ÿþ<html> <title>Nutter's Bulk & Natural Foods - Article on Peanut Allergies</title> <meta name="description" content="A growing number of kids are diagnosed every year with peanut allergies..."> <meta name="keywords" content="peanut, peanut allergies, children, kids, allergy symptoms, problems with breathing"> <STYLE> A:visited {text-decoration:none} A:active {text-decoration:none} </head> <center> <table width=800 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0> <td width=800 valign=top> </td></tr> <tr> <font face="Arial" size=4 color="#E0E0E0"> <a href="index.php"><font color=white>Home</a> | <a href="stores.html"><font color=white>Locate A Store</a> | <a href="wellbeing.html"><font color=white>Wellbeing Information</a> | <a href="recipes.html"><font color=white>Recipes</a> </table> <table width=800 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0> <td width=800 valign=top> <a href="artsindex.html"><font face="Times New Roman" size=4" color=red> <br> A growing number of kids are diagnosed every year with peanut allergies. And unlike typical allergy symptoms such as sneezing and watery eyes, peanut allergies can cause problems with breathing and other serious health problems. While most kids who develop a peanut allergy will live with it for life, the good news is that others can grow out of a peanut allergy as they get older. A peanut allergy should be confirmed with allergy testing so that your doctor can provide you with guidelines on what to do if an allergy is confirmed. <br><br> <b>THE ALLERGIC REACTION</b><br><br> It's not understood why people develop allergies to peanuts, however the physiological response is the same as other allergies; the body mistakenly identifies a food, or other substance, for something that can be harmful to the body. The immune system then responds to this perceived threat by creating antibodies against the proteins in the "harmful" substance which are designed to fight off the invader if/when it appears in the body again. <br><br> Allergic symptoms vary between people and sometimes vary, from time to time, even in the same individual. In rare cases, individuals need only to breathe in the proteins to bring on a reaction. In others, larger amounts of peanuts need to actually be ingested before symptoms occur. <br><br> Skin reactions are the most common, taking the form of an itchy, red, bumpy rash (called hives), eczema, or redness and swelling around the mouth or face. <br><br> An individual might develop stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or feel lightheaded or faint. Runny, stuffy noses, accompanied by itchy, watery eyes and sneezing can develop into triggering an asthma attack with coughing and wheezing. In a small number of cases, airways can swell and a person's blood pressure can drop, resulting in a serious condition called <i>anaphylactic shock.</i> <font size=1>1</font><br><br> Currently, there are no treatments to prevent or cure peanut allergies but studies in recent years in the United States and England have seen children participating in trials where minuscule amounts of peanuts are introduced into the child's system to desensitize and build up immunity to the proteins. The outlook is promising. <br><br> <b>READING LABELS AND SOURCES OF PEANUTS IN FOODS</b><br> <img src="bluejay.jpg" align=right hspace=12 vspace=12 border=1> Peanuts are different than tree nuts, and technically, peanuts are legumes, and not actually nuts at all. And of all the allergy-causing foods, peanuts are among the most common and can be the hardest to find, hiding in things you wouldn't imagine such as bird feed, dog food, dog treats, hamster food and bedding, livestock feed, some cosmetics secondhand toys and furniture, ant and mousetraps, and homemade baked goods. <UL> <LI>Beer nuts <LI>Ground nuts <LI>Mandelonas, Nu-Nuts <LI>Valencias <UL> <LI>Hydrolyzed plant protein and vegetable protein <LI>Peanut butter <LI>Vegetarian meat substitutes Other possible sources of peanuts include: <LI>Almond & hazelnut paste, marzipan, nougat <LI>Chili <LI>Desserts <LI>Icing, glazes </UL> <UL> <LI>Craft materials <LI>Mushroom growing medium </UL> <img src="makinglunch.jpg" align=left hspace=12 vspace=12 border=1><br> If your children have peanut allergies, school lunches should be prepared at home rather than opting to let your kids eat in the cafeteria and the school should be made aware of your child's condition. It's very common that teachers will be extremely accommodating if they know one of their class has a peanut allergy. And it's an opportunity for the other children to learn about the condition and how to respect their classmate's needs. <br><br> If the allergy is serious and symptoms require medicinal intervention, medicines should be kept on your person in places such as your pocket or purse. Seconds count and you might not have time to run to your locker or back to your desk. <br><br> <b>NON-PEANUT PEANUTS??  Believe it or not</b><br><br> In 2007, a scientist at the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University announced that he had developed a process to make allergen-free peanuts. Testing on human serum from severely allergic individuals showed no reaction when exposed to the processed peanuts.<font size=1>3</font> The future is looking bright! <br> <br> <img src="soypb.jpg" align=right hspace=24 vspace=12 border=0><br> <br><br> millions of kids and adults who suffer from life threatening peanut and tree nut allergies. More specifically, it was developed to nourish the tens of millions of non-allergic school kids that need healthy lunch solutions.<br> Most importantly, Moms no longer have to struggle with what to pack in their kids lunch box. Many kids do not like sandwich meats, which results in limited options for lunches. Moms can feel good about sending SCHOOLSAFE SOYBUTTER AND JAM SANDWICHES (SB&JS) because they are <br> <br> <br> <br> http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/labeti/allerg/peaarae.shtml <br> 3. Wikipedia.com<br> <br> <font face="Times New Roman" size=3><i><b>Carol Roy is a Natural Health Practitioner, registered with Natural Health Practitioners Canada, who received her diploma from the Alternative Medicine College of Canada in Montreal, Quebec. With 9 years experience in her area of expertise, naturopathic medicine, Carol has also trained to become a fully qualified Reiki Master, Quantum Touch ® Practitioner and Reflexologist.</b></font></i> <center>The suggestions by Nutters Bulk & Natural Foods and the contents of this article<br>are recommendations only and not a substitute for any medical advice or a <br>replacement for any prescriptions. Seek medical advice for any health concerns.<br>Consult your health care provider before using any recommendations herein.</center><br> </table> <table width=800> <td width=800> </td></tr> <tr> <center><font face="Arial" size=2 color="#E0E0E0"> <a href="stores.html"><b><font color="#E0E0E0">Locate A Store</b></a><font size=2> </table> </body>