Therefore, exposure to peanuts early on may help kids develop a better immune system and actually prevent them from further allergies.

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Peanut Butter Allergy News

But, for some children, like AJ, salicylates have a different reaction. AJ reacts by getting hyper, by stimming, and making odd noises. The problem is that he just can not control it.

Last year I did a lot of research on diet and behaviors because I felt that a lot of his behaviors were related to diet. I was not this type of person before we had children, mainly because I never bought into any of the biomedical stuff but when I saw the effect of the GFCF diet with AJ I was sold.

I know that when we first started to eliminate salicylates he did great and I could see when I gave him certain foods he reacted. Some time ago I gave him two pieces of pineapple because he requested it when we were shopping for Kosher meats at Trader Joes. Within 30 minutes he was unable to listen to me, was throwing items behind the couch, and was barking at the dog. All of this is not unusual after eating something like this.

My favorite site for determining salicylate contents is the Allergy Dietician.

It states at the bottom of the chart that when eating a diet low in salicylates to stick to the left hand side of the chart, choose ripe fruit, peel all fruits and vegetables (and remove outer leaves). Additionally, I have heard to cook vegetables to reduce salicylate content.

Treatment for salicylate intolerance is basically the removal of salicylates…but it is very difficult. One has to not only remove all of the foods but also the medications and cosmetics. It took us a long time to determine the shampoos and soaps that AJ could use.

But, sunscreen was the most difficult, as we had to find a GFCF and salicylate free sunscreen. We finally found Banana Boat Kids UVA & UVB Sunblock Lotion SPF 30 Waterproof and use Soap Bar-Pure Olive Oil Bar Soap. We also use Johnson and Johnson Baby soap.

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Salicylates

Spotting an allergy in children can be easy if you know what to look for:

Other symptoms (which almost always appear a few minutes after eating the offending food) :

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Itching (throat, mouth, eyes, skin, and/or ears)
• Lip swelling” “Rash (hives or a flare-up of eczema)
• Throat tightness (trouble swallowing or breathing)
• Tongue swelling that obstructs the mouth
• Chest pain
• Dizziness
• Sudden paleness or blueness, unconsciousness, and/or a faint pulse

My oldest son, AJ, has an allergy to bananas that makes his mouth itch and gives him diarrhea. His oat allergy is gastrointestinal as well. Peppers, on the other hand, give him a rash so we have many symptoms to look for with him.

List from Parenting.

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How to Spot a Food Allergy

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the RSV season is in full swing right now. The RSV levels have reached the 30% level- meaning that one-third of all infants tested for the virus are testing positive. The CDC considers this to be an epidemic.

Now, because this is such a serious illness, and because this is so prevelent, RSV is considered to be one of the most important childhood illnesses.

Approximately 125,000 infants are hospitalized and 500 infants die each year from RSV.

Information from Dr. Anne Moscana, Professor of Pediatrics and of Microbiology and Immunology, Vice Chair of Pediatrics for Research at Weill Medical College of Cornell University and iVillage.

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RSV Epidemic?

Currently the only advice doctors can give to the estimated 12 million Americans who have food allergies is to avoid the food and carry a self-injectable dose of epinephrine in case they accidentally consume the allergenic food. There is no treatment available to prevent an allergic reaction to food other than strict avoidance of that food.
The theory is that challenges exist for hay fever sufferers so why not for food allergy sufferers?

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Food Challenges for Allergy Sufferers

Peanut allergies are NOTHING to take lightly and are usually a life threatening condition so it is very important to know how to prevent an attack and to know what to do if there is an attack.

1. Read ALL food labels and know what words manufacturers use.

2. Have at least two Epi-Pens and an antihistamine with your child at all times. These have to be in the nurses office at school but if the allergy is life threatening it can be in the classroom or on the body at all times. (I had one student who had a life-threatening milk protein allergy and kept an Epi-Pen on her ALL the time).

3. Make sure all adults know the signs of an attack AND how to treat it.

4. Have an emergency plan for all scenarios. (The student with the milk protein allergy went to a dairy farm and had to stay clear of all surfaces that could have been touched by milk because she was allergic by ingestion and by touch).

5. Teach your child not to take food and if your child is young teach them code words. (We taught AJ that certain foods made his “tummy hurt” and now that he is older that he is “allergic” or that they have “wheat or milk” in them.)

6. Educate yourself and stay informed. Food manufacturers change their ingredients ALL the time.

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Peanut Allergy Primer for Parents

While the children’s speedier exhalations could have been related to the beneficial components of breast milk, “the lung capacity cannot be really explained by the immune factors in the breast milk,” Ogbuanu told Reuters Health.

Most likely though, is that it is more difficult to drink from a breast than a bottle.

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Breastfeeding Builds Lung Capacity

What is most alarming is that 41% of the children under four had iron-deficiency anemia, 55% of elementary aged students had behavior or learning problems, 42% had allergic rhinitis,, and 24% had upper respiratory and allergic skin ailments.

The question is; is this a problem with natural disaster displacement or with income? If guardians are having a difficult time getting back on their feet then how can they sufficiently afford food, vitamins, and health care?

Additionally, the trailers and mobile homes used for the temporary housing have been found to contain high levels of toxins including formaldehyde.

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Hurricane Katrina Children Sick

Why?

Because being born at that time of the year increases the chance of a respiratory infection during infancy, which also increases the chance of asthma.

WebMD

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Fall Babies Higher Risk for Asthma?

Lactose can be used to replace sugar, dextrose, and syrup so it keeps cost down and it looks healthier.

So, if you need a casein free or lactose free product chose a FRESH turkey.

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Your Thanksgiving Turkey has Lactose!