Food Allergy Week 13-19 May

http://www.foodallergyaware.com.au

Excerpt from Website:


Food allergy continues to increase at alarming rates. Whilst researchers across the world try to understand more about food allergy and the increase, those in the Australian community live with the challenge of managing risk whilst maintaining a good quality of life.

1 in 10 infants now have food allergy. The most common food allergies in childhood are cow’s milk, egg, peanut and tree nut. The foods that trigger 90% of food allergic reactions in Australians include cow’s milk, egg, peanut, tree nut, sesame, soy, wheat, fish and shellfish. Peanut, tree nut, fish, shellfish and sesame allergy are usually lifelong.

Risk cannot be removed but it can be managed. The 1 in 10 babies with food allergy need to be cared for in a community that has greater understanding and awareness of food allergy. Individuals at risk of anaphylaxis and those caring for them must know how to reduce the possibility of a reaction, be able to recognise a reaction when it happens and know how to respond.

A story about why I believe in what we eat matters...

Check out Sue Dengate's latest newsletter - so much good information!  Click here...

Why not spend some time reading through the www.fedup.com.au website - this site has given me so much helpful information that I know have a happy, calm and often delightful child.

A story about why I believe in what we eat matters:

To give you the idea of why I believe food (as well as preservatives and additives) affect us, read what happened to us lately...

We went to Cairns with a family member and on the way home our wonderful, generous family member brought us dinner.  It was late (about 8 pm) we were all hungry and tired and so we stopped at a well-known fast food outlet and had something to eat.

About 1/2 to 3/4 hour later, whilst I was driving through night traffic on our way home, my wonderful DDSon started bouncing with his seatbelt on, babbling and getting louder.  After a few minutes our family member who had brought us the food asked me what was wrong.

I told them that this is what happens when he eats food full of preservatives, additives, msg, high salicylates.  It took over 10 minutes and a firm voice to finally calm him enough so that he could recognise what was happening and calm himself.

I then told them this is why we don't eat such food; and it is good for them to see why I stick to the elimination diet the way I do.

Needless to say, we won't be visiting a take away outlet that sells such food again for quite a while.

Whilst it is a little distressing, this experience proved to my family member why we don't eat from the take away outlets, and if we must because of the situation, we try to work out what is the best option and discuss with our DDSon how we will work together if he starts to feel distressed, jumpy, etc.

Sugar (1)

Interesting Article:  http://foodmatters.tv/articles-1/top-10-food-additives-to-avoid

I was actually googling the question "Why do people hate sugar?  What about additives?"

See what you think.

People tell me how bad sugar is.  In our house since going on RPAH Elimination diet we actually use much less sugar than previously.  BUT (there's always a but!) we have also ditched the preservatives and additives that so often accompany the sugar in processed foods.  Perhaps before we say how bad sugar is we should check out the labels on the food we are actually eating to see what's included with the sugar.   Just a thought....

Pear & Vanilla Jam

Thanks to real failsafe meals for this great recipe!

http://realfailsafemeals.blogspot.com.au/2013/02/pear-vanilla-jam.html

Salicylates

I don't know how often people say to me what are Salicylates?  Please see below for more information:

For more information refer to Sue Dengate's website- Click Here

What are salicylates?

Salicylates are chemicals that occur naturally in many plants – they're a kind of natural pesticide – to protect the plants against insects and diseases. Salicylates are just one group of the hundreds of compounds in foods that can have varying effects on us, depending on how much we eat and how sensitive we are.

Doesn't always go the way you plan...

Life is interesting.  It doesn't always go the way you plan.  Actually it rarely works out the way we would like.  I guess that's what makes each day interesting. DD Son on the elimination diet has been doing so well.  This past month with Christmas, parties, outings and holidays has taken a toll on him.

Today we found some non-itcy rashes on his arms which don't look great but are manageable.  To top it off he has an ear infection, sore eyes and chest.  (Did I mention he's now been twice to the Doctor in 4 years)

So we're going back on Elimination Diet and cutting out anything he does not need (everyone in family is included).  Although I need to do more preparation, I am now finding it is so much easier to shop.

Some things we have noticed:

• When on full elimination diet -no rashes, calm, happy, clear thinking
• When NOT on full elimination diet - rashes eventually return, unhappy, foggy thinking, not calm

Really need to stay away from additives and preservatives - these cause the most problems....