Nut Allergies
If your doctor tells you that you have nut allergies, it means that you will have to avoid eating all types of tree nuts, including cashews, walnuts, pecans, almonds, chestnuts, pistachios, hazelnuts, beechnuts, pine nuts, hickory and gingko nuts. It also means peanuts are a no-no, even though they are not a tree nut many people with nut allergies have bad reactions to peanuts as well. Although not everyone is allergic to every one of these nuts, they still have to be very cautious as many nuts have what is called “cross-reactivity,” meaning if you are allergic to one you are allergic to another. Examples of such combinations are walnuts and pecans or pistachios and cashews.
If you do have nut allergies, you will know pretty quickly as symptoms develop usually in 15-20 minutes of eating nuts or products containing nuts. Symptoms include swelling, hives, wheezing, a runny nose, gastro-intestinal problems and trouble breathing, among others. Because nut allergies are a response of the autoimmune system to what it considers to be an intruder, it is possible to go into anaphylactic shock and die. Severe reactions such as this require emergency room treatment or having an anaphylactic kit in your possession. A life can be saved with an immediate injection of epinephrine and antihistamines can be taken to relieve symptoms. It is important to note that peanuts are more likely than any other food substance to cause anaphylactic shock.
Nut allergies are caused by an allergy to the protein in nuts. It can also be caused by any nut or nut byproduct being used an ingredient in other foods. In some cases it can come from inhaling the dust or a spray like peanut oil, which is used in cooking. These allergies can be diagnosed by medical professionals by either of two tests: the first involved a skin prick where nut protein in sprinkled on the surface. If there is a reaction on the skin, an allergy is probable. Another method is a blood test, taken after an allergic reaction to nuts. If immune system antibodies are found, that is also an indication of nut allergies.
The only treatment for nut allergies is to avoid all nuts and eliminate them completely from your diet. If a child has nut allergies, it is a good idea to tell teachers, friends’ parents, and to get a medic alert bracelet to alert medical personnel in case of emergency.
The easiest part of a nut-free diet is eliminating the actual nuts. The hard part is figuring out which other food products contain nuts or nut products. These can include such common items as baked goods, energy bars, cereals, breads, granola, ice cream. marzipan, salad dressings, nut butters, and chocolate. Cultural foods also often contain nuts.
The best answer to avoiding nut allergies is to read food labels very carefully. Your doctor may refer you to a nutritionist, who can help you make a diet plan that is nut free.