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If you have ever been in the presence of someone experiencing an allergic reaction to something they ate, you will know that it is a frightening sight. A food allergy is a serious condition with potentially life-threatening consequences.
Nut allergies affect at leastone in 50 children and one in 200 adults, and most patients do not outgrow their allergies.
Well, it's an allergy to tree nuts, but don't all nuts grow on trees? Strictly speaking yes. What we all know as peanuts are actually not nuts. They don't grow on trees and they are not classified as nuts; they are considered to be legumes, like lentils or beans.
An allergy to peanuts often goes hand in hand with an allergy to one or more tree nuts.
Tree nuts are one of thenine major food allergens: Milk, egg, peanut, tree nuts, wheat, soy, sesame, fish, and crustacean shellfish.
Tree nuts include:
Macadamia nuts and pine nutsare seeds, not nuts. Water chestnuts and coconuts are also not classified as nuts.
Allergic reactions to tree nuts vary from mild to severe. Reactions can also differ between incidents, with some incidents fairly moderate and others more severe. You can expect a tree nut allergy when someone shows some ofthese signs after ingesting nuts.
Tree nuts can cause anaphylaxis, the worst kind of allergic reaction. It triggers an instant allergic reaction that can impact multiple organs, preventing them from functioning properly. For instance, anaphylaxis causes swelling in the throat, tongue, and airways, which can prevent breathing, leading to asphyxiation.
The reaction can also cause a sudden drop in blood pressure, called anaphylactic shock. In this instance, blood flow to vital organs like the heart and brain is severely diminished and a person can lose consciousness.
What makes it so dangerous is the speed with which these severe symptoms arise. People with nut allergies should always have an epinephrine pen (also known as an epi pen) with them to be prepared for unforeseen and involuntary ingestion of the allergen.
Hazelnut, walnut, pecan, and cashew arethe most allergenic. The proteins in some nuts are very similar. For instance, those in pecans and walnuts are similar, and those in cashews and pistachios are similar. This means that if you are allergic to pecans, you will most likely have a reaction to walnuts too.
Nut allergies are the result of anautoimmune reaction to a substance that doesn't pose a threat to most people. With a tree nut allergy, the immune system overreacts to the protein in tree nuts by producing antibodies that trigger cells to release histamine and other chemicals into the bloodstream.
These cause allergy symptoms like hives, itching, swelling, breathing problems, or vomiting.
Scientists think we have become more aware of nut allergies in the last two decades because increasing numbers of people have started to eat nuts. Nuts were not previously part of most people's diets and were not promoted as an important addition to a healthy diet, as is the case today.
An allergic reaction to nuts typically occurs within minutes to two hours after exposure.
Severe reactions, such as anaphylaxis, can manifest almost immediately. Symptoms like swelling, hives, difficulty breathing, and gastrointestinal distress can develop within minutes, necessitating emergency treatment.
A delayed reaction can take up to two hours to appear in the form of digestive discomfort, stomach cramps, and nausea. Delayed reactions may also happen when only a small amount of the allergen is ingested.
But things can escalate quickly and so, people with known allergies should always carry an epinephrine auto-injector (e.g., EpiPen) with them.
Without treatment, anaphylaxis can intensify rapidly, sometimes causing deathwithin 15 minutes.
Several tests are available to determine whether a person is allergic to a certain food. A doctor will first obtain your medical history and then discuss the nature and frequency of your symptoms with you.
To get more insight into your symptoms, you may undergo a skin prick test. The test involves dropping a small amount of nut protein on the skin and lightly pricking the skin. A possible allergy is indicated If the skin shows a reaction, such as redness or swelling. Skin tests are a quick and safe way to discover allergies. Also, up to50 different substances can be tested at once.
A blood test may also be performed to look for allergen-specific immunoglobulin E in the bloodstream. It is an antibody that responds to allergens, causing the release of histamine and other chemicals responsible for allergic symptoms.
Skin prick and blood tests can produce inconclusive results in which case an oral food challenge is the next step. The trial takes place under the supervision of a medical practitioner. The individual consumes a little of the nut that may be causing problems. The person gradually eats more of the nut and is observed for signs of an allergic reaction.
People allergic to tree nuts can enjoy a varied diet that excludes nuts and nut products. Nuts mostly contribute protein and healthy fats to a balanced diet. Other protein sources include meat, fish, tofu, dairy, whole grains, legumes, and seeds. Healthy fats can be found in olives, avocados, and fatty fish.
Foods safe to eat for those with tree nut allergies include:
Like all other allergies, tree nut allergies cannot be cured. The only way to avoid allergic reactions is to avoid the source of the allergy, in this case, the nut you are allergic to. Keep in mind that if you are allergic to one tree nut you may also be allergic to other tree nuts.
So, it's best to completely avoid the specific nut that you are allergic to and any products that may contain it or traces of it. While individuals diagnosed with an allergy to a specific tree nut may be able to tolerate other tree nuts, specialists' advice is toavoid all nuts.
In the United States, federal law requires that all allergens, including tree nutsbe listed in plain language on packaged foods. The specific tree nut used in the food must be identified in the ingredient list.
While reading food labels can help to avoid allergic reactions, the information is not failsafe.
Packaged foods are processed in large industrial buildings and cross-contamination can cause traces of tree nuts to land up in food that are not supposed to contain nuts. Companies are not required by law to display advisory statements, such as "made in a facility with tree nuts". If in doubt, contact the manufacturer.
Important tip: Don't assume that a food item that has always been safe to eat will always be okay. Food manufacturers constantly adapt their formulas, including new ingredients that might pose a problem for you. If you have a food allergy or need to avoid sugar, always read the food labels of products you buy regularly.
It's not good enough to just avoid tree nuts if you have a tree nut allergy. Just a tiny amount of the allergen can cause an allergic reaction, so beware of the many hidden sources of tree nuts.
Here is a list of food items to avoid if you have a nut allergy. The list is not exhaustive as products change constantly.
It is not good enough to read the ingredients of dishes on the menu. Menus and ingredient lists can be incomplete. Most restaurants are careful to mention if they use nuts or other allergens in their dishes but check with your server to be safe.
Tree nut allergies cannot be treated with supplements. Scientists are investigating some Chinese herbs that show promise in dampening the immune system's response to food proteins. So far, berberine and limonin seem to be able to suppress antibody production, but it's not sure if these supplements can decrease allergic reactions. Research is ongoing.
People allergic to tree nuts must choose supplements with caution to ensure no nuts are used in formulating the supplement. For instance,Superfood supplements list all ingredients to safeguard consumers against allergic reactions.
Yes, you can suddenly develop a tree nut allergy even if you have never had any problems with nuts before. It can happen at any age. People diagnosed with a tree nut allergy at a young age (before 5) remain allergic throughout their lives.
No, coconuts are not nuts; they are a fruit. Most people with a tree nut allergy can eat coconut.
Yes, it's best to avoid chestnuts on a nut-free diet. Chestnut allergies are rare, and allergic reactions are usually mild. People with tree nut allergies can often tolerate chestnuts. However, people with a chestnut allergy are oftenalso allergic to one or two other tree nuts, so it's best to avoid chestnuts if you are on a nut-free diet or consult an allergist if unsure.
The only current treatment for nut allergies is avoiding them. Although they are a good source of protein and healthy fats, not eating them won't affect the nutritional value of your diet. Living safely with a tree nut allergy means always reading food labels, being careful when eating out, and always having an epinephrine pen with you in case of a severe reaction.