Presenting up-to-date information on current diagnostic methods and treatment options, this guide describes the effects of food allergies on the skin, mucous membranes, and respiratory and digestive tracts; discusses treatment by allergists and other healthcare professionals; and empowers readers to manage their food allergies. Janice Vickerstaff Joneja, PhD, RDN , is a widely known Canadian authority on food allergies and their treatment. Her audio course, Mechanisms and Management of Food Allergies and Intolerances, is accredited with the American Dietetic Association for continuing education. Dealing with Food Allergies A Practical Guide to Detecting Culprit Foods and Eating a Healthy, Enjoyable Diet By Janice Vickerstaff Joneja Bull Publishing Company Copyright © 2003 Janice Vickerstaff Joneja All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-0-923521-64-6 Contents PREFACE, PART I The Scientific Background of Food Allergy and Food Intolerance: What Is Really Going On?, Introduction: Let's Talk About Food, Chapter 1: What Is Food Sensitivity?, Chapter 2: Signs and Symptoms of Food Sensitivity, Chapter 3: Food Allergy, Chapter 4: Food Intolerance, Chapter 5: Diagnosis of Food Sensitivities, Chapter 6: The Allergenic Potential of Foods, Chapter 7: Cross-Reactivity of Allergens, PART II Dietary Management of Food Allergies and Food Intolerances, Chapter 8: Milk Allergy and Lactose Intolerance, Chapter 9: Egg Allergy, Chapter 10: Wheat and Grain Allergy, Chapter 11: Soy Allergy, Chapter 12: Peanut Allergy, Chapter 13: Nut and Seed Allergy, Chapter 14: Fish and Shellfish Allergy, Chapter 15: The "Top Ten" Allergens, Chapter 16: Yeast and Mold Allergy, Chapter 17: Nickel Allergy, Chapter 18: Disaccharide Intolerance, Chapter 19: Biogenic Amines Intolerance: Histamine and Tyramine Sensitivity, Chapter 20: Salicylate Intolerance, Chapter 21: Tartrazine Intolerance and Other Artificial Color Intolerance, Chapter 22: Benzoate Intolerance, Chapter 23: Sulfite Allergy and Intolerance, Chapter 24: BHA and BHT Intolerance, Chapter 25: Nitrate and Nitrite Sensitivity, Chapter 26: Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) Intolerance, PART III Determining the Culprit Foods and Food Components: Elimination and Challenge Procedures, Chapter 27: Elimination Diets: Elimination Phase, Chapter 28: Reintroduction of Foods: Challenge Phase, Chapter 29: The Final Diet, APPENDIX 1 Few-Foods Elimination Diet: Recipes and Meal Plans, APPENDIX 2 Sequential Incremental Dose Challenge, GLOSSARY, INDEX, CHAPTER 1 WHAT IS FOOD SENSITIVITY? Our bodies are like complex factories that function day and night without pause in a never-ending cycle of renewal and decay. New cells and tissues are created, old worn-out matter is broken down, recycled or excreted, and our organs continue to function, day in and day out, without requiring any direction from us. We provide the building blocks and the source of energy for these processes through the food we eat, the liquids we drink, and the air we breathe. Everything runs smoothly in its appointed manner until a glitch in the system creates havoc, and we then have to deal with the consequences of this malfunction. Food allergies and intolerances are just one example of "things going wrong," but because we cannot stop eating, we can't ignore the signs. We must come to terms with how our body is acting and take steps to adjust to the situation. In making changes, especially ones as far-reaching as how we eat, we need to understand exactly what we are trying to achieve so that we can make the correct modifications and then stay with them. So this book, which will guide you through the complexities of eating in the way that your particular system requires, even when food seems to cause nothing but problems, is going to start by answering that really important question: What is happening when my body rejects food? We cannot avoid a discussion of science. In order to understand what happens when things go wrong, you need to know how your body functions normally. Sect