The number of people with food allergies in the United States has increased over the past decades. Food allergies among US children rose by 50% between 1997 and 2011 and another 50% from 2007 to 2021. Peanut and tree nut allergies in kids more than tripled between 1997 and 2008.
If you experience odd symptoms either minutes or a couple of hours after you eat, you may have food allergies. Food allergies are a sign that your immune system is overactive and goes into attack mode when you encounter substances that should be benign, such as: eggs, cow dairy, peanuts and tree nuts, shellfish, wheat, soy, and sesame.
Food allergies are different from food sensitivity, which is an inability to digest certain foods and substances. Food sensitivities may cause gastrointestinal distress, such as bloating or diarrhea, but they don’t trigger an immune response.
Catherine Fuller, MD, is an allergy expert who diagnoses and treats food allergies. She can also help you design a healthy eating plan that circumvents your allergy triggers.
What should you do if you think you have food allergies? Follow this step-by-step guide.
If you have severe symptoms within minutes to a couple of hours after eating, such as trouble breathing or swelling around your face, you may have a dangerous, potentially life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis. Immediately call 911 and get to the emergency room if you experience:
Anaphylaxis can kill you. If you have severe allergies that cause anaphylaxis, you must carry an auto-injector with epinephrine with you at all times.
If you have severe symptoms, don’t bother going to Step 2. Either head for the ER if you’re in the middle of an attack or, if you’re not having an attack, come to our office ASAP.
If you have only mild symptoms after eating a meal, you still may have severe food allergies. Severe food allergies include experiencing mild symptoms that involve multiple areas of your body at once. Pay attention if you have more than one of the following:
If you have mild symptoms that affect more than one area of your body, call us for allergy testing and treatment ASAP. You have severe allergies.
If you have mild symptoms affecting a single area of your body, go to the next step.
If you have only mild symptoms, you may be able to identify your main triggers with an elimination diet. Because you must refrain from eating a number of foods for several weeks, you should only engage in an elimination diet under Dr. Fuller’s supervision. She also tests you for food allergies using skin tests and other methods.
During your elimination diet, she gives you a list of foods to avoid, based on your allergy test results as well as your eating habits. For 2-4 weeks, you may need to avoid foods such as:
As you can see, these common allergens severely limit what you can eat, which is why you need to do this under a doctor's care to ensure you get enough nourishment. In addition, you may need to avoid additives, such as:
Once you’ve successfully eliminated all potential allergens, you add back suspect foods and additives one at a time, separated by at least three days. Dr. Fuller helps you schedule re-introductions so it’s clear which foods are triggering your food allergy symptoms.
Don’t face your meals with worry. Find out what’s causing your food allergies, and get the help you need to eat safely and healthily.
For food allergy testing and treatment, contact Catherine Fuller, MD, in West Los Angeles, California, by calling 310-909-1910. You can also use our online form to request an appointment.
