by Alexis Cala, PICurrent Assistant Producer
Courtesy of Dan4th
Over 12 million Americans suffer from food allergies. About 3 million are allergic to peanuts and these numbers are growing.
Fortunately, a new study in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology may have good news for people with peanut allergies.
Researchers gave children with severe peanut allergies small, daily doses of peanut powder to build their tolerance over time. By the end of the study all participants were able to safely eat ten whole peanuts. Something that previously would have triggered anaphylaxis, causing difficulty breathing, cardiac arrest, or death (read the full story on Reuters).
It is estimated that more than 150 people die annually from anaphylaxis to food. Many of these are from peanuts. However, research showed that the participant’s new tolerance is more than enough to prevent anaphylaxis from accidentally occurring. This means that you would be able to grocery shop, eat out, and cook without worrying about peanuts touching your food.
While it’s not a cure, the results of this study are very promising. More work needs to be done, but researchers hope to expand treatment to adults living with this condition soon. For now, steer clear of peanuts. But some day you might be able to enjoy the many peanut products you’ve had to avoid.
Here are some precautions you can take until a treatment is available:
- Always check the label. Manufacturers in the U.S. are required to tell you if their product contains peanuts, look for: “may contain nuts”.
- Watch out for cross-contamination that can happen on surfaces and utensils, everything from knives and cutting boards to the toaster. You may decide to make your home entirely nut-free.
- Avoid cooked foods you didn’t make yourself. Don’t buy or eat anything with an unknown list of ingredients.
- Tell everyone who handles the food you eat, from relatives to restaurant wait staff, that you have a nut allergy.
- Make food at home where you can control the preparation.
- Be sure your work, school, daycare, etc. knows about your allergy and has an action plan in place for you.
- Keep rescue medications (such as epinephrine) accessible at all times. Seconds count during an episode of anaphylaxis.
For more information, please visit:
American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology
If you want to know a proven medical cause of allergies – that is – what makes people become allergic period – and not simply allergens which are what provokes an allergic reaction to occur, take a look here:-
“Mercury in British Vaccines, Autism and Your Child’s Allergies”
http://tinyurl.com/anpq68