Multiple Food Allergies - looking for friends!

Oh I've so been there Becky! There is light at the end of the tunnel but I'm afraid it takes a lot of effort and you have to be prepared to cook all your own meals - it's actually what triggered my love of cooking (eventually!) I'm pleased to say I've managed to reintroduce almost all of the foods I was intolerant to (not the grapefruit allergy though) but its been a long haul and I do still have to keep a mental note and watch for any signs I've slipped!

Feel free to add me - not sure i know enough about all of your intolerances but I can certainly offer a helping hand

Hi Becky! Not quite as limited as yourself but I am vegan (no meat, dairy, or eggs) and my boyfriend is celiac, so most of the things we make and eat have to be both gluten and dairy free if that helps and I understand what an erm... adventure! cooking under such restrictions can be.

I'm allergic to grapefruit. I've got all the other intolerances under control now but it was a long a haul and total dedication to frustrating exclusion diets and food recording. Mine were tomatoes, white wine, citric acid, citrus fruits, vinegar, wheat - try buying ANYTHING that doesn't contain citric acid!
Currently the allergies are manifested in my skin - I'm anaphylactic allergic to linalool (a lavender concentrated component) limonene, parfum, and a particular blue dye. I have to watch for these in foods too as celery contains limonene.

I think I've got it easy compared to many of you here! Hope my experiences can offer some help, specially in the early days for people - it can be very depressing but it is possible to lead a normal life with a few adjustments

Hi, I'm Jasmin, and am allergic to wheat, dairy, soy and sensitive to too much sugar. I'm also allergic to shell fish, coconut oil and a few other things. I have found that the only time I ever really lose weight is when I eliminate those foods out of my diet and exercise at least 5 days a week. I know exactly what you're going through. I went to weight watchers for about 6 weeks, and just quit because they are not focused on food allergies at all. I'm back here to count calories, log my activities and foods. And of course, I'm eliminating those foods completely. What's the use of dieting if the foods you eat are causing inflammation and other allergic reactions, right? You have my support. I found that glutino bread and whole foods sandwich white breads are tasty. There are lots of tips and tricks to eating tasty hypoallergenic foods. lol. Feel free to send me a friend request, and we can support each other. I'd like to lose 40 pounds.

Hi! I have similar allergies and I find feel better when I watch my diet. Oreo's may taste good, but I pay!

There is also a food allergy sub board on here, you should search for it!!

Black pepper and all raw vegetables, except lettuce are my allergy triggers. I have an epi pen for pepper and the others cause my ears, lips and mouth to itch and swell. MSG is a big one for me also, causes severe diarrhea almost instantly. I am also lactose intolerant and have problems with corn, especially popcorn. I am in my sixties and it took me a lot of years to figure out what caused my health problems, so it is great to see young people that already know they have allergies and food sensitivities.

By the way, I have been learning about what causes food allergies in the first place. A lot of time it is "leaky gut" syndrome. Especially when I see someone allergic/sensitive to healthy foods that are not part of highly processed foods (like asparagus or turkey) it seems likely that leaky gut is the cause.

You can google leaky gut, but the basic idea is that damage to the intestines cause separate in the walls so that food particles leak out into the blood stream. The body sees these as foreign objects and mounts an immune response. Hence the allergies/sensitivity. Which means that if you avoid those foods and eat other foods, as the new foods leak you will just develop sensitivity to those new foods. Endless cycle.

The way out of the cycle is to heal the gut. Then avoid the sensitive foods long enough for the body's immune response to settle down, then they can be incorporated again.

I am completing a leaky gut test right now (involves saliva samples over a day at different times then sent off to a lab). If you want to read a great book about it, I recommend "Accidentally Overweight" by Dr. Libby Weaver.

I have never heard of "leaky gut." Interesting.

I am sure that isn't the cause of all food allergies, though. I have never consumed even one tiny amount of fish or shellfish (I've been a vegetarian my entire life), but have anaphylactic reactions to both groups of foods. I have certainly been AROUND fish and shellfish, though, and have likely breathed in the aerosolized protein particles, which is what caused my allergies (One cannot be allergic to something to which he/she has never been exposed; I've been exposed to my allergens, but not in the traditional manner). Now, my allergies to fish and shellfish have become so serious that I have anaphylactic reactions after both dermal and inhalation exposures. The proteins to which I am allergic are not in my gut at all, but are instead on my skin or in my lungs.



I am so sorry to read that so many others have severe food allergies, as well. It certainly makes eating out difficult! I cannot eat in any restaurants that serve fish or shellfish, which is pretty much every restaurant, unless I give EXTREMELY detailed instructions, trust that the kitchen and wait staff will take my allergies seriously, wear a mask, and risk needing to use an Epi-pen (and visit the ER, of course). Not fun.

It used to be easier than it is now. It used to be that I knew to avoid fish and shellfish, as well as anything remotely resembling Asian food. NOW, however, I cannot even trust that orange juice, baby food, margarine, and numerous other foods are safe (DHA is added in the form of tuna oil). Again, not fun.

Again, I am so sorry.

I feel all of your pain...my mum has heaps of allergies too...yeast (THE worst one in my opinion as it's in everything..even stuff you wouldn't think it would be in), dairy, eggs, soy, shellfish, caffeine, soy, lentils...you name it! Every shop in the supermarket is a task..I have to read every single label for her. And yes she is very limited to what she can eat..thank god she can cook everything she eats from scratch or she'd be screwed!

I myself am intolerant to dairy and yeast...only intolerant cause it makes my stomach swell like im almost ready to give birth lol so this new "diet" im on I cut out all bread and have tortillas with no yeast instead and no milk except a lil bit of yogurt in the mornings on my cereal.

Anyway..feel your pain...it is hard to diet whilst suffering from these allergies..but it does get easier once you establish things you CAN eat and work around that to also lose weight.

found out a couple years ago I have multiple food sensitivities. about 2 months ago I started doing laser therapy in a chiropractic office and all of my eczema and hives went away. I don't know if it will work for you but it definitely works for me. I am amazed and grateful!!

I am gluten free and dairy free, feel free to add me for support! OP--> I sent you a friend request.

Hi, I have some allergies, but am not also aware of what. I break out in mild rash/hives but its kind of random, and not always easy to identify. Feel free to add me!