Allergy dietary taboos

The first is to strictly avoid foods that have been identified as self-allergenic and possible cross-contaminants. The second is that there is no need to blindly avoid "so-called food" that has not been proven to be allergic. All taboos must be based on the individual's actual allergic reaction as the only criterion.

Don’t think these words are empty. Last week I met a 19-year-old girl in the nutrition clinic. The only allergens she found were mugwort and ragweed. She was surprised to hear an old man at home say, “If you are allergic, you should avoid things.”

Regarding allergic taboos, there have always been differences between folk and Western medicine. The "fat food taboos" that the older generation talks about are actually a summary of the past experience when there was no allergen detection technology - foods that are likely to cause redness, swelling, itching and other allergic reactions are classified as hair food, such as seafood, tropical fruits, beef and mutton, which indeed cover about 70% of the allergens of immediate food allergies. In the past when information was not developed, it could help many people avoid risks. But now, this "one-size-fits-all" logic is easy to cause misunderstandings. After all, some people are allergic to shrimp but are fine eating crabs, and some people get rashes after eating mangoes but have no reaction to peaches. If you insist on a unified list of hair products, you are purely making yourself unhappy.

The most controversial issue on the Internet right now is "should we avoid spicy food during an allergy attack?" The two sides have yet to come to a unified conclusion. Those who support taboos believe that capsaicin will dilate capillaries and aggravate the symptoms of skin redness, nasal congestion, and respiratory edema. Eating spicy food when you are already uncomfortable is equivalent to "adding fuel to allergic reactions."” ； The opposing side believes that as long as you are not allergic to capsaicin and often eat spicy food, there is no need to avoid spicy food. On the contrary, the large amount of vitamin C in peppers can also inhibit the release of histamine, which may relieve discomfort. My own clinical experience is that you don’t have to adhere to the standard. If you are not sure, just eat two bites less and try it. If the symptoms do not worsen within half an hour, then eat normally. If you can’t eat spicy food, don’t join in the fun, otherwise you will be in trouble with your throat skin.

Many people think that dietary taboos mean not eating allergenic foods themselves. In fact, cross-contamination is ignored and is the culprit of repeated allergies for many people. I am allergic to pineapple myself. Two years ago, I went to a restaurant to order a vegetable salad and specifically told the waiter not to add pineapple. As a result, my lips swelled after two bites. After asking, I found out that the boxes of dried fruits in the kitchen were mixed. Raisins and dried pineapples were placed in the same storage box. Even if the dried pineapples were picked out, the bromelain on the raisins was enough to induce allergies. And for those who are allergic to peanuts and tree nuts, don’t just buy freshly ground grain flour on the street. There is a high chance that the flour grinding machine will not be thoroughly cleaned every time the ingredients are changed. The previous customer has just ground peanuts, and the residue in your bowl of flour is enough to give you hives. In severe cases, it may even cause laryngeal edema. This is really not an alarmist statement.

There is also a very common misunderstanding: many people find out they are allergic to a certain food, and they will take the initiative to blacklist all the same type of food. For example, if you are found to be allergic to cow's milk, you will immediately avoid goat's milk, camel milk, and all foods containing milk ingredients. In fact, existing research shows that less than 20% of patients with cow's milk allergies will have a cross-allergic reaction to goat's milk. You can do a prick test or eat a small amount to verify it before deciding whether to avoid the food. There is no need to exclude all milk, which will in fact reduce a lot of nutritional sources.

After all, allergy dietary taboos are always "customized" things. Someone else's allergen may be your delicacy, and something that you can't touch may be okay for others to eat. Don't blindly follow the list on the Internet, and don't just try it on the basis that nothing has happened to you. If you are really unsure, go for a formal allergen test. It is much more reliable than listening to the "experiences" of the seventh aunt and the eighth aunt.