Top 5 Dangerous Food Allergy Myths
There are studies and tests being conducted for us to have extensive knowledge and a better understanding of food allergies. We aim to be accurate about acquiring data, information, or anything surrounding how food allergies occur and ways we can prevent or cure it. But most of us have beliefs about food allergies that didn’t undergo any scientific studies and research and where it was based is just as vague as the condition itself.
In other terms, we call these as myths or misconceptions of food allergies and on this article, we wanted to present the most unsafe myths that a person with or without food allergies should have better understand.
Before we start, we wanted to remind each of our readers that this article is not intended to replace any medical findings or your doctor’s advice. Our intention is to present and clarify these food allergy myths that most of the time can compromise safety or worst lead to lives being lost.
Myth 1: Picking out and removing problem foods (tree nuts, peanuts, boiled egg, sesame seeds, etc.) in a dish can make the food safe.
Aside from the food itself, food allergies are triggered by the protein of a particular food so it can easily spread or contaminate a dish. Remember that when we cook, we intend to release the flavor and aroma of a particular ingredient and with that in mind, picking out an allergen won’t work and can still trigger an allergy attack. Even if that particular food was only used as a garnish, consider the food unsafe or contaminated.
Myth 2: Small amount of your allergen won’t hurt
Though food allergy reactions may differ per person, the amount of allergen in your food doesn’t determine the level of reaction. Some people may have allergic reactions through smell or skin contact of their food allergen, so it’s still safe to stay away from your problem food no matter what the amount is.
Myth 3: Food allergy can be self-diagnosed
Believe it or not, some people self-diagnose their food allergies where they compare their symptoms to other symptoms and conclude what their food allergies are, and then remove their self-diagnosed problem foods on their diet. This can be problematic in the long run and may put your life at risk.
There’s no accuracy in self-diagnosis whatever the condition you think you have. It’s always better to consult a doctor or an allergist and have yourself be tested to pinpoint what’s really causing your symptoms and prevent you from endangering your life. If you really have food allergies, you’ll know what food you can and can’t eat and what you can substitute it with for nutritional purposes.
Myth 4: Benadryl and anti-histamines can stop anaphylaxis
Don’t get us wrong, we’re not belittling the capabilities of Benadryl and anti-histamines when it comes to alleviating allergic attacks. To prove this, we designed our PracMedic Medicine Cases to house/carry Benadryl and anti-histamines so you can have it anywhere if you have allergies. What we’re trying to clarify here is the truth that only epinephrine or EAI (such as EpiPen, Auvi-Q, etc.) is the known cure for anaphylaxis at present.
Myth 5: Food allergies are not serious and are all in the mind
Like any myths that we mentioned here, this last one may put lives at risk. Underestimating food allergies is like underestimating your stealthiest enemy that can destroy you anytime. This type of thinking blinds a person to see how serious and how life-threatening food allergies are, and will surely result in discrimination and disaster.
So when reforms are made to make it a tad better for people with food allergies like removing nuts on airlines, requiring restaurants to have their separate areas that is food allergy safe, or improving the food labeling and packaging of food manufacturers, they don’t easily agree and some sadly even oppose it. For them, these are just unnecessary steps to take and only affect a few.
When we have this thinking, we undermine the condition itself and the person who has it will surely suffer or worst lose their lives.
To resolve this, the only solution is an open mind to give importance to food allergy. Educate yourself and know more about this condition so you can clearly see how serious it is. Most of us are aware that information nowadays is only one click away, why not try to search those people who lost their precious lives because of severe allergy attacks and trace how it happened and maybe your perspective about food allergies will change for the better.
References:
Dr Mommy Says: https://www.drmommasays.com/healthcare/allergy/forget-4-false-food-allergy-beliefs/
Every Day Health: https://www.everydayhealth.com/allergies/myths-about-allergies/