Food Allergies

Covering a variety of allergens, this program offers advice on coping with a food allergy (as well as being courteous to those who are especially sensitive), featuring comments both from doctors and real people with food concerns. Explaining how sufferers produce IgE antibodies against certain foods, Food Allergies details symptoms and reactions (such as itching, hives, difficulty breathing, and stomach issues that can affect victims for days), while also detailing common triggers, such as nuts, milk, wheat, and shellfish. Other topics covered include celiac disease and lactose intolerance; methods doctors use for testing for actual allergies vs. sensitivities; and ways to avoid reactions (including carefully reading labels, asking the right questions about food prep out of your control, and keeping a detailed food diary for your physician). Recommended. Aud: I, J, H, P. (J. Williams-Wood)