Anti-Allergen Diet

Food allergies are not that common, but they are usually serious. Those who have them need to do everything in their power to avoid the foods to which they are allergic. If they fail to do so, they risk a dangerous allergic reaction. But other than avoiding the specific foods that are known to cause a reaction, those affected usually eat a normal diet.

There are also special anti-allergen diets which have been receiving a great deal of attention lately. They may be recommended for those with food allergies in the traditional sense, because some doctors believe that those affected may also have less intense reactions to other foods. Studies have also suggested that anti-allergen diets are useful in a variety of situations.

Some doctors of alternative medicine believe that so-called "hidden" food allergies are responsible for many of the symptoms we experience that are not properly diagnosed or treated. They cite symptoms such as headaches, nasal allergy symptoms and stomach problems as some of the ones that patients often see their doctors for, but continue to experience even after treatment. By trying an anti-allergen diet, these patients sometimes see a reduction or elimination of their problems.

Doctors often recommend a low-allergen diet to aid in diagnosing food allergies. By avoiding foods that are known to trigger allergies, one can determine whether or not a food allergy is the problem. If the diet helps, various foods are reintroduced for periods of time until the culprit is found.

Anti-allergen diets have also been used for breastfeeding mothers to alleviate the symptoms of colic in babies. Studies on the subject have found a significant reduction in fussiness in babies whose mothers adhered to the diet. While it does not cure colic, it may provide relief.

Low-Allergen Foods

An anti-allergen diet is very restrictive. It requires the avoidance of wheat, milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy and fish. Acceptable foods include:

* Herbal tea
* Freshly squeezed fruit juice diluted with water
* Oatmeal and oat bran
* Puffed rice
* Bean flour
* Buckwheat flour and noodles
* Rice flour, crackers and cakes
* Black, kidney and navy beans
* Peas
* Sesame, sunflower and olive oil
* Lamb
* Poultry
* Most vegetables except for tomatoes

Some doctors include certain types of fish and nuts that are unlikely to cause reactions in their recommended anti-allergen diets. These include tuna, salmon and other canned fish, almonds and cashews. Some also include soy and soy products such as tofu. If such a diet fails to produce results, however, eliminating these things may be in order.

Anti-allergen diets are much different than what the average person is accustomed to. But for those who have found no relief from traditional medical treatment, they could be worth a try. In most cases, the diet is only temporarily followed until the offending foods are identified. Then the patient can go back to his regular diet, eliminating only these foods.

Tags: anti allergen diet, allergy, food allergies