Could FODMAPs be Causing Your Discomfort?

It's been a few years now since I started my journey to understanding what was causing my digestive issues. Since then I've been tested for Celiac, Lupus, and allergies. The first two came back negative, thank goodness, but the allergy testing did show some mild food allergies. A few of those were grains, so I've adopted a gluten free diet in an effort to avoid some of those grains. I'll admit, I'm not as strict as I should be, and because of this, I still have symptoms from time to time. For me, this means I suffer from stomachaches, gas, bloating, headaches, and joint pain. It's not fun, and I don't know exactly what causes it. Yes, their are foods that I know, for sure, that if I eat them, I will be in pain, but without an official diagnosis of anything other than some allergies (mild at that... which tend to cause a stuffy nose and some mouth itching), I just do my best to avoid known issues. The rest is guess work.

I have read that Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity does not exist. I've read that it does. I've read that it could be sensitivity to pesticides, and I've read that it could actually be a sensitivity to FODMAPs.

Could Bacteria be a Cure for Allergies

http://www.kcet.org/living/food/food-rant/reason-behind-increasing-food-allergies-discovered.html

I openly admit I have not checked into the background of this article, nor have I fact checked it, but even if there is a kernel of truth it's an interesting notion. 

Food Allergy Facts

According to a study released in 2013 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, food allergies increased approximately 50% between 1997 and 2011. There is no clear reason why this is happening, despite ongoing research.

A reaction to food can range from a mild response (such as an itchy mouth) to anaphylaxis, a severe and potentially deadly reaction.

It is possible to have an anaphylactic reaction without skin rashes or hives.

Get the full list of facts here.

Food Allergy Facts

According to Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE):

• Food allergy affects 1 in every 13 children (under 18 years of age) in the U.S. That’s roughly two in every classroom.
• Food allergies may be a trigger for or associated with other allergic conditions, such as atopic dermatitis and eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases.
• Although childhood allergies to milk, egg, wheat and soy generally resolve in childhood, they appear to be resolving more slowly than in previous decades, with many children still allergic beyond age 5 years. Allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, fish, or shellfish are generally lifelong allergies.

 Get a full list of statistics and references here.

Food Allergy Facts

According to Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE):

• As many as 15 million Americans have food allergies. 
• An estimated 9 million, or 4%, of U.S. adults have food allergies.
• Nearly 6 million or 8% of children in the U.S. have food allergies with young children affected most.
• Boys appear to develop food allergies more than girls.

 Get a full list of statistics here.

Getting the Right Nutrients Allergy Free

Having to eliminate certain foods from my diet causes me to worry that I'm getting the right nutrients. Admittedly, I'm still not as disciplined as I need to be about avoiding my trigger foods, but even still... I know I don't eat enough of the right foods. I recently found an article from kidswithfoodallergies.org that outlines some of the common food allergies, the nutrients those foods provide, and some alternative foods that contain those nutrients.

TUESDAY'S TIP: Malnutrition & Food Allergies

Finding the Right Balance

How do you ensure you're getting the right nutrients when you have to avoid certain, possibly nutrient-rich, foods? When you have a food allergy... or multiple allergies like me, it can be difficult to find alternatives or replacements for foods we can no longer eat. I know I can't be the only person who has looked up and down the grocery store aisles in search of an acceptable snack, lunch item, or ingredient to alter a recipe. If you're like me, you probably get frustrated too and end up saying something like, "Forget it! I'll just get a candy bar... that's got nutrients, right?" No? OK, well... maybe it's just me.

If you have to avoid certain foods for health reasons, and you don't eat enough of the right foods, you could be lacking vital nutrients. So what do you do? We need to have carbohydrates, protein, fats (yes, fats), vitamins and minerals in our diets to get everything our body needs to function properly. Let's take a look at these individually.

FRIENDLY FRIDAYS: Freebirds

I fell in love with Freebirds when my husband and I lived near Austin, TX. They have great food without the yuppy Chipotle vibe. Now that I have to be careful of what I eat Freebirds has become one of my favorite places to eat! Their website has allergy information under the "Food" tab. You can also find information from this 2008 report from the Dallas Fort Worth Gluten Intolerance Group. If you have problems with wheat and dairy like me, I recommend their tacos. I prefer mine on the soft corn tortillas, but crunchy tacos are another GF option.  Their queso, BBQ sauce, and salsa have wheat in them, but guacamole, pico de gallo, veggies, and hot sauces are all GF! Their allergen list does not include their carnitas or ground beef, but for sure their chicken is safe. Nachos and burrito bowls are another good option for the gluten free diner. Now we have the "Freedom to Choose" at Freebirds!

*Note: All Freebirds foods are prepared in a common kitchen.

Allergy Free Breakfast Sausage

I'm always happy when I can find recipes that meet my dietary needs, but I know how incredibly frustrating it can be to not find what you're searching for. A good friend of mine has a son with food allergies and while she's been a great resource and support for me, I feel frustrated for her when she responds, "but is it soy free?" Well, my friend, this is a SOY free, WHEAT free, GLUTEN free, DAIRY free, EGG free breakfast sausage recipe I found on Yummly. This recipe originally came from AllRecipes. Hope this helps!



Ingredients
2 tsps sage (dried)
2 tsps salt
1 tsp black pepper (ground)
1/4 tsp marjoram (dried)
1 tbsp brown sugar
1/8 tsp red pepper flakes (crushed)
1 pinch ground cloves (optional)
2 lbs ground pork (You can substitute ground turkey) 
*For a spicy sausage add 1-2 tsps each garlic and onion powder and cayenne pepper to taste. You may also want to consider reducing or eliminating the amount of brown sugar. 
*For maple sausage replace brown sugar with 1-2 tbsps maple syrup.

TUESDAY'S TIP: Allergy Free Vacations

It's summertime, and you know what that means... vacation! While most vacationers concern themselves with where to go, what to see, and what to pack, the number one priority for those with food allergies/sensitivities is ensuring access to allergy free food. I know one of the things I most enjoy about going on vacation (aside from relaxing) is not having to cook! However, eating on the road has become particularly difficult since my food allergy diagnosis. So what do you do?

The Sensitive Eater's Lament

Adjusting to food allergies, sensitivities, intolerances, is not easy. Thankfully, I'm blessed to have a very supportive and loving husband who considers my struggles with food when he makes his own food choices. When we go out to eat, he often refuse to order foods he knows I can't have because he doesn't want to eat them in front of me. (I know... Awwww!) I think it's incredibly sweet that he wants me to be successful and doesn't want to taunt me with the very foods I crave. I guess he's noticed me drooling as I watch others munch on their cheesy, doughy, goodies. Now I can tell myself until I'm blue in the face that those foods aren't healthy anyway, but they just look sooo good sometimes... and I think they know it. I swear I saw a cupcake wink at me the other day! Cheeky confection!

So, while I'm thankful for a loving husband, I hate the idea that I'm depriving him of foods he's able to eat. It seems ludicrous to me that he should eat according to my needs. What's a girl to do? Thankfully my cravings for such temptations is beginning to subside. Hallelujah! So, when I say, "No, it's OK. I don't really want it." I mean it... well most of the time. The other part of the time I'm just saying it out loud in an attempt to convince myself that I don't want or need it. In the meantime I suppose it's just going to be a balancing act... and I'm not very graceful. As I quietly mourn the foods I crave, I will continue to encourage my husband to eat as he normally would... and he will continue not wanting to tempt me. Sigh... The bright spot in all this is that at least it's a pretty benign problem to have.

The Week Ahead

July 15-21
Here are some of the posts you can look forward to in the coming week!

• New websites with apps to help find allergy free options!
• New Recipes! 
• "The Great Noodle Debate"
• TUESDAY'S TIP: Allergy Friendly Vacationing
• FRIENDLY FRIDAYS: Check back to see what new eatery has allergy friendly options!

And more! 

The Picky Eater Who Came to Dinner (NY Times)

This article from the New York Times made me angry! With the rise in food allergies and intolerances more people have a legitimate need for dietary restrictions, but even if you make them by choice, it is YOUR responsibility to meet those needs, nobody else's. I don't expect people throwing a party to learn how to cook for my needs. How is that fair to them, and why would I want to risk them making a mistake? If I find myself in that type of situation, I make sure to bring at least one dish I know I can eat. Where restaurants are concerned I either research the restaurant beforehand to make sure they have allergy safe choices, try to find something on the menu that would require the fewest number of substitutions, or I don't go out to eat. Plain and simple. 


I hate to be the one to break it to ya, but the world owes us nothing, and we really aren't entitled to have our needs met by anyone else but ourselves. When people get an attitude about their food because they're trying to make some kind of statement, or take a stand, or just assert their personal beliefs... they put people with legitimate, even life threatening, food allergies in danger. The more difficult they make things, the less accommodating people will be in the future. Let's have a little more consideration for each other and be a little more responsible for ourselves, please.

FAAN Walk for Food Allergy

The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) hosts allergy walks each year in selected cities around the country. It's purpose is to raise money for food allergy awareness, advocacy, education, and research programs. It also allows people affected by food allergies to network with each other. Check out their website (link above) to donate or find a walk near you!

Step Away from the Sanitizer!

I work with kids... who don't always do the proper thing when they have a booger hanging from their nose or an itch in an inappropriate location. Sanitizer is my friend! Some days I wish I had a biohazard shower installed in my classroom, because honey, with all I've seen and encountered... there's just not enough Purell on the planet! Well, now thanks to a recent study by Johns Hopkins Children's Center, it seems that I might just have to join a 12 step program and kick my antibacterial habit. Their research looked at 860 children between the ages of 6 and 18 to examine the level of antibacterial chemicals and certain preservatives in their urine versus the amount of IgE antibodies in their blood (there are higher levels of these antibodies in people with allergies). Increased levels of these chemicals correlated to an elevation of IgE antibodies. The results don't point to sanitizers as a cause for allergies, but rather that they effect our immune system. So I guess my parents were right all these years! A little dirt and a few germs may not be so bad. You can read more about this research by visiting the Food Allergy Initiative, or the Johns Hopkins Children's Center.

Food Allergy Assistant: Food Allergy Treatment Options

Food Allergy Assistant: Food Allergy Treatment Options: For over a decade we've been told strict avoidance is the only "treatment" for food allergy. Finally we are hearing about, and starting to...

Food Allergy or Intolerance?

WebMD: Food Allergy vs Intolerance
With so much information floating around out there, it's hard to make sense of it all sometimes. The dividing line between allergy and intolerance has been a little grey to me. Thankfully, WebMD explains the difference. The article gives definitions, symptoms, incidence rate, and more. 

Food Allergy Info

Go here to find everything from the definition of the term "food allergy", to symptoms, testing, and treatment. 
Mayo Clinic: Food Allergies

Whole Life

This site is a WONDERFUL resource! I'm so glad I stumbled upon it! They have some good information, recipes and links. Looks like it might be a new-ish site, but they're adding on and growing!
Whole Life: nourishingmeals.com

Are Food Allergies on the Rise?

This is a short article from the Dr. Oz website addressing the possible rise in food allergies.
Dr. Oz: Are Food Allergies on the Rise?