Anyone who has eaten something and then experiences an unpleasant reaction has probably wondered if they have a food allergy. In fact, one out of three individuals thinks they may have a food allergy or may modify their diet due to a suspicion. Occuring to AAAAI statistics, yet only around 6% of children under the age of three are affected by food allergies, but most out grow these allergies as adults.

What all of this adds up to is that food allergies and food intolerances can be easily confused with each other. Yet these conditions are different in terms of their origin, symptoms and treatment. So what are the differences between the two?

What Are Food Allergies?

Let’s start with the more severe of the two: food allergies. Food allergies occur when the body’s immune system identifies a food as a harmful substance. When the body recognizes anything harmful it will produce antibodies, which are like small soldiers that protect our body’s health.  When the body produces antibodies directed against a certain type of food, it causes an immune response.  This then releases histamine and other chemicals that trigger allergic symptoms. These allergic symptoms are ‘red alerts’, which tell us that something is wrong.

Generally, it is the protein in foods that cause an allergic reaction. Food allergy symptoms may occur right after consuming the allergen or even hours later. These symptoms may affect the respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular system or the skin.  In cases of severe allergic reactions there may be a drop in blood pressure or loss of consciousness. Some people have food allergies so severe that they are at risk for life threatening reactions known as anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is a rapid series of serious allergic reactions that affect a number of different areas of the body at once.  Fortunately, this can be treated with the prescription drug epinephrine, which is available on-the-go in a pen size injector – also known as an Epi-Pen.

Common food allergy symptoms include:

• Skin rash or hives;
• Swelling of the tongue and throat;
• Breathing problems including asthma;
• Vomiting and/or diarrhea; and
• Abdominal pain and cramping.

Currently, there are no medications that cure food allergies, so it is necessary for children and adults with food allergies to avoid allergenic foods.  It is critical to review food labels and ask questions about ingredients in recipes before consuming any foods. The Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004

What Is A Food Intolerances?

Food intolerance is the inability to properly digest or fully process certain foods. This does not involve an immune response, but is still an adverse food-induced reaction that can cause uncomfortable symptoms similar to a food allergy. For example, lactose intolerance is caused when a person lacks an enzyme called lactase that breaks down the milk sugar called lactose. This can cause gas, bloating and abdominal pain when consuming milk products. Fortunately, lactase tablets are available without a prescription to help treat this food intolerance. 

Because the symptoms of food allergies and intolerances are often similar, it is helpful to get tested by an allergist and keep a food diary. A food diary keeps track of which foods are eaten and at what time, which can help determine if they are causing the symptoms of an intolerance or allergy. This will help the allergist to distinguish the correct diagnosis and treatment. Allergists can also conduct a skin test or blood test to determine if an individual is allergic to a specific food.

How did you determine if you or your child had a food allergy or food intolerance? Did you find allergy testing to be reliable, or was keeping a food diary more helpful?

- Reneé

It seems like every kid I know is talking about Toy Story 3 so chances are that your child is begging to go see it. However, a trip to the movie theater is a bit more complicated for a child with food allergies. Today we’ll go over some tips for having a safe and enjoyable movie theater experience.

The Movie Theater Concession Stand

If your child’s food allergies occur from ingesting food allergens, it’s much easier to control what they are exposed to. Your main obstacle will be the concession stand. Of course, we should all avoid this kind of food as much as possible but for a special occasion like going to the movies, it is fun to indulge a little.

Make sure you call ahead to inquire about any foods or ingredients that you are unsure about. For example, some movie theaters serve buttered popcorn that contains dairy while others are dairy-free. Use your discretion; if they can’t guarantee its safe, don’t risk it.

With prepackaged candies, its easier to identify ingredients and any potential allergens. Check the ingredients ahead of time to see what is safe for your little one! Some candies may be made of mostly sugar so although not healthy, they may be a safe special treat. For example, below are the ingredients for Sweet Tarts and Sour Patch Kids, both of which are free of the 8 major allergens.

• Sweet Tarts: Dextrose, Maltodextrin, Malic Acid, and Less than 2% of Calcium Stearate, Artificial Flavors, Blue 1 Lake, Blue 2 Lake, Red 40 Lake, Yellow 5 Lake, Yellow 6 Lake.
• Sour Patch Kids: Sugar, Corn Syrup, Modified Corn Starch, Citric Acid*, Tartaric Acid, Natural and Artificial flavors, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Red 40, Blue 1.

*Keep in mind, some kids can be sensitive to Citric Acid and certain food dyes.

Allergies to Airborne Particles

If your child reacts to airborne particles, such as with peanut allergies, it’s more difficult to prevent exposure but there are various ways to keep the risk to a minimum. Here are some ideas:

• Try to see the movie at a time when the theater is not too crowded. This way, you can separate yourself from other viewers who may be eating unsafe snacks.
• Bring a seatcover. Not only are Plane Sheets great for when your little one with allergies is traveling, they can do double duty as a movie theater sheet!
• Bring Clorox wipes to clean the arm rests.
• There is often candy and other snacks dropped in the aisle, so if your child reacts on contact, dress him/her in pants vs. shorts and closed-toe shoes vs. sandals.

No matter how safe you are, it can be difficult to 100% eliminate the risk for an allergic reaction so be sure to pack your Epi-pen.

Alternatives To Help Avoid Allergens

• Bring Your Own Snacks:
  Although this is no-no most of the time, try calling the movie theater and explaining your situation. If they don’t offer any foods safe for your child, they will probably allow you to bring your own.
• Drive-in Movie Theater:
  Believe it or not, there are still some of these around!  The great thing about the Drive-ins is that you can bring your own snacks and seats, plus you can control how far you sit from other people and their snacks.
• Bring the Movie Theater Home:
  With features like On-Demand, you can get movies still in theaters right in your home. Invite some friends over and prepare some allergy-friendly snacks.

Have you picked up any tips or precautions for taking a child with food allergies to the movies?

-Mallory

We’ve been talking a lot about carbohydrates and sugar in regards to what they are and how they affect the body.  So for today’s post, I thought I’d wrap up our carbohydrate series with a post on how you can spot sugars on the ingredient list of your food labels. 

In my carbohydrates 101 post last week, I mentioned how sugar is a simple carbohydrate which are obviously found in sugary treats but can also be found in other nutritious foods.  However, you should always be cautious of how much sugar your little one is consuming since a high sugar diet can lead to issues like tooth decay, high blood sugar levels and weight gain.

As with other ingredients like gluten or dairy that sometimes can be hidden within the ingredient lists, sugar can also be difficult to find. So when you are looking at the ingredient list on your food labels to find your child’s allergens, be sure to check for sugar as well. 

Here are some terms that will help you identify sugar:

• White sugar
• Brown sugar
• Maple syrup
• Honey
• Fruit juice concentrates, including apple and pear
• All ingredients ending in “ose” like:
  • Fructose
  • Sucrose
  • Lactose
  • Maltose
  • Dextrose
  • Glucose

As a parent, I was a little surprised by the amount of sugar found in many different foods such as spaghetti sauce, ketchup and even low-fat salad dressings. I know for many parents, a big eye opener is the amount of sugar found in most fruit juices even if they do claim 100% juice.  Are there any other foods with a sugar content that you found surprisingly high that you want to share with us?

- Sarah

To follow up on Mallory’s post on Dysphagia, GERD, and Silent Aspiration in children, I wanted to discuss the use of thickeners to help with the treatment of GERD/GER, dysphagia and aspiration.

If your little one is showing signs of GERD/GER, dysphagia or aspiration, you should always see a doctor to determine exactly what condition needs to be treated. One thing to remember is that children with Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) can also have symptoms of dysphagia and often have symptoms very similar to that of GERD.  EoE is caused by food allergies and can be treated effectively by eliminating the allergens in your child’s diet.  Thickening their food or formula may not be needed once the allergens are removed.  Be sure to check with your doctor or speech pathologist to see if a food thickener is appropriate for your little one before trying one.

Thickening Foods and Liquids

If your child does have GERD/GER, dysphagia or aspiration, altering the thickness of food and liquids can help make them easier to swallow. When fluids are too thin, some children have trouble using their tongues correctly, causing liquid to get caught in the airway passage and then get into their lungs.  Thickening the formula and other fluids will help to ensure that the liquids stay together in the esophagus, decreasing the risk of aspiration.

For infants with GERD symptoms, using rice cereal in their formula to thicken it may help. The recommended amount to add to formulas is one tablespoon per 2 to 4 ounces of formula to reduce vomiting. (Rudolph et al 2001). There are also other thickeners on the market to choose from. It is important to read labels and call the company if your child has food allergies to ensure that they aren’t ingesting any allergens in the thickener. A few options include:

• Thick-It
• ThickenUp
• Simply Thick

Have you used a thickener before for your child? If so let us know which you tried and how it worked!

- Christine

There has been a lot of buzz lately about the benefits of dietary fiber and the need to eat more. So, what is dietary fiber anyways? Dietary fiber is a complex carbohydrate that is not completely digested in your body. Unlike other food components such as fats, proteins or other carbohydrates that get completely broken down and absorbed in your body, dietary fiber passes relatively intact through your stomach, small intestine, colon and out of your body.  So it might seem like fiber does not do much, but it has several important roles in maintaining health.

Why eat fiber?  While fiber has no nutritional value, it can have a big impact on health, lowering the risk for certain cancers, lowering cholesterol and minimizing the complications of diabetes. Also, it may aid with appetite control since it expands after you eat it and is more filling. In general, good sources of fiber include many fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole wheat breads, and fiber rich cereals.

Insoluble & Soluble Fibers

Fiber can be classified into two categories: soluble and insoluble. The two categories differ because of their ability to bond with water molecules. Soluble fiber dissolves in water and forms a gel substance which slows digestion. Soluble fiber (such as gums & pectin) molecules are able to pick up water as they pass through the digestive system. It is then broken down in the colon by bacterial flora.  Research shows that soluble fiber lowers cholesterol and delays glucose absorption.

Insoluble fiber (such as cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin) does not dissolve in water. It is not digestible and passes through the digestive system rapidly and intact. This helps to increase bowel movements and improves constipation.

In addition to being able to bond with water, fiber molecules also bond with substances such as hormones, bile acids and potential carcinogens and help to carry them through and out of your digestive system. Because of this, fiber plays an important role that benefits you.

Most adults and children do not get enough fiber and usually take some form of supplement to meet daily fiber needs.  Usually eating a variety of enriched fiber foods can help you meet the daily fiber requirements.  But for some children with food allergies this can be difficult because of their limited diet. Neocate Junior with Prebiotic Fiber is a good option to help boost the fiber in their diets.

Is your family getting enough fiber in their diets? What are some of your favorite fiber-rich foods?

- Renee