When Good Food Can Make You Feel Bad

April 19th, 2011 | Posted by Tamara Myles in Blog - (0 Comments)

How can food be so good and sometimes make you feel so bad? Well if you have food allergies I am sure you can answer this question.  Although there are several types of foods that can cause an allergic reaction, according to the FDA over 160, eight foods are the most common: fish, shellfish, milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat and soy.  If you do have food allergies, more than likely it is from one of these foods.  Food intolerances (such as lactose intolerance) should not be confused with food allergies which cause an immune system response.  It is the protein in foods that causes the allergic response and when reading the labels on packages it is easy to identify if the product contains one of these foods because it will be listed plainly on the label. Be sure to check this because foods that you think may not cause an allergic reaction may have been made at a plant that processes some of these foods. If you are dining out at a family or friends house or eating out, be sure to ask about ingredients in the food.  If the waiter or family or friend does not know, then ask them to please find someone who does because eating a food that you are allergic to can be life threatening.

Allergic reactions from foods can range anywhere from hives to loss of consciousness and death.  Symptoms usually appear from within a few minutes to two hours after a person has eaten a food to which they are allergic.  Here are some of the common allergic reactions:

  • Hives
  • Coughing or wheezing
  • Dizziness and or lightheadedness
  • Flushed skin or rash
  • Face, tongue, or lip swelling- tingling or itchy sensation in the mouth
  • Swelling of the the throat
  • Vomiting or diarrhea
  • Abdominal Cramps
  • Difficulty breathing

If some of these symptoms are not treated promptly, they can lead to anaphylaxis shock (severe lowering of the blood pressure and shock) which is life threatening.  Most people who are aware of the seriousness of their food allergy usually carry an epinephrine injection to be used during early signs of  symptoms.

If you would like more information on this topic please visit the USDA or FDA website or The food allergy and anaphylaxis network website.

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I Can’t Eat That……Living With Food Allergies

April 11th, 2011 | Posted by Tamara Myles in Blog - (0 Comments)

Recently in google news people have been talking about food allergies.  Before I go into more detail about food allergies, the most common food allergies, what components in foods cause them and how to live with them,  I want to talk briefly about what is in the news and hopefully get some comments from you.

I do not have food allergies.  I have intolerances to some foods which make me really uncomfortable and unable to eat the types of foods I like.  I started taking probiotics (specifically Align) and they have been working great since day one.  I am sure it is much easier to deal with food intolerances as opposed to food allergies which initiate an immune system response.  Some people with food allergies do not have very serious reactions and others can have very serious reactions to them and in some instances, if they are not monitored correctly, they can be life-threatening.

Google news has reported on children with food allergies and how difficult it can be for parents as well as the cafeteria staff at schools to deal with the issue.  Although there are 8 types of common food allergies, according to the USDA, the most common food allergies in children are peanuts, milk, eggs, tree nuts, soy and wheat.  It is difficult enough for adults to deal with allergies but it can be even more difficult for children by limiting the intake of certain foods.  As I said earlier, I do not have food allergies but I would like a comment from some of you who do have them or have children with them.  

I would like to know how you are dealing with your food allergy.  

  • What type of food allergy do you have? 
  • Has your food allergy complicated things in your daily routine or are you managing it pretty well?
  • Are you not able to eat some of the foods that you like and if so are you making substitutions for that food?  

Let me know what you think.

I will continue this topic next week but if you would like more general information please visit the USDA website or the American Dietetic Association at Eatright.org

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Eggs Now Have Less Cholesterol

March 14th, 2011 | Posted by Melissa Nodvin in Blog - (0 Comments)
food
According to new data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the cholesterol content of eggs has dropped considerably since levels measured in 2002. Currently, the average amount of cholesterol in one large egg, or its 50-gram equivalent within the further processed egg ingredient category, is 185 milligrams, 12 percent lower than the amount found in 2002. The USDA’s analysis further showed that large eggs now contain 41 IU of vitamin D, an increase of 64 percent from the last analysis.

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