For the 11 million Americans who suffer from food allergies, eating can be a hazardous endeavor. Every year more than 10,000 food allergy sufferers require a trip to the hospital for life-saving treatment.
For the 11 million Americans who suffer from food allergies, eating can be a hazardous endeavor. Every year more than 10,000 food allergy sufferers require a trip to the hospital for life-saving treatment.
Common foods like peanuts, milk, shellfish and wheat can trigger a severe immune system response that causes the body to literally attack itself. Histamine and other chemicals that flood through the body produce hives, swelling that affects breathing, cardiovascular activity and the GI tract and, in extreme reactions, can lead to anaphylactic shock and even death.
Since there is no cure for food allergies, treatment starts and ends with avoidance. Watching what they eat means food allergy sufferers must keep the strictest eye on ingredient labels and always find out the facts from restaurant kitchens. Last August, legislation was passed requiring food labeling to more explicitly identify the most common allergens that are responsible for 90 percent of reactions.
Join host Jerry Kay, publisher of the Environmental News Network, on Wednesday, March 2 as we learn all about food allergies and what effects upcoming labeling laws will have. This week's guests include Dr. William E. Walsh, an author and allergist with the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology; Rachel Sanzari, administrative director of the Food Allergy Initiative; and Mark Elvidge of Vermont Nut Free Chocolates.
The Beyond Organic radio show broadcasts every Wednesday at 10 a.m. (PST). For more information and to tune in, visit www.BeyondOrganic.com/radio. You can also listen at www.iciclenetworks.com and Wisdommedia.com.
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Source: Icicle Networks
