National Asthma & Allergy Awareness Month

May is not only Mothers Day and the unofficial start of SUMMER…it’s also National Asthma & Allergy Awareness Month!

As a lifelong patient, I’ve had extensive personal experience dealing with asthma attacks, hives, and too-close-for-comfort allergen encounters.

Every *3* minutes a food allergy reaction sends someone to the ER. That’s not too surprising, considering that 15 million Americans have food allergies (yes, 15 million!). Whether you are personally affected or you know someone who is, food allergies effect all of us.

In honor of National Asthma & Allergy Awareness Month, here are *5* easy steps you can take to help yourself or your favorite food allergy sufferer at your summer gatherings or any day of the year…

1. Always ask…and don’t forget the details! It’s not too invasive to ask your guest, if they have allergies. Trust me, they’ll be thankful! Be prepared to accommodate them (asking ahead of time is best).

2. Be cautious of cross-contamination. For someone who is gluten intolerant, even toasting bread in the same toaster can create a strong adverse reaction. If you’re chopping nuts, the same food processor can pose a problem. Be sure to properly wash these utensils so no allergen residue remains!

3. Label, label, label! Say you’re having a big BBQ (yummm!) and your famous potato salad has nuts in it…it’s better to let your guests know than to keep them guessing — especially if it’s disguised.

4. Do your homework…Read labels carefully! Eggs can masquerade as albumin, globulin, lecithin, livetin, lysozyme, or vitellin…know the lingo and don’t throw out any ingredient labels so your food allergy friend can read them on their own, if desired. I know I follow the motto, “If I can’t read it, I don’t eat it!”

5. If possible, put “it” on the side. Nuts in the salad? Place a separate bowl nearby with this top allergen. Accommodating your guests may mean some extra dishes for you, but it will mean a lot to them!

While May raises awareness about the importance of asthma and allergies, this is a 24/7, 365 issue for many of us. Remember pre-caution & over-caution are always your best bet when it comes to food allergies!

Food allergy safety can be extremely overwhelming, but being armed with the proper tools will keep you and your guests comfortable…this is a life-threatening condition! If you have ANY questions, I’m happy to answer them!

XO