Things I have learned about Peanut Allergies
As time goes on there are a few things that I have slowly learned about Peanut allergies, and allergies in general. Most parents will not have to learn these types of things, and I hope most parents don’t. But for the ones that do here they are. The best and worst thing you can do is google the information. By best, I mean you can come across a great informative page like https://www.foodallergy.org/allergens/peanut-allergy which can be helpful in informing you of things that you should know. By worse I mean, you will come across a page written by an unknown author who had a terrible experience with an anaphalaxis reaction and you will now be scared to death to feed your child. Most people who have peanut allergy also have allergy to tree nuts, no they are not the same thing. My allergist told me to keep my son away from tree nuts as well because most likely they are manufactured in the same factory and cause cross contamination. Online I read that people with peanut allergies are not more likely to become allergic to any other thing in the peanut family (legumes) however, in my case he is. He has shown reaction to soy, and although the reaction is a rash and diarrhea, I just prefer not to. He has shown a reaction to all kinds of beans, peas and anything in the legume family in general has given him a rash at some point. Places like chick-fil-a cook their french fries in peanut oil. My situation is general is a little more difficult, my son is also allergic to rice, and milk. So I cannot give him milk, or soy milk or rice milk. And so I turned to coconut milk, which I was later told to not use because it is also considered or probably manufactured in the same place as peanuts. My doctor suggested Hemp Milk, which I went to the store to buy and then realized a quart of it was almost $5.00. I looked around the Whole Foods Store for any other milk made from seeds and not a nut (he is also allergic to mustard seed). I came across Flax Seed milk, before buying it I did my research and found good reviews. He loves it. People will always try to give you tips, and they mean well however, one of the things that I found later to be most disturbing is that people will see you doing what your doctors say, and then suggest to turn to the natural route. I agree 100% if it wasn't that has allergies to rice, mustard seed, peanuts, beans, and what ever else I’m sure I have not yet discovered, all of which are natural things that come from plants. Its difficult for me to think that I will go the natural route if I should also proceed with caution. I would much rather proceed with a doctor by my side then proceed on my own. Regardless, of anything that you are told food elimination is the best thing. I had found some cookies for my son that did not contain neither milk, soy or eggs. I was so happy to finally find something for him that he could enjoy. After I had been giving him some for few days, I realized it had warning that it may have come in contact with Peanuts in the factory. He had eaten them and he was just fine. So its really up to you how you want to proceed, not everything will cause a reaction. I avoid risking it. But there have been careless occasions that have become positive ones.
