What Foods Can Help With Allergies

Expert Q& a: Eating With Food Allergies

An interview with Stanley Cohen, MD.

An estimated 12 million Americans suffer from food allergies. Dairy and wheat are just a few of the foods that can cause reactions and allergies in adults and children.

Food allergies and reactions can be confusing. Often, it’s not easy to figure out which foods contain ingredients that may trigger a reaction. Further, many people who think they are allergic to a food may actually be confusing a food reaction for an allergy — and may not need to eliminate certain foods.

WebMD turned to Stanley Cohen, MD, for answers to common questions about food allergies. He’s a specialist in pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition, and author of Healthy Babies, Happy Kids: a Common Sense Guide to Nutrition for Growing Years.

Makes Allergies Worse: Red Meat

If youre constantly reaching for a tissue this time of year, it may be time to step away from the red meat. Red meat like beef, pork, and lamb can carry an allergen that causes a reaction similar to seasonal allergies. It could even become life-threatening, so if you dont feel well after eating red meat, skip the burger and order the chicken.

Helps Fight Allergies: Red Apples

An apple a day keeps the allergist away. Red produce like apples contains a compound called quercetin. This compound is responsible for the red color and works as a natural antihistamine in your body. It helps to calm down the cells that react to allergens in the air. If youre not a fan of red apples, other varieties can help too.

You May Like: What To Take For Pollen Allergies

Make It Easy For Employees Request Accommodations

Many workers with food-related allergies feel uncomfortable disclosing their condition to their employer. One respondent told us, Im afraid of being seen as weak or a burden. As a result, they may not request the accommodations they need to be successful at work.

To create a more inclusive environment, its important to make it easy for employees to find out about and request accommodations. One way to do this is to create an online form that employees can fill out to request accommodations. The managers we spoke to that did this found that employees with food allergies or sensitivities felt 67% more included in workplace culture and had a 64% greater sense of belonging.

Celebrating diversity starts with understanding that each person is different in their own way, and deserves to be treated as such. So, lets make sure we create a safe space for all employees to feel respected, nourished, cared for, and proud of their individual needs.

How Can I Stay Safe When Eating Away From Home

Restaurants, cafeterias, and food courts are getting better about preparing foods for people with allergies. But cross-contamination is still a risk when you dine out: Foods you’re allergic to can get into your food when kitchen staff use the same surfaces, utensils, or oil to prepare different foods.

When you’re not at home, ask what’s in a food you’re thinking of eating. Find out how the food is cooked. Many people find it’s best to bring safe food from home or eat at home before heading out. If friends you’re visiting or eating with don’t know about your allergy, tell them in plenty of time so they can prepare. Don’t share a drink or eating utensils with friends if they’re eating foods you’re allergic to, and avoid tasting any of their food.

You also can carry a personalized “chef card.” It details your allergies and helps restaurant staff understand how to prepare a safe meal for you. You can find chef cards in many different languages on food allergy websites . If the manager or owner of a restaurant seems uncomfortable about your request for safe food preparation, don’t eat there.

It may be best to avoid some types of restaurants:

Also Check: Can Seasonal Allergies Turn Into A Sinus Infection

Not As Rare As You Think

When I first heard of food allergy bullying, I imagined it had to be rare. How could anyone do such a thing? To this day, Im still affected by the story of Eleanor Garrows son, which I read in 2013 in Gluten Free and More Magazine. Her son, who has a peanut allergy, was attacked by another child and intentionally smeared with peanut butter. This could have been a deadly experience. Per the article, he struggled emotionally for quite a while due to that abuse.

Sadly, its not just kids that are the perpetrators of food allergy bullying. There are stories of parents of non-allergic kids threatening to coat the backpack of child with their deadly allergy. In another story, a parent encouraged their child to walk down the hall, smearing peanut butter on the walls, after the school declared themselves to a peanut-free zone.

Food Allergies Treatments & Natural Remedies

Because food allergies can be severe, plus contribute to other health problems, I strongly encourage you or your loved ones to pursue these natural food allergies treatments.

1. Avoid All of These Foods

The following foods increase inflammation within the body, weaken the immune system and lead to digestive issues.

Packaged foods Packaged, ultra-processed foods may contain GMOs like corn, soy, canola and vegetable oils that cause food allergies and intolerances. They can also contain hidden ingredients that may cause an allergic reaction thats why its important that people with allergies are taught how to read labels carefully and avoid offending foods.

Sugar Sugar can cause bad bacterial overgrowth, weaken the immune system and increase food intolerances. Because sugar consumption leads to inflammation, it can exacerbate food allergy symptoms and restrict your bodys ability to tolerate foods normally.

Artificial flavorings Artificial flavorings can exacerbate food allergies. Experts are convinced that dyes used in packaged foods can cause adverse health impacts in children and possibly adults. There is evidence that cochineal extract may cause allergic reactions and asthma.

2. Sidestep These Allergen Triggers

Eggs A recent meta-analysis of the prevalence of food allergy estimated that egg allergy affects 0.5 to 2.5 percent of young children. A protein in egg whites, called ovomucoid, has been shown to be the dominant allergen in eggs.

Recommended Reading: How To Get Rid Of Allergies Runny Nose

Foods That Help You Fight Allergies

A change in weather bring about changes in the composition of dust and pollen and induce seasonal allergies, which a huge number of people fear. The good news is that there are a number of common food substances which can help control these seasonal allergies. There are specific ingredients in these foods which improve immunity and provide antihistamine-like effects . Some of these foods are mentioned below:

Local Honey And Bee Pollen

Bee pollen seems like an unusual treatment for seasonal allergies. Still, there is some scientific evidence to suggest it may help. It contains a variety of proteins, minerals, and vitamins that are antimicrobial, antimutagenic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory. All of them can help provide relief from allergy symptoms.

Bee pollen is also a natural antihistamine and can help relieve allergy symptoms. It’s a safe and effective treatment that can be used with other therapies, such as prescription medications or over-the-counter remedies.

Local honey has been used to treat seasonal allergies for centuries. By consuming small amounts of locally-produced honey, you can build immunity to the pollen in your area.

You May Like: How Quickly Does A Shellfish Allergy Start

Modifying Your Diet May Help You Manage Spring Allergies

The trees are blooming, the flowers are out, and the weather is finally warming up. That can mean just one delightful thingâspring is in the air! But while we enjoy warmer weather and longer days, some people may suddenly experience itchy eyes, blocked nasal passages, hives, and uncontrollable sniffles. This time of year is also rife with allergens like pollen, giving some people all the symptoms of seasonal allergies.

If you’re one of the unlucky few who suffer from the springtime sniffles, you may be less than thrilled about the turn of the season. But while there may not be a cure for seasonal allergies, some treatments can help reduce and alleviate your symptoms. You can also do some things to help reduce your exposure to allergens.

Before you resign yourself to a season of sniffles and sneezes, consider what you can do to help ease your symptoms. You can stock up on antihistamines, increase your intake of helpful supplements like magnesium and consult your doctor for more targeted allergy treatments.

And you can also consult a registered dietitian to modify your diet to make dietary changes to help you manage your allergic responses during spring. Take a look at why it matters and what foods you can add to your diet to ease your symptoms.

How Do I Avoid An Allergic Reaction

The only real way to prevent a reaction is to completely avoid foods you’re allergic to. Eating even a tiny bit of a food you are allergic to can cause a serious reaction.

Avoiding a food you’re allergic to means more than not eating that food. Some people even have to avoid touching or breathing in foods they’re allergic to. Sometimes things that aren’t food like cosmetics may still contain ingredients you’re allergic to.

Here are important ways to avoid coming into contact with foods you may be allergic to:

1. Read Food Labels

In the United States, food manufacturers must say on their labels if foods contain any of these most common allergens:

Food allergy information will be on the label in one of two ways:

Foods sold in the United States are supposed to label foods clearly so people with common allergies can stay safe. But not all allergens will be included in ingredient lists or named in a recognizable way. This is often the case with allergens other than the eight most common ones. Sometimes, an allergen could be hidden in a long list of scientific-sounding ingredients or included in “natural flavors,” “coloring,” “spices,” or other additives.

Products sometimes change ingredients, and different size versions of the same product may have different ingredients, so check every package every time.

2. Know About Cross-Contamination

Read Also: Does Drinking Make Allergies Worse

How Are Allergies Diagnosed

There are several ways to confirm an allergy. First is the old-fashioned prick test, where the skin is scratched with the allergen and observed for reactions. The second is the patch test, which is similar to the prick test, and the last are specific food allergy blood tests. In all of these tests, there is a possibility for false positives and negatives, so physicians usually try an elimination diet, in which the suspected food is avoided. This is followed by a food challenge in which the suspected food is reintroduced under careful observation on three separate occasions to confirm the allergy.

Diet Ideas For Seasonal Allergies

While the list of foods above may have you considering clearing out half your pantry, there are plenty of foods to say YES to this season!

Spicy Foods

If youre suffering from congestion, incorporating spicy dishes like flavorful curry, can help thin out mucus. Cayenne pepper, garlic, ginger, and cinnamon are your culinary friends! Ginger helps break down toxins in your system and is a great sinus decongestant.

Fresh, Organic Vegetables

Getting your recommended intake of colorful vegetables and clean proteins is always recommended, but especially important during allergy season. Choose nutrient rich veggies like carrots, yams, cabbage, beets, or swiss chard, which is high in Quercetin a natural compound that fights hay fever and inflammation.

Local Raw Honey

A spoon full of local honey can help relieve watery eyes, congestion and most allergy symptoms because it contains the very pollen your seasonal allergies stem from.

Probiotic-Rich Foods

Sauerkraut, kimchi, and kombucha are probiotic-rich foods that increase energy levels, improve digestion and harbor immune boosting powers.

Liquids

Both bone broth and apple cider vinegar help break up mucus, ease respiratory issues, reduce inflammation, and boost immunity!

Pineapple

Don’t Miss: What Are The Symptoms Of Wheat Allergy In Adults

Onions Cabbage And Apples

These all contain quercetin, a compound that gives some fruits and vegetables a reddish hue. Quercetin also stabilizes mast cells, Telfair said, those cells that pump out histamines as your body reacts to an allergen. Consuming it regularly, in food or supplement form, lends the body inflammation-calming nutrients. And don’t get too hung up on the color, she said, as these foods need not be red to contain quercetin.

Certain Foods Show Promise

Dr. Shroff said there are some foods that could help reduce your allergy symptoms:

• Onions and apples contain quercetin, which has antihistamine properties and might help people with allergies. Dr. Shroff shared, Perhaps some servings of apples and onions a day may keep the allergist away!
• Citrus fruits provide vitamin C, which can support your immune system.
• Ginger may have anti-inflammatory properties, and if your allergies are causing nasal drainage or a sore throat, ginger tea may help relieve symptoms.
• Honey can soothe sore throats and coughs, and local honey could help boost your immune support against local allergens, since the honey contains low amounts of the pollen that causes your allergies. Young children shouldnt eat honey though, and people with diabetes need to be careful because its high in sugar.

Read Also: When Do Spring Allergies Start In Canada

Purina Pro Plan Development Sensitive Skin & Stomach Best For Puppies

Puppies have unique dietary requirements, so we recommend getting dog food that specifically recognizes that fact. Thats exactly what you get with the Purina Pro Plan Development Sensitive Skin & Stomach recipe.

The brand recognizes the unique factors that go into a puppys development and it addresses that in its formulas, but it also created a recipe that helps puppies with sensitive skin and stomachs.

This formula is specific for large breed dogs like Golden Retrievers, so you know that its exactly what your dog needs. There are multiple size options available, and if your puppy does well on this food, you can graduate them to the adult version.

This recipe does contain meal products, which arent ideal, but these increase the overall protein content without involving more sources of protein that your dog might have an allergic reaction to.

• Great mix of price and quality
• Specific for sensitive skin and stomach
• Multiple size options

If youre trying to find the perfect food for your Golden Retriever with food allergies, why not go with a choice that a vet recommends? This one is also budget friendly, which is a real win-win. The food is specifically for dogs with sensitive skin and stomachs and uses salmon as the protein source.

• Chicken isnt the best for allergies

How Do You Find The Source Of Your Dogs Allergies

The last thing that you want to do is jump from food to food without having any idea of whats causing your dogs allergic reaction. The best way to determine exactly what foods your dog is allergic to is to take them to a vet.

The vet can run an allergy panel for them and let you know all the foods that your dog reacts to. Once you have this list, you can look at the different dog food options out there and pick a recipe that doesnt have any of the foods that they cant eat.

Recommended Reading: What Percent Of Children Have Food Allergies

Guide To The Best Allergy Treatments For Dogs

Allergies can cause a great deal of discomfort for dogs and can be difficult to deal with. Finding the right treatment for your pet is essential, and understanding the cause of the allergies is the first step. In this article, we will discuss the cause of allergies in dogs, the best supplements and shampoos for allergies, common foods that cause allergies, common environmental allergy triggers, and the best way to get your dog tested.

What Causes Most Dog Food Allergies

While some dog food companies try to push that grains, corn, or other dog food ingredients are responsible for most dog food allergies, thats simply not the case.

In fact, most dog food allergies come from proteins. The most common causes of dog food allergies and sensitivities are dairy, beef, chicken, eggs, soy, or gluten.

But keep in mind that while these are the most common allergies, theyre not the only ones that your dog might have. If youre trying to figure it out on your own, those are the ingredients you should strive to avoid, but we recommend reaching out to your dogs vet first.

Recommended Reading: Can You Take Allergy Medicine While On Antibiotics