Food Allergy or Food Sensitivity? What You Need to Know

[sonnetjie]

Good knowledge to have in our back pocket as a parent. Well worth having an awareness of the differences Food Allergy or Food Sensitivity. You never know when you might need it.

http://blogs.prevention.com/inspired-bites/2012/05/23/food-allergy-or-food-sensitivity-what-you-need-to-know/

[jay82]

An interesting thread. would you by any chance have information on some of the different foods that many people are commonly allergic to? that would be helpful in making people become more aware and careful before they intake such items. For instance, i have noticed that cheddar cheese makes me have a terrible stomach ache. Also i have noticed gramflur dishes to have a similar effect on me.

[sonnetjie]

The following links might be of interest

http://fedup.com.au/

If you are looking for a doc http://mindd.org/s/index.php?/pages/search.html&f= or http://www.biobalance.org.au/patients/find-practitioners

Have you looked to see if you are possibly sensitive to molds?

“In a small number of people, symptoms of mold allergy may be brought on or worsened by eating certain foods, such as cheeses, processed with fungi. Occasionally, mushrooms, dried fruits, and foods containing yeast, soy sauce, or vinegar will produce allergic symptoms. There is no known relationship, however, between a respiratory allergy to the mold Penicillium and an allergy to the drug penicillin, made from the mold.”

http://www.drsneeze.com/images/List%20of%20Common%20Allergens.pdf

Does the cheese you are eating contain any sulphates/sulphites (preservatives)?

Here is a good definition of sulphates http://www.anaphylaxis.ca/en/anaphylaxis101/allergens.html#sulphites

Are you sensitive to casein (milk protein) or lactose (milk sugar)?

The 8 most common allergens are

· Milk

· Eggs

· Peanuts

· Tree nuts (such as almonds, cashews, walnuts)

· Fish (such as bass, cod, flounder)

· Shellfish (such as crab, lobster, shrimp)

· Soy

· Wheat

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/food-allergies/AA00057

[sonnetjie]

Jay this is written re children, but it very much applies to adults to http://www.foodmatte...en-behave-badly

Which Additives Do We Need To Look Out For?

Artificial Colors

(in sweets, drinks, takeaways, cereals and many processed foods)

• 102 tartrazine,
  
• 104 quinoline yellow,
  
• 107 yellow 2G,
  
• 110 sunset yellow,
  
• 122 azorubine,
  
• 123 amaranth,
  
• 124 ponceau red,
  
• 127 erythrosine,
  
• 128 red 2G,
  
• 129 allura red,
  
• 132 indigotine,
  
• 133 brilliant blue,
  
• 142 green S,
  
• 151 brilliant black,
  
• 155 chocolate brown Natural colour,
  
• 160b annatto (in yoghurts, icecreams, popcorn etc, 160a is a safe alternative)
  

Preservatives

• Preservatives200-203 sorbates (in margarine, dips, cakes, fruit products)
  
• 210-213 benzoates (in juices, soft drinks, cordials, syrups, medications)
  
• 220-228 sulphites (in dried fruit, fruit drinks, sausages, and many others)
  
• 280-283 propionates (in bread, crumpets, bakery products)
  
• 249-252 nitrates, nitrites (in processed meats like ham)
  
• Synthetic antioxidants - in margarines, vegetable oils, fried foods, snacks, biscuits etc
  
• 310-312 Gallates 319-320 TBHQ, BHA, BHT (306-309 are safe alternatives)
  
• Flavour enhancers - in flavoured crackers, snacks, takeaways, instant noodles, soups 621 MSG 627, 631, 635 disodium inosinate, disodium guanylate, ribonucleotides
  

Table compiled by Sue Dengate, author of the bestselling book and film 'Fed Up: Understanding how food affects your child and what you can do about it.'

Our food has changed so drastically in the last few decades it is no wonder that food-related behavior and learning problems in children are increasing. Contrary to what many parents think, additives - more importantly than just sugar - are to blame for behavior problems. Reactions are related to dose, so the more additives children eat, the more likely they are to be affected.

Additives are now used widely in foods such as bread, butter, crackers, yogurt, juice and muesli bars as well as in junk food. Parents who say ‘we eat healthy food’ are generally shocked to find that their children can be consuming 20 additives or more per day.

Irritability, temper outbursts, oppositional defiance, restlessness and difficulty falling asleep are the main behavioral effects of additives. But parents rarely realize that food chemicals can be associated with many other effects including arguing with siblings, making silly noises, speech delay, anxiety, depression or difficulty concentrating. Additive-free children are generally calmer, happier and more cooperative.

Rashes, headaches, bed wetting, stomach aches, sneaky poos, constipation or asthma can also be a problem. Parents of asthmatic children are usually unaware that sulphite preservatives (220-228) in foods such as dried fruits, sausages, cordials and some fruit drinks can irritate airways.

So what can we eat? Read ingredient labels. Choose preservative-free bread. Buy color-free yogurts, ice creams and lollies such as caramels and toffees. Choose plain rather than flavored chips, crackers and noodles. Encourage your children to drink water as their main drink.

Edited August 24, 2012 by sonnetjie

[GideonVD]

The 8 most common allergens are

...

· Fish (such as bass, cod, flounder)

· Shellfish (such as crab, lobster, shrimp)

...

The bane of my existence

[sonnetjie]

'Top 10 Food Additives To Avoid' Printable Shopping Guide here:

http://www.hungryforchange.tv/images/Food-Matters-Top-10-Food-Additives-To-Avoid-Printable-Shopping-Guide-2012.pdf thought it might be helpful to some parents.