fish, you should avoid going to the fish market or getting close
Step 7. Prepare the pantry properly
If you are moderately allergic to a certain food (or a family member is), while other people living with you are not, you may want to label all of your foods so that what you eat doesn't mix with what you don't. you can consume.
In addition to labeling foods, you can also keep them in separate areas of the pantry or refrigerator. For example, you could have an egg-free section in the fridge or a gluten-free section in the pantry
Step 8. Understand the concept of cross-contact
It occurs when a food that can cause allergies comes into contact with a harmless food. Its traces are so tiny that they cannot be easily noticed; for example, while making soup you could use the same utensils that were used to cook shellfish. This is more likely to happen in restaurants and canteens.
Ask the waiter or canteen employee twice if the food you are going to eat was prepared separately from a dish that could have caused you an allergic reaction
Step 9. Wash your hands and keep the work surfaces clean
Hands and tools may be the unsuspected culprits of cross-contact cases. If you live with someone who is allergic to a particular food and will get close to them, be sure to always wash your hands after preparing certain foods. You should also clean the counter tops and anything you use to cook dishes that could cause an allergic reaction.
You may want to consider keeping the utensils used to cook the dishes eaten by an allergic person separate; that way, everyone will know what to stay away from
Step 10. Bring the foods you know you can consume
You should plan in time what you will eat if you go somewhere. If you have to move out of town, knowing that the hotel or hostel you are staying in has a kitchen, prepare food that only you will eat, so you can cook dishes that do not contain ingredients to which you are allergic.
You can also add safety snacks instead of buying them at the bar. For example, if you are allergic to milk but you know your family will stop for ice cream, bring your favorite snack with you
Step 11. Talk to a pediatrician before giving formula milk to your child
If you have a baby, always discuss milk consumption with your doctor before giving it to your baby. Babies can sometimes be allergic.
Some formula milks may also have altered proteins, which have the potential to trigger allergic reactions
Method 2 of 3: Recognizing the Symptoms of an Allergic Reaction
Step 1. Identify the symptoms of an allergic reaction
While food allergies appear in different ways, there are symptoms that almost everyone has in common. They can manifest through the skin, a gastrointestinal problem, or a respiratory problem.
Step 2. Recognize hives caused by a food allergy
This is a fairly common symptom and appears on the skin. These are red spots and bubbles that form on the skin, and could cause itching or burning. When the body thinks that a certain type of food is in effect a pathogen that is attacking it, it fights it by releasing a lot of histamine and other chemicals. Sometimes this can cause fluid to leak from the red blood cells that are in the surface layer of the skin (the most noticeable one), resulting in red bumps.
Eczema may also develop, meaning the skin becomes dry and looks scaly. The scales may be red or faded and cause itchiness
Step 3. Look for swelling in the lip area and around the mouth
When an allergic reaction occurs, the lips, tongue, mouth, throat, eyes and face in general may swell. This is because the cells in the face emit histamine to fight the allergy. The swelling might make you feel itchy and stinging, or it might even make you feel like your face is numb.
If the swelling of your face is severe enough to prevent you from seeing or you are having difficulty breathing, you should go to the hospital, as this can be a symptom of an acute allergic reaction
Step 4. Digestive problems may also occur, causing abdominal cramps or nausea, which in turn could lead to diarrhea
There is also the possibility of vomiting if the reaction is particularly strong.
Step 5. Assess if you are short of breath
When the allergic reaction affects the respiratory system, it can cause your nose to runny, sneeze, and make you short of breath or hard breathing. The release of histamine in the respiratory system is the main cause of these reactions.
Step 6. See a doctor if you feel something is blocking your throat
If the allergic reaction is severe, angioedema may occur, a swelling that occurs in the subcutaneous tissue, in this case in the throat area. This phenomenon can make you have trouble swallowing or breathing well.
Do you feel like this? Go to the hospital immediately
Step 7. See a doctor right away if you can't breathe
If you're having an extremely severe allergic reaction (or it's happening to a loved one), the airways to your lungs may be constricted and prevent you from breathing. This impossibility may be accompanied by a change in the color of the skin, which becomes bluish, and by pains in the chest.
If this happens to you, go to the hospital immediately
Step 8. Call an ambulance if anaphylactic shock should occur
The most extreme symptom of an allergic reaction is this. This means that blood pressure becomes dangerously low, which can result in a very weak pulse or fainting. If you think this is happening to you, ask someone to call immediately an ambulance.
Step 9. Understand the difference between food allergy and food intolerance
Sometimes you react badly to a certain food and think it is an allergy, when in reality what you have is an intolerance.
- Food allergy: hypersensitivity to a certain food caused by the body (especially the immune system), which thinks that the food in question should be attacked and eliminated.
- Food intolerance: occurs when the body does not have enough of a certain enzyme that helps digest a certain type of food. For example, if you are lactose intolerant (which means your body cannot digest milk and dairy products), you don't have enough enzymes called lactases.
Step 10. See your doctor to confirm the allergy
If you are unsure of the nature of your problem, you should consult a specialist to carry out a test. The exam will indicate what you are allergic to. There are several. Here are some of them:
- Prick test: When the doctor does this test, they prick the skin (don't worry, it's not painful) and put some allergen on the skin to see if a reaction occurs.
- Blood test: In this case, the doctor takes a blood sample and determines its IgE levels.
- Food test: This test is done in the doctor's office. A nurse will give you a small amount of the food you think you are allergic to and monitor you to determine if you actually are.
- Food Elimination Diet: Your doctor will ask you to eliminate this food from your diet for two to four weeks and see what happens.
Method 3 of 3: Prepare for an Allergic Reaction
Step 1. Watch out for foods that might trigger a reaction
There is a group of six foods that are commonly known to cause most allergic reactions. It is always best to be aware of which foods you may be sensitive to, even if only one or two cause you a real allergy. Here are some of them:
- Milk. Includes that of cow, sheep and goat. If you are allergic to milk, you run the risk of being allergic to milk products too, but some people say they don't have this problem. Derivatives include yogurt, cheese, ice cream, and sour cream.
- Egg. This allergy is quite common among children, but adults may have it too. The protein that causes the allergic reaction is found mainly in the egg white, while the yolk contains only a small amount.
- Peanuts. They cause some of the most aggressive allergic reactions there is and can lead to hypertension (high blood pressure). If that happens, you need to go to the hospital right away.
- Nuts, including pecans, coconuts, and common walnuts. You may have developed a certain sensitivity towards one or all of them, this varies from one individual to another.
- Crustaceans. They include crab, lobster and shrimp, although some claim to be allergic to fish in general, not just shellfish. This allergy occurs most commonly among adults.
- Wheat and soy. Allergies to these foods are mostly noticed in children.
Step 2. Make sure you always have antihistamines with you
Remember to take them with you, especially if your family is prone to allergies. Always have over-the-counter antihistamines on hand, which are used to relieve less severe attacks. They work by blocking the H1 receptors in the body, to which histamine binds when the allergic reaction occurs. By preventing her from doing this, you will control the symptoms.
Antihistamines should only be taken when you have a mild allergic reaction. They include drugs like Zirtec, Allegra, and Clarityn
Step 3. Bring an inhaler with you
Prescribed asthma medications can help you breathe easier when an allergic reaction occurs. They can be taken in tablet form or using an inhaler. Talk to your doctor first.
Ventolin is one of the most prescribed medicines to combat asthma
Step 4. Carry the auto-injector wherever you go
Epinephrine is the main antidote to anaphylactic shock, which is the most acute form of allergic reaction, which can be life threatening. You should always have it on hand, as you may suffer from a severe allergic reaction to a food (for example, you eat a dish without knowing it contained peanuts). If you have to use epinephrine, call the ambulance after giving an injection. Here are some epinephrine auto-injectors:
EpiPen, Auvi-Q or Adrenaclick, usually by prescription
Advice
Never hesitate to ask the waiter, your host or your friends who cooked for you what ingredients they used to prepare the dishes they are serving. Better to inform yourself than to endure an allergic reaction
Warnings
- If you have an allergic reaction, get someone's attention so they can help you.
- If you have a severe allergic reaction, use epinephrine and then go to the hospital right away.
