Living with Peanut Allergies

If you have a peanut allergy — or suspect you have a peanut allergy — you probably have many questions. What can you eat? What can't you eat? And what special precautions must you take?

"Peanut allergies can be diagnosed at any age, but often appears in the first years of life," says Judy Dodd, MS, RD, LDN, Giant Eagle^® Corporate Nutritionist. "Most kids do not outgrow a peanut allergy, unlike allergies to milk or eggs," she adds. "This is an allergic reaction that is likely to continue into adulthood."

Judy says that there are several theories as to why peanut allergies appear to be more common today.

Because of advances in medical care and wider care availability, more people are able to report suspected peanut allergies and get diagnoses.
Modern food processing encourages cross-contamination. For example, soy products might be processed using the same factory equipment as peanuts, or a factory worker might use the same gloves to handle corn and peanut products.
It's the environment. Today, we live in a highly sanitized environment, especially when compared with centuries past. Therefore, some people might have developed hypersensitive immune systems as a result of having fewer germs to fight off.

Peanut allergies: life with an allergy

If you've been diagnosed with a peanut allergy, take precautions to prevent an allergic reaction. These lifestyle, food and food prep tips will help you — or your loved ones — reduce risk.

Lifestyle tips
Food tips
Food prep tips
Peanut allergies: symptoms
Peanut allergies: diagnosis

Lifestyle tips

Carry an epinephrine pen, as well as emergency contact numbers, whenever you go out. Know how to use the pen, and where you can get help if you have an allergic reaction.
Let co-workers or personnel at your child's school know about peanut allergies, and raise awareness of cross-contamination.
If you're dining at a new restaurant, call ahead and ask about their policies for guests with allergies. In particular, ask if the restaurant cleans all equipment for guests with food allergies and takes all precautions to avoid cross-contamination.
When ordering food in a restaurant, tell the server about the allergy and its severity. And keep your order simple: no sauces or special seasonings, and no menu items that might have come into contact with peanuts.

Food tips

Read labels closely, and look for warnings that foods have been processed with peanuts.
Avoid foods that are likely to contain peanuts, including most pestos, mole sauces, salad dressings, egg rolls, and many Asian, Thai and Mexican dishes.
Avoid foods that are fried in peanut oil. Watch out for marinades and sauces that may contain peanut oil.
Substitute sun butter or soy butter for peanut butter in dishes. These butters add protein to your meal, just like peanut butter. Tip: Read labels to make sure these products are not processed with peanuts.
Substitute chopped veggies, cilantro, parsley — or various chopped nuts, if there are no other allergies in your household — for peanut garnishes.
Use canola or vegetable oil in place of peanut oil when frying foods.

Food prep tips

Consider keeping a peanut-free home to reduce the risk of reactions and cross-contamination.
If you must stock peanut products in your home, use separate knives, cutting boards and cooking utensils to prepare food for someone with a peanut allergy. This reduces the risk of cross-contamination.
Consider purchasing cooking equipment specifically for peanut-free food prep. Giant Eagle^® carries a wide selection of affordable everyday cooking equipment
If you're preparing food for someone with a peanut allergy, always wash your hands with hot water and soap according to safe hand washing guidelines — before and after food prep.
After preparing food with peanuts, thoroughly wash all prep and cooking surfaces. Remember that peanuts contain oil, so traces can lurk on surfaces, in crevices, in cuts or nicks, and on edges of knives and kitchen tools. And always designate separate washing equipment for cooking tools that touch peanuts.
Use paper towels to clean up after handling peanut butter or nuts, and throw the towels away so the peanut-allergic person is not at risk.

Ask Judy Dodd questions about peanut allergies.

Peanut allergies: symptoms

Peanut allergies range in severity from mild symptoms to severe reactions that can require hospitalization.

Judy Dodd says that your reaction to peanuts can change as you age. Other factors will affect your reaction too — including the amount of peanuts you've ingested and whether you've ingested other foods that could affect the reaction.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, if you experience the following symptoms after ingesting foods containing peanuts, you might have a peanut allergy:

Hives, eczema or a new rash
Tingling or swelling in the mouth, tongue or throat
Difficulty with breathing; respiratory symptoms such as coughing or wheezing
Gastrointestinal symptoms such as stomach cramps, vomiting or diarrhea
Dizziness; feeling faint, a loss of consciousness

Peanut allergies: diagnosis

According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, your doctor will begin to test for a peanut allergy only after ruling out other health problems. Your doctor will know if you're allergic to peanuts after performing one or more of the following tests:

Taking a history of your first suspected reaction to peanuts — including when the reaction occurred, what symptoms you had, and what else you ate before the reaction occurred.
Evaluating a "diet diary," or a log of the foods you eat, to determine what might be causing your allergy.
Putting you on an elimination diet, during which your doctor removes suspicious foods from your meals, one by one, until the cause of the allergy is determined.
Conducting a skin test, where a small amount of the food suspected to cause your allergy is placed in a scratch or a prick in your skin, and you are observed for reactions to this food.
Ordering a blood test to see whether your blood contains high levels of a certain antibody that indicates a likelihood of food allergies.

Important Physician Advice Disclaimer: The content provided by Giant Eagle^®, including but not limited to, Web site, recipe and health information is for educational purposes only. This content is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult your physician for professional guidance before changing or undertaking a new diet program. Advance consultation with your physician is particularly important if you are under the age of 18, pregnant, nursing or have health problems.

Sources: Judy Dodd, MS, RD, LDN, Giant Eagle^® Corporate Nutritionist
The Centers for Disease Control Healthy Youth!, (www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/foodallergies/)
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (www3.niaid.nih.gov/topics/foodAllergy/understanding/diagnosis)
The National Institutes of Health
(www.nih.gov)
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm089307)