Tree Nuts And Peanuts
Theres often confusion between peanuts and tree nuts. Peanuts are legumes, not nuts still, between 25 and 40 percent of individuals who are allergic to peanuts also react to at least one tree nut, according to studies.
Allergists generally advise people who are allergic to tree nuts also to avoid peanuts because of the risk of cross-contact and cross-contamination between tree nuts and peanuts in food processing facilities. If you or your child is allergic to either peanuts or tree nuts, ask your allergist whether you should avoid both products.
The prevalence of these allergies in children appears to be growing, according to a 2010 study that compared data from telephone surveys of 5,300 U.S. households in 1997, 2002 and 2008. In the 2008 survey, 2.1 percent of respondents reported having a child with an allergy to peanuts, tree nuts or both. In the 2002 survey, 1.2 percent of subjects said they had a child with one or both of these allergies five years earlier, in 1997, only 0.6 percent of respondents reported having a child with one or both of these allergies.
Allergies to tree nuts and peanuts are among the most common causes of anaphylaxis in the United States. An allergist will advise patients with these allergies to carry an auto-injector containing epinephrine , which is the only treatment for anaphylactic shock, and will teach the patient how to use it. If a child has the allergy, teachers and caregivers should be made aware of his or her condition as well.
Keeping A Record Of Your Nut Allergy Symptoms
Diagnosing an allergy can be difficult. If you think you or a child in your care might have an allergy, keeping a record of symptoms can help you and your doctor to understand what is causing them. Keep a diary that describes the symptoms, and when and where they occur. Your diary could include information about whether the symptoms occur:
- inside your home, outside or both
- for a short time or longer
- at night, during the day or when you wake up
- after you have had a particular food or drink
- after you have taken a herbal medicine.
Severity Of Nut Allergy
The severity of allergic reactions to nuts can vary. In highly sensitive children, reactions can be severe and even tiny amounts can trigger symptoms.
Mild reactions can include swelling, skin rashes or hives, stomach pains and vomiting. Mild reactions may occur through skin contact or nut contamination on toys or kitchen equipment.
Nuts are a common trigger of a very severe reaction called anaphylaxis. This reaction involves the respiratory system and the cardiac system and can involve difficulty breathing, throat swelling or a drop in blood pressure. Anaphylaxis is potentially life threatening.
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Can You Be Allergic To Tree Nuts
An allergy to tree nuts tends to be lifelong. Research shows that about 9 percent of children with a tree nut allergy eventually outgrow their allergy. Younger siblings of children who are allergic to tree nuts may be at higher risk for allergy to tree nuts. Your doctor can guide you about testing for siblings.
Can Someone With A Tree Nut Allergy Eat Coconut
I cant advise whether or not coconut is safe for an individual. Anyone can be allergic to any food protein. But research has shown no correlation between common tree nut allergies and coconut allergy.
In 2010, a study was published in the Journal of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology to characterize the relationship between sesame, coconut, and nut allergies in children. Researchers from the Childrens Hospital of Boston found that children with histories of both peanut and tree nut reaction were more likely to have a history of sesame reaction. But children with a sensitization or allergy to peanuts or tree nuts were not more likely to be sensitive or allergic to coconut.
In other words, the odds that a child with a tree nut allergy also has a coconut allergy are no greater than the odds that a child without a tree nut allergy has a coconut allergy. In fact, many children with tree nut allergies are able to consume coconut-based dairy alternatives without a problem.
This is why its essential to test for coconut allergy specifically. Coconut allergy is considered rare, but it is still very possible to be allergic to coconut. And I have heard some physicians state that theyve seen a rise in coconut allergies, possibly due to the dramatic increase in coconut products.
Check with your physician to find out if coconut is an issue for you. Coconut is on many food allergy test panels, and can be tested for individually.
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How To Make This Nut
Its a fairly easy process and doesnt take a lot of time to make this granola recipe.
1. The first thing you need to do is preheat your oven to 325F.
2. Cover a large baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray it with cooking spray. I use butter flavored spray as I doubt an olive oil spray would be too good of a flavor combination.
3. Mix oats, shredded coconut, and ground flax seeds together in a large mixing bowl.
4. Over medium heat, in a small saucepan, mix together brown sugar, honey, coconut oil, cinnamon, and vanilla extract. Melt the ingredients and bring to a simmer and remove from heat immediately. Be careful not to burn the ingredients, and since you are working with sugars, they can burn quickly.
5. Pour the melted ingredients over the oat mixture and stir, making sure all of the dry and wet ingredients are equally blended. The oat mixture should be evenly coated.
6. Spread the raw granola mixture onto the baking sheet, and flatten out to about 1/2 inch thickness.
7. Bake for 25 minutes. At the halfway point, take the baking pan out, mix up the granola, and re-flatten. Then return to the oven.
8. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.
9. Once cooled, break and crumble up the granola.
10. Either eat now or store the granola in an airtight container.
Can I Eat Coconuts If I Am Allergic To Nuts
Coconut is not a nut its a part of the palm tree family, but according to recent studies performed by the FDA, people with tree nut allergies may have an allergic reaction to products that contain coconuts. Allergic reactions to nuts are caused by the proteins found in specific tree nuts. Although the reasons why are not fully understood, coconuts do not contain the same proteins but can cause a similar allergic reaction. If you have a nut allergy, talk with your doctor before consuming coconuts.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
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How To Make The Best Homemade Granola Recipe Without Nuts:
First, combine oats and wheat germ in a large bowl.
Next, bring honey, brown sugar, oil, cinnamon, vanilla and salt to a boil in a small saucepan. Remove from the heat, and pour the sweet syrup over the oat mixture. Stir until all of the oats are coated.
Add dried fruit of your choice plus shredded coconut.
Spread the oat mixture in an even layer on a foil-lined baking sheet. I like to use the back of a wooden spoon or spatula to press down clumps of granola.
After about 15-20 minutes in a 325-degree oven, you’ll have a beautiful, golden brown, fragrant batch of crunchy, nut free granola!
Allow the granola to cool completely before storing it in an airtight container. The granola will continue to get crispier and crunchier as it cools!
Diagnosis Of Nut Allergies
If you have allergic symptoms, visit your family doctor who will ask some questions about your allergic reactions. You can also discuss your record of your symptoms. To diagnose your allergy, your doctor may refer you to a specialist doctor known as an allergist or clinical immunologist. Allergists can test for allergies using a number of methods, depending on the type of potential allergy. To test for an allergy to peanuts, tree nuts and seeds, the allergist might:
- do a skin prick test
- do a blood test
- ask you to temporarily avoid all nuts or products containing nuts , then follow up with the introduction of nuts back into your diet under strict medical supervision.
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Ultimate Guide To Happy Living With Coconut Allergy
HomeBlogAlternates & SubstitutionsUltimate Guide to Happy Living with Coconut Allergy
Coconut allergy is generally considered a rare condition.
However, if you have a coconut allergy or avoid coconut for another reason, you may find it challenging to know what you can eat and what you have to avoid. Coconut is a very popular ingredient in many recipes and is found in many health and beauty products.
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Coconut Is A Useful Food
The coconut palm tree is a native of the tropics. The fruit of the palm is known as the coconut. The coconut has great economic value, as the outer fibrous husk can be used to make ropes and mats, the white inner flesh can be eaten, and the milk can be drunk. Coconut derived products are also added to:
- Many foods including cakes, chocolates and sweets.
- Some infant formulae.
- Cosmetics, hair shampoos, moisturisers, soaps, cleansers and hand wash.
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Is Coconut A Tree Nut Are Coconut Food Products Safe For Nut Allergies
Years ago, a parent named Sam emailed to ask if coconut is a tree nut, and if coconut non-dairy foods should be avoided with a tree nut allergic child.
We recently found out our son has multiple food allergies, including tree nuts and dairy. A lot of the coconut products say contains tree nuts. Are these products safe for our son, or should we avoid them?
I shared a complete response at the time. But today Im updating this post with even more helpful information thats easier to follow.
Shopping And Use Guidelines
When shopping for coconut oil, you’ll find several varieties. There include virgin or extra virgin, terms used interchangeably, and refined, which refers to oil that is bleached, deodorized and sometimes treated with solvents. Another coconut oil type is partially hydrogenated, a term denoting a process that extends shelf life but creates harmful trans fat. For maximum nutrient content, choose the virgin or extra virgin oil.
In the August 2009 study featured in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, researchers compared the antioxidant action of virgin coconut oil and the refined oil. Results showed the virgin oil had a higher content of healthful phenolic compounds and more robust antioxidant properties.
Coconut oil deteriorates faster when exposed to heat and light, so store it in a cool, dark place or in the refrigerator. Virgin oil will stay good for two to three years if stored correctly. A yellow tinge or off odor will alert you to spoilage.
Because coconut oil is high in saturated fat, it’s best to limit your daily intake to less than 2 tablespoons per day. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans advocates limiting the consumption of saturated fat to 10 percent of the daily calorie intake. In a 2,000-calorie diet, this amount would be 21 grams, which falls under the 24 grams contained in 2 tablespoons of coconut oil.
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But Cashews Arent True Nuts Either Are They
Botanically speaking, most nuts are actually seeds. Almonds, pecans, walnuts, cashews, pecans, and others are the seeds of drupe fruits. But weve come to know them as culinary nuts. In cuisine, we think of nuts as any large, oily, edible kernels found within a shell. And when we read about top allergen studies, they are typically referring to these culinary nuts as tree nuts.
Scientists in the U.S. have found that nine nuts account for the majority of tree nut allergies. They include almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, and walnuts.
Not Necessarily Linked To Tree Nut
In a national registry of 5,149 people with peanut or tree nut allergies, only four patients reported having an allergy to coconut. A more recent study of 40 children with positive tests or known allergy to peanuts or tree nuts showed no increased risks for having positive tests or allergy to coconut.
Your allergist would consider your personal allergy history in deciding whether to add coconut to your diet or to perform any testing. However, be aware that tests are often positive to coconut in people who could actually tolerate it. So a physician-supervised feeding test may be necessary for a conclusive answer.
When it comes to coconut oil, there is almost no medical literature on allergic reactions to it. This may reflect the likelihood that the processed forms of coconut oil contain little or no protein, although this has not been studied.
Still, for those with verified coconut allergy, avoidance of coconut oil should be considered because it may have residual protein.
Finally, its important to note that people with peanut or tree nut allergies who choose to eat coconut must be diligent to avoid cross-contact with tree nuts or peanut being avoided.
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Can You Eat Coconut If You Have A Nut Allergy
It depends. Coconuts, scientifically known as Cocos nucifera, belong to the family of tree nuts and maybe a risk for people who are allergic to other nuts. But, just because you are allergic to other tree nuts including pistachios or almonds does not inevitably imply that you would also be allergic to coconut.
Allergic reactions from coconut are rare. Yet, the concern is that it is found in many foods, so it is essential to understand whether you are allergic to coconut or not.
If you have a tree nut allergy, you need to consult your doctor regarding what foods you can not consume.
You will have to be cautious about the foods that could have tree nuts in them like candy and desserts or could have come in contact with tree nuts. Also, coconut can be found in many foods, so you will have to be quite vigilant to avoid it if your doctor says you can not have it.
And always make certain to cleanse your hands before eating and keep your emergency epinephrine injector with you.
Does Product Size Affect The Likelihood Of An Allergic Reaction
Product size does not affect the likelihood of a reaction however, the same brand of product may be safe to consume for one product size but not another. This is because product formulation may vary between different product sizes of the same product or be produced in a different facility. Always read the ingredient lists carefully.
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Nut Free Granola With Coconut Cherry And Sunflower Seeds
A delicious nut free granola made with coconut, cherry and sunflower seeds. Perfect for anyone with a nut allergy or for sending in a lunchbox to a nut free school.
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Breakfast, lunch, snack time – even dessert, I could eat granola any time of day. I decided to see if my son agreed and made up a batch for him to take into school in his lunch box. The school has a nut free policy as there are several children at the school with serious allergies so I made it nut free.
Coconut is one of my favourite ingredients to include in granola. Little S loves it as well and picks out all the coconut flakes and eats them first. My daughter however picks them all out and sneaks them to her brother to eat when I’m not looking!
Occasionally coconut is mistaken for a nut. It’s actually a seed and is therefore safe to be sent in to a nut free school. Coconut allergies are possible but are extremely rare.
Foods To Avoid If You Have A Tree Nut Allergy
Thanks to the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act , U.S. packaged food items are required to clearly state on the label if they contain tree nuts. This stipulates that the specific nut be identified.
Bottom line? Reading labels need to be a mandatory part of your lifestyle from the minute you or someone in your family is diagnosed with a tree nut allergen. Youll notice some food labels have jargon to the effect of made in a facility where tree nuts are processed. Again, whether or not you need to avoid those foods is something to be discussed with an allergist. Its always better to err on the side of caution, though, and steer clear.
A person with tree nut allergies should clearly avoid foods and products containing tree nuts, as well as items that are presumed to cross-react. Its confusing we know.
But in general, the items someone with tree nut allergies should stay away from include but arent limited to:
- almonds
- cereals
- some ice creams
If you have any doubts about whats safe and what isnt, call your allergist ASAP. Theyre the best resource a person with nut allergies has, and they can fill in any blanks for you along the way.
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