Peanut Allergies

I had no idea that deadly food allergies were as prevalent and extreme as that. To die from a kiss - how tragic!

The other morning, NPR played an article about peanut allergies being cured, not just treated, by allergy shots.

My mother was allergic to celery, but that was easily avoided by never eating commercial salads. She also had an auto-immune disease, Sjorgen's Syndrom (similar to Lupus) which my sister has inherited.

Too little is known about the causes of food allergies, but exposure does seem to have a bearing.

 

One theory for explaining the rise in allergies in developed areas that is gaining popularity is the hygiene hypothesis which I believe holds a lot of merit.

Allergies are overreactions of our immune systems. The hygiene hypothesis proposes that the rise in allergies like peanut, asthma, etc in developed societies is a result of an underworked immune system in the sterile environments we create.

 

Mexican is "normal" food?

 

If someone has a deadly peanut allergy, its bound to get them sooner or later. How can you get through life without ingesting a peanut?

 

By knowing what you eat and avoiding commercial foods, especially baked and fried goods.

 

Our youngest daughters friend and neighbor, an eleven year old girl, died last summer from a candy apple cooked in peanut oil. She complained to her mom she tasted peanuts and that was about all she said. She died about 15 hrs later but never had a chance, the Drs. said.