Food & Drink

Allergies

Food & Drink

Posted by: Ali

3rd Aug 2011 10:38am

What allergies or intolerances have you or your children got? They seem to be growing more and more common through each generation.

Comments 29

jjdrer
  • 31st Aug 2013 01:26pm

A close relative of mine (an adult) has just found out that he has coelic disease and has to go on a strict gluten free diet. As a family, they like to dine out occasionally on special occasions or grab take-away when travelling. Does anybody know of eat-ins which readily serve gluten free meals in Adelaide in CBD or northern suburbs please? Also some country towns don't have options of restruants, hotels etc. but have takeaway "chain" outlets. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

annie
  • 31st Mar 2013 08:42am

My family of six are very lucky with only one member of the family having a food allergy.My daughter only last year was diagnosed with coeliac disease after going for a series of tests.She now has to have a gluten free diet and is adjusting very well.It is harder now when I go shopping when I look at the labelling of the product and make sure that it has not got wheat in it

Anonymous
  • 29th Mar 2013 03:42pm

I'm learning that more and more of my family members are lactose intolerant for one. Recently, I'm also finding our that wheat is causing bloating, We've taken tests for celiac and wheat intolerances which are negative but somehow wheat still causes (especially me) problems. We all try to eat healthy and read labels, I'm becoming more aware of what I put in my mouth even though it is advertised as "healthy".

Anonymous
  • 25th Mar 2013 12:09am

I am allergic to shellfish and have been all my life. But In the last few years I have had allergic reactions to curtain brands of spray tans and soaps. Allergies are definatly more common now and I think it has a lot to do with the fact that we are a lot more cleaner now so our bodies can't build up immunities against all of these things

kazza
  • 6th Oct 2011 06:02am

I am allergic to fish and shellfish, and yes they are becoming more common these days, what i hate though is how many products i would love to enjoy, i cannot as if you read the labels either there is fish sauce in everything or the product has been made in or put on the same conveyer belt as a fish or shellfish product. Which these days means that i have to forgo so many things that would not normally have this problem. Companies need to realise this can be an issue for a lot of people who have severe allergies

hellanol
  • 23rd Sep 2011 12:24pm

I have been having allergies that have been getting worse and worse. There was not a day that I did not wake up with an agonizing headache stuffy, painful nose, sore eyes. It had got to the point where my saliva glands dried up, I couldn't handle sunlight and my kidneys decided to stop working for the day. The Doc told me, after blood tests, that my uric acid level was high. The first thing I gave up was diet cola. I had been drinking about one and a half litres ad day, Three days later all symptoms have gone. For the first time in years I feel human again. No depression, no mood swings, no allergies and that was when all the bush fire haze was really bad.

Anonymous
  • 25th Aug 2011 11:40am

I have an intolerance to wheat and dairy. I can consume small amounts of each without immediate symptoms. I had started getting sinus pain badly and always had a congested nasal area, when I went to my kineisologist he said it was wheat that was causing it. On cutting out wheat from my diet I felt much better, I know now when I am having too much as I get sinus pain again and also wind.
With dairy my symptoms were sore throats in the morning after having much dairy the day before.
I have found some tablets that I use if going out and find it too difficult to be dairy or wheat free. The one to have before dairy is Lacteze and the one before wheat is Glutenzyme plus,they are both enzymes to help your body digest food which normally your body can't.
One of my grandchildren can't have dairy,soy.wheat or sugar which is very difficult at times but she is exceptionally healthy.

sonny
  • 23rd Aug 2011 01:19pm

Strange question for me. When I was born I had cronic ecsema and dermatitis plus asthma. By 13 I was tested for allergies because they were becoming a problem, constant itching, throat infections, blocked ears etc, I found that I have a very high allergy to all grasses, dustmites, goats, and then general allergies to everything tested (109 scratch tests) except I had no food allergies at all, that would have been around 1983. Around 18-19years old (1989) I virtually wasnt really suffering from much at all. In 2006 i had my daughter and strange allergies arose, I couldnt understand how to help myself because they werent the same allergies I had suffered before. Last year 2010 I was beside myself, I felt like killing myself ( you can see I didnt) because I was suffering so badly, my entire body was covered in rashes, hives, the skin on my face was flaking off like I had servere sunburn constantly, my legs are so pocked from hives coming up and breaking, my back was so sore I couldnt sleep on it, still a bit of a problem now. I continued to go to the dr but wasnt getting anywhere, I went to a herbalist who gave me more light on my situation. He got me to ask the dr 4 some new blood test, I now know that I am very highly allergic to any vegetable that grow on grass which is wheat, corn, sugar, rye, barley, oats, rice, the list goes on, virtually all grains, then I also found I was Highly allergic to the legume family, all beans, pulses, soya, chickpeas, peanuts that list goes on too. To my surprise my worst food allergy was potato, then I have tomatoes, coconuts, seasame seeds and beef. My medium allergies consist of pork, eggs, gluten, milk, yeast, cheese, buckwheat, and the lowest allergy was chicken meat. The only weird thing I have no allergy to is seafood. I have been tested for celiac and Im not one. Another new very high allergy beside grass and dust again was moulds including penicillian. Everything I was tested for I reacted to, those I havent had tests for are trial and error, just have to see what happens when I eat things different, because it would cost a fortune to have every food tested in my case.
I got to a point that i tried to admit myself into hospital because I was swelling up all over my body and neck and bleeding all over from scratching myself, the dr told me there was nothing he could do, they gave me a large dose injection of antihistamines and steriods to last for 4 days. The nurse was concerned and told me to see my dr which I did the next day. He gave me a big injection of antibiotics for 2 days running because I had a servere staph infection in my blood from constantly scratching and being open to infection. I had more blood tests and since have been on varying antibiotics and low dose steriods which have kept me to a minimum of problems. Im still on 4 antibiotics a day, and 2 steriods a day while I eat chicken soup, fish, fair few vegies and fruit that I can eat, but a bit naughty and have coffee in the morning rather than water. I still flare up every couple of days or weeks but do still constantly have hives coming back then getting better, then coming back, so Im still confused, there must be more allergies that I still cant figure out. One thing I can say is it a very good if you want to loose weight, but I wonder how nutritious it is missing out on alot of good food. People say, you shouldnt just stop eating things, how do you know the dr is right, I try to explain, its my body that keeps telling me, everyone else is just trying to help. Im hoping to get a handle on it real soon cause I really want to get of the antibiotics and steriods as soon as I can. Probably given you more info than you need. My father is Danish and moved to Aus when he was 13, he also suffers servere allergies when he was young but no longer, my mum has never had allergies but last year ended up with one of those needles you carry for reactions when she suddenly decided to have a very servere sulphur reaction which she has never had before, by the way I also have a good sulphur reaction too. My son is 13 and is allergic to rubber and the way of rubber and foods containing the same substance such as bananas, dont quite remember but alot of fruits and vegies, he doesnt seem to have any problems with these things now except tomatoes. My daughter is 5 now and doesnt seem to have any allergies at all that I know about, im hoping both kids come out ok and dont contract allergies, asthma, ecsema at a later age, hope I helped cheers sonny

jjdrer
  • 25th Aug 2011 09:17am
Strange question for me. When I was born I had cronic ecsema and dermatitis plus asthma. By 13 I was tested for allergies because they were becoming a problem, constant itching, throat infections,...

It may be that the grasses you are allergic to are present in your area. Many years ago when my Mother was sick, my brother who suffers from severe hayfever went and stayed with my Auntie who lived in the northern suburbs near open space so there was plenty of grass pollen and soil in the air. The specialist told my Mother that it was the worst area that he could have gone to. Tomatoes are high in some natural healthy "chemicals" and have a high acid content. Mother was also told that his hayfever may later become asthma, so far this hasn't happened. He is now nearly 57, so we are hopeful. He is unable to go near wisteria especially when it is flowering which one of my other Aunties had so we never visited while it was flowering. My Mother never reacted to penicillin until she had my brother, and came up in huge blsck welts which appeared on her feet first, then spread to her whole of her body. Does the Dr. test the steroid levels in your blood? My Mother was put on steroids for chronic dermatitus. After a few weeks her stomach become bloated, then her face suddenly swelled up like a balloon and it caused organ damage too. She had to be weaned off the steroids as you can't just suddenly stop taking them, by which time she developed kidney problems and died shortly afterwards with kidney failure. A family I know has two children with severe Asthma. It was discovered it was hereditary, so when ther Mother re-married they consulted a specialist who told them that it is hereditary, if they had a child together there was a 90% chance that the child would also have asthma. The Mother didn't develop asthma until in her 40s. A relative of mine by marriage also developed it in her 40s. I always know when she has asthma as she has a really bad cough, but never gets one with a cold. My niece is allergic to a bush commonly known as bottlebrush. I am allergic to Wattle and they were planted at the Golf Course we had to pass to go to school. There was no alternative route and I couldn't have antihistamines (I don't think they even existed in the 1950s) so I had runny eyes, runny nose, occasional headaches and even earache off and on for weeks. As soon as a new school was built in an adjoining suburb, we changed schools and then my problem decreased considerably. I seem to get it more when we get northerly winds, and more dust storms, especially when the farms lose their topsoil. We went to the Riverland area of SA and on the way there the soil was blowing away so much that It was hard to see the road. When we got home a few days later, our grey cement was covered in reddy colour dirt. Needless to say, it had filtered into the house too. It could be as simple as one of the grasses in your lawn. Have any of you been tested for that or know what the combination of grasses is in it. If you know what the type is a good garden centre or lawn specialist should be able to advise you. Pets can be allergic to some types of lawns too. My sister-in-law had a dog which was and several of the neighbours had the same lawn. They gave the dog to a lady who had lost her dog to illness. They contacted the lady a few weeks later and were delighted to find out that the dog no longer suffered from the problem. For the dog it was the best decision she ever made. Stapph infections are very difficult to cure, especially if you have a variety of stapph infections which a friend of ours did, and it didn't respond to antibiotics well due to the fact that what one type responds to the others don't. It literally wept, and leaked fluid out of it from her legs. I sincerely hope your skin clears with the treatment you are receiving. I must not only be itchy but painful too. Good Luck to you and all of your family, and I hope your health improves quickly.

akya
  • 23rd Aug 2011 12:12pm

My hasband was diagnosed with ceoliacs disease 2 years ago. Also our two and a half year old son is allergic to eggs, nuts, peanuts & beef (he has an epipen). We dicovered them one Sunday morning after my husband & I had bacon & eggs for breaky. Our son was only about 6 months at that stage & just through the process of me having cracked the egg into the pan, rinsed my hands under water (not washed with soap) & then an hour later apply cream to my sons full body (he had ecsema) he came out neck to toe in hives. His arms and face were fine only because the reaction was so quick that I stopped putting cream on. Long story short, a visit to emergency, a few visits to a specialist, a scratch test & we found out about the nuts peanuts & beef (thankfully all before he'd started on those foods).
It's a constant worry, as the specialist put it, an accidental exposure happens on average once every year or two. Family & friends have to know how to use the epipen properly incase of emergency & we're not there, not to mention that a grocery shop can take 2-3 hours (by the time you've read inredients list) & often cost twice as much (cheeky manufacturers know that you don't have much of a choice other than to buy their product!)Between my husband & my son, making a family meal that everyone can eat is a bit of a nightmare but we're getting there!
As for allergies getting worse with each generation, our specialist said that 10 years ago he'd see around 7-10 kids a week. Now he sees that a day! He said that the next gen will be even worse due to the fact that by the time kids of this gen pair up & have families it will be common that at least 1 parent will have allergies, making it likely that will be passed to their children. Two parents with allergies & you're all but guarenteed!

ccco
  • 20th Aug 2011 08:17pm

Our family haven't had any intolences or allergies until my son arrived. He has severe ezcema and asthma. He is also anaphalatic to wheat, egg, nuts and shellfish. Also after a lot of testing, trial and error he can not eat stone fruit, tomato, berries, dairy, soy, chicken and beef as these contribute to a ezcema flare up. He has had these allergies since he has been born, he has a hypersensitive immune system. Fustrating. Also dust is a big factor to his ezcema.

Barney
  • 20th Aug 2011 12:32pm

I am allergic to fish, my son several varieties of nuts and my granddaughter eggs. We also have gluten, tomatoes and the worst of all CHOCOLATE intolerances in the family. All family members with these issues have had or still have asthma. My parents or my grandparents didn't suffer from any intolerances. What are we putting in our food to make our bodies react so badly.

Anonymous
  • 20th Aug 2011 07:38am

I have dairy intolerance although do treat myself to milk in coffee now and then. I have just introduced dairy to my 12 month old very slowly and he does get a little rash. I wonder if my older son has a reaction to food coloring as he gets quite "over excited" at times. A friends daughter used to have this and she noticed a huge difference cutting out juice and tomato sauce. Thanks for the website bellow. I will look into this.

Anonymous
  • 18th Aug 2011 03:19pm

I have an allergy to chicken, only found out last year. My mum has got the same problem as well. Everytime that i would eat chicken i would get a sore stomach!!

jjdrer
  • 18th Aug 2011 12:14pm

If any of you have a food allergy, you have the right to ask and be advised if there is even the slightest amount of those ingredients in any of the choice of menu you may make.
On another point of food allergies, a friend of mine bought gluten-free bread for her father but he was still ill. When she returned to the bakery, she discovered that they dough was kneaded in equipment in which they use ordinary flour.

Anonymous
  • 29th Mar 2013 03:55pm
If any of you have a food allergy, you have the right to ask and be advised if there is even the slightest amount of those ingredients in any of the choice of menu you may make.
On another...

It is not understood yet how serious the situation is. At the moment a lot of places still think it is all a gimmick and a new fad. I hope the bakery that is kneading the gluten-free bread in the normal equipment is wise enough to make adjustments to their equipment.

jjdrer
  • 25th Aug 2011 09:26am
Thanks Blossom... Yeah it's the way the chips are cooked & not the actual potato. My husband had ordered calamari & salad, supposedly dusted with rice flour, but they couldn't guarantee the prep...

I would still warn anybody that you know has medical issues or allergies. Their health is more important than the business. The problem could be fatal to some. The wrong food can prove fatal to asthmatics as happened to a sales representative I knew. He had tried to ring for help, but collapsed and died before he managed to speak to the Ambulance Service He was found by hotel stasff the next morning. The phone was off the hook. A Postmortem proved that he had suffered a severe asthma attack. which caused a heart attack and failure.

akya
  • 24th Aug 2011 09:25pm
I would not return to that place again and I would warn other people too, just as you can if you receive "bad service" from other businesses
Some cafes etc. will gladly cook meals separately...

Thanks Blossom... Yeah it's the way the chips are cooked & not the actual potato. My husband had ordered calamari & salad, supposedly dusted with rice flour, but they couldn't guarantee the prep area or cooking method. Totally disappointing because we only get out a few times a year too. Definitely won't be back there to eat! There are massive fines for advertising 'gluten free' & it not being. Don't want to ruin their business but I will let them know the extent of what happened & the severity.

jjdrer
  • 23rd Aug 2011 01:02pm
My husband has celiacs disease & I recently took him out for lunch for his birthday to a place where we knew had gluten-free items & options. After being served our lunch I asked about the chips...

I would not return to that place again and I would warn other people too, just as you can if you receive "bad service" from other businesses
Some cafes etc. will gladly cook meals separately for those with problems. My cousin in WA always goes to a particular place on special occasions for that reason. The hotel at Mallala in SA is very understanding so we always go to that one and not so called big ones in adjoining towns for that reason if we go up there for the weekend to sporting events. I know there is now Low GI potatoes available at some Fruit and Veg. Shops but I didn't know that there is Gluten Free ones. It may be that the chips are cooked in oil that other products are cooked in. I would also be tempted to complain to the venue concerned about the situation. It has probably happened to other patrons. At least my problem doesn't make me ill if I eat the wrong thing if I "overdo" it a bit which was explained me not to make a habit of it, but we only go out like that a few times a year months apart. I just have to stick to my diet rigidly the rest of the time. I really feel for your husband, as I suffer from bad colic (nothing to compare with his problem) with some foods which is unusual in adults. Trust me to be different - rushed to hospital once - took awhile to find out which food caused it too.

akya
  • 23rd Aug 2011 12:23pm
If any of you have a food allergy, you have the right to ask and be advised if there is even the slightest amount of those ingredients in any of the choice of menu you may make.
On another...

My husband has celiacs disease & I recently took him out for lunch for his birthday to a place where we knew had gluten-free items & options. After being served our lunch I asked about the chips that our son was having to check whether my husband could have any. The waitress asked the chef & she returned to tell us that he couldn't 100% guarentee them just the same as the meal my husband was having!! She asked how bad his "intolerance" was. We told her he had celiacs & couldn't have ANY that's why we ordered "GLUTEN FREE". My husband was sick for around a week after. Some people, unfortunately, just don't get it & it's at the expense of others...

jjdrer
  • 18th Aug 2011 11:34am

Before Christmas I found out I have Syndrome X which is insulin resistance. Yet my Blood Glucose Level is normal. We forget that our body converts carbohydrates to sugar which converts to insulin via your liver. In my case too much insulin. There is a few different types of sugar, not just we add to our food. There is sugar in fruit, some vegetables and even in milk. I was tested because my weight suddenly inceased. It was also discovered I have fatty liver disease.
I have never been much of a junk food eater, or drunk alcohol.
Reading the nutritional values and the ingredients on food, drinks etc. is a real eye-opener. If we knew what was in most of the food we buy, we would be absolutely horrified. A lot of nasties are listed as codes. You can access the details of them on google === additives in foods.
It tells you what they are made from and side effects you can suffer.

Sus1
  • 17th Aug 2011 08:59pm

All of our family react to artificial colourings, flavourings and preservatives, as well as synthetic antioxidants. Our oldest son also reacts to natural chemicals called salicylates and amines. He does not react to gluten or dairy.
In fact the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Allergy centre told us gluten and dairy are likely to cause reactions in about 25% of people with intolerances as opposed to salicylates which is about %70 of people with intolerances.
There is more awareness of dairy and gluten as the media and a growing food industry promote it. People will often feel somewhat better when they remove these as some of the natural chemicals in gluten and dairy foods are in the ones with salicylates and amines.
I think people are reacting more and more because there is more and more being added to the food chain. Our western society embraces fads so easily.
15 years ago soy became popular. We are now starting to hear about soy allergies. I believe this is because it is being consumed in quanities well above what people in a traditional diet of soy would have had. Even people who think they don't consume soy will find it is in many commercial biscuits, in most commercial bread etc.
Sue Dengate has campaigned for years against additives in foods. Her studies and her knowledge of other studies which show the affect of these, are astounding. For anyone would would like to know more information about the affect of additives on children in particular, but adults as well, go to www.fedup.com.au. We need to cut them out!!!

jjdrer
  • 31st Aug 2013 01:33pm
I would strongly agree with that. There are some natural things which are a big problem for our bodies. Anatto160b is a good example of that. It is used to colour things and make them look more...

Thank you for the warning re. yoghurt. I actually have started eating the gluten free one so I can share it with relatives who are suspect coelic and still waiting for definite diagnosis. 2 brands I buy are also Lower Carb, sugar and fats(there is more than one type) content that some of the others because I have insulin resistance (When tested my BGL was normal but my insulin and cholestoral levels were very high the 1st time)

bj
  • 2nd Jan 2013 05:01pm
All of our family react to artificial colourings, flavourings and preservatives, as well as synthetic antioxidants. Our oldest son also reacts to natural chemicals called salicylates and amines. He...

I have allergies to lots of things, one being bread or the hidden things added.
It is a shame as bread is my fav food. But most of todays food has silly things added to them, to make them last or look better, or easier to pack etc. Stone age is no option now, we are stuck with living around these allergies

orcalena
  • 22nd Aug 2011 01:09pm
All of our family react to artificial colourings, flavourings and preservatives, as well as synthetic antioxidants. Our oldest son also reacts to natural chemicals called salicylates and amines. He...

Thanks for the post Sus, great information and the fedup site is excellent. I am in the process of doing a simple elimiation diet with my son and have already noticed a huge difference, I am able to communicate with him and work things out rather than him being so hyperactive and rough, it was impossible. We are doing low salicilates and amines as well as the no additives. There does need to be more awareness of what is actually put into the foods we eat and what it could be doing to us. I used to just buy the food thinking that it is safe, it is amazing what an eyeopener it is when you start researching. We still have a long way to go but are getting it figured out slowly

matt
  • 19th Aug 2011 09:09am
I would strongly agree with that. There are some natural things which are a big problem for our bodies. Anatto160b is a good example of that. It is used to colour things and make them look more...

. Anatto160b
actually i think thats the one i heard about.
I dont think a poisonous plant should be classified as a natural colouring!

DiDi
  • 18th Aug 2011 07:30pm
All of our family react to artificial colourings, flavourings and preservatives, as well as synthetic antioxidants. Our oldest son also reacts to natural chemicals called salicylates and amines. He...

Myself and daughter are in the same boat. The daughter has the artificial colouring and flavourings and presevatives Allergies. We have trouble getting people to understand that she can't have certain foods. Even to her local Chemist " the little bit in the tablets won't hurt" She has lived with this for 34 years. I suffer with a different set of allergies, you name it I'm allergic to it. It is a nightmare to go shopping or eating out. People thing you are nuts when asking what it contains.

Sus1
  • 18th Aug 2011 04:08pm
I think its because our bodies are very good at fighting disease, but since we arent farming and are washing everyday, all that immunity has nothing to fight so goes after other chemicals.
A...

I would strongly agree with that. There are some natural things which are a big problem for our bodies. Anatto160b is a good example of that. It is used to colour things and make them look more appealing. It is from a plant but it has as strong a negative effect on our bodies as any artificial colouring. It has been associated with agression and head banging in young children. Many food companies, particularly yoghurt have increased their use of it as they can then put the label no artificial colourings, flavourings or preservatives. My point was that there are so many things added to our food, washing and cleaning products that are unhelpful. These things, along with other factors, also compromise our immunity, and have strong behavioural effects as well as an increase in the bodies intolerance as it just gets overloaded.

matt
  • 18th Aug 2011 11:31am
All of our family react to artificial colourings, flavourings and preservatives, as well as synthetic antioxidants. Our oldest son also reacts to natural chemicals called salicylates and amines. He...

I think its because our bodies are very good at fighting disease, but since we arent farming and are washing everyday, all that immunity has nothing to fight so goes after other chemicals.
A lot of so called natural ingredientsare sourced from a plant in some weird place, that you would never find naturally. i heard of a food colour for yellow thats said to be natural, but its found in a nut in south america, and the natives thier use it as a paint and poison. Its only for adding colour but its in lots of things. I think the definition of natural is a bit different to what it sounds like.

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