Many people live with the difficult prospect of food allergies. Among one of the most feared are peanut allergies. What those without peanut allergies may not understand is how hard it can be to avoid peanut products. As a peanut allergy sufferer, I provide some insight into the ways I cope with my allergy. Depending on the severity of your allergy, certain precautions may be needed. Emergency Intervention For the most severe peanut allergies, even a small exposure can be fatal. In this certain situation, some steps can help to minimize one's risk. I am not a medical doctor, so please consult with your personal physician to develop a plan that fits your particular situation. Be aware of your surroundings. Social gatherings including food can be intimidating. In these cases there are rarely ingredient lists for you to peruse. If you are unsure, it is always appropriate to politely ask about the ingredients in the foods being offered. IF you cannot ask and you have a companion with you, you can ask them to taste the item first and let you know if it contains noticeable peanut taste. Get the word out. Your close friends and family should know your situation so that they can ensure that you avoid contact with peanuts. Most people will be glad to make any needed accommodations. They can also pro-actively help you steer clear of possible exposure. This is especially important for young children. Make sure that all daycare providers, school teachers, school officials, after school and extracurricular program leaders are made aware of this and any other allergies that your child has. According to tips shared by AllergyHacks, you should make sure that you have a written record of the allergy and any other health needs on file and then verbally communicate the facts at the beginning of each new school year or activity. Be prepared. Depending on the severity of your allergy, you should consider carrying certain intervention items. An over-the-counter anti-histamine such as Benadryl can be useful if your allergy is not life-threatening. If your allergy is rapid onset and potentially fatal, you may need to consider an Epi-Pen. An Epi-Pen is an injectable epinephrine which rapidly assists to stop respiratory distress. A prescription is required. As with all medical issues, you should discuss this with your doctor. Once you have all of the information and tools you need, you can feel a level of confidence knowing that you are prepared in case of an emergency. Read Labels Not every food that contains peanut products will taste peanutty. It is for this very reason that you must be diligent about reading labels on all processed foods. A few examples of hidden peanut products follow. Fast food: Some fast food restaurants use peanut oil to fry their foods. You should see this posted somewhere near the order counter. If you are unsure, ask to speak to the manager. Additionally, Thai cuisine frequently contains peanuts as a sauce component. Depending on the severity of your allergy, you may want to avoid this type of food entirely because of the risk of cross-contamination. Nuts: Most people are aware that mixed nuts frequently contain peanuts. What many of these same people may not be aware of is that many roasted nuts that do not contain whole peanuts are roasted in peanut oil. Most of the major brands do this, so extra care will be needed to find a brand that uses a different type of oil, or no oil at all. Granola and meal replacement bars: Many meal replacement bars and granola bars contain peanut flour for added nutrition and protein. The most difficult part is that it is very difficult to detect a peanut taste, and your first indication that you have eaten a forbidden food is when your allergy starts to kick in. Make sure to read labels! Check out How to Understand and Use the Nutrition Facts Label here. There are many other foods to research, so do some reading and looking. Living with a peanut allergy doesn't have to complicate your life unduly. Diligence and advanced planning go a long way to ensuring a safe and enjoyable life. Comments are closed.
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