At the Allergy Free Shop, we not only cater to the specific needs of those with food allergies, but also to those individuals with dietary requirements due to other medical conditions. One of these conditions is Celiac Disease, an autoimmune disorder of the small intestines. It can occur in people of all ages, from early infancy to adulthood, and is also known by a number of other names such as sprue or gluten enteropathy. Sometimes it is spelled "coeliac" disease.

The condition is caused by a reaction to gluten proteins found in wheat and similar crops, such as barley and rye. Some individuals even react to oats. And while the disease is caused by a reaction to wheat proteins, it is important to note that it is not the same as wheat allergy.

Direct causes of the disease are not completely understood, though the timing of an infant’s exposure to wheat, barley or rye may be related to the development of the condition. Currently, most experts believe the best time for exposure is at the age of four to six months. Breastfeeding until the introduction of these grains is also believed to reduce the risk of the disease.

Upon exposure to wheat proteins, the immune system of the affected individual reacts with the small-bowel tissue, causing inflammation. This chronic inflammation can damage the lining of the small intestines, and prevent the absorption of nutrients. Symptoms typically include chronic diarrhea and fatigue, and a "failure to thrive" in young children.

Blood tests are usually the first line of diagnosis for those suspected of Celiac Disease, and a growing number of asymptomatic people are being diagnosed due to increased screening.

Experimental treatments are currently being studied, such as the development of genetically engineered wheat, but at present the only effective treatment is a life-long gluten-free diet. No medication exists as of now that will prevent the body from attacking the intestines when gluten is present.

Strict adherence to the diet allows the intestines to heal, leading to resolution of all symptoms in most cases. Since ready-made products often contain traces of gluten, some celiacs may find it beneficial or necessary to cook meals from scratch. The good news is that a gluten free diet may be able to reduce or eliminate the heightened risk of other health problems, such as osteoporosis and intestinal cancer, which are associated with Celiac Disease.

The Allergy Free Shop has over 700 products that are gluten free, including Schar Ladyfingers for making delicious tiramisu, or Ener-G white tapioca loaf.

Labels: allergens, allergy free, big eight, celiac, gluten, gluten-free, wheat allergy

Over 12 million Americans have a food allergy, and this number is rising. One clear example, the number of children with peanut allergies recently doubled over a 5-year period. Scientists aren't completely sure why the numbers are increasing, and are working hard to find out. But many would agree that more robust research budgets are needed to study all aspects of food allergies, including treatment and prevention.

And the stakes are high, since Americans currently make 30,000 visits to the emergency room for food allergy every year. Thankfully, one thing that research has demonstrated is that immediately injecting epinephrine - a hormone which suppresses the immune system - into the thigh muscle is the best treatment for severe allergy reactions and anaphylaxis.

Teens and young adults are at highest risk for fatal allergic reactions to food, often because they aren't in the presence of a mindful parent, or perhaps that they tend to consume food more quickly. By studying teens' behaviors, researchers have identified ways to decrease their risk through food avoidance and education, by teaching them to identify the signs of anaphylaxis, to carry epinephrine at all times and to be able to properly inject it.

Anaphylaxis can occur with many different symptoms, and can develop in just a few minutes or hours later. The most common symptoms are usually hives or general itchiness, flushing skin and/or swelling of the lips, tongue or throat. Shortness of breath, abdominal pain or vomiting, and feelings of lightheadedness (due to drop in blood pressure) are other common signs.

If you have a teen with food allergies, or a child that will soon be a teenager, they should know to avoid certain foods, and hopefully feel comfortable asking questions and reading labels. It is equally important that you take the time to go over these symptom details and the proper identification and treatment of acute reactions. And make sure they always have epinephrine available to them at all times.

Yes, this may mean some ongoing inquiries or continual education for your child. But remember, many teens and young adults feel as if they are invincible and/or don’t always plan ahead, so these reminders could save their life!

Labels: allergens, allergic reaction, allergy free, anaphylaxis, big eight, dairy allergy, food allergy, peanut allergy, tree nuts allergy, wheat allergy

Hello everyone. We wanted to share our sale items for the month of January 2010. Please click below. Happy shopping! The Allergy Free Shop

January Sale Items

Enjoy our newest products! We are always striving to bring YOU, our customers, the newest and most wonderful products! Please go to our shopping cart page and "Shop By Manufacturer" to find any of these products. Happy New Year!

Bob's Red Mill - Garbanzo & Fava Flour

Happy Baby - Happybellies Oatmeal Cereal

Earth's Best - Tots Flushable Wipes

Smart Juice - Pomegranate Purple Carrot Juice

Losalt - Reduced Sodium Salt

Seventh Generation - Disinfectant Wipes

Miss Roben's - Milk Chocolate Buttercream Frosting Mix

Jo-Sef - Square Chocolate Cookies

Schar - Chocolate Hazelnut Bars
Schar - Snack Crackers

The Allergy Free Shop exists to provide parents and caretakers with allergen-free foods and products for those with food allergies and sensitivities. We also strive to provide resources that help to provide guidance to those just beginning their education about specific food allergies affecting their children.

Prevalence & Prognosis

Tree Nut Allergy is a hypersensitivity to dietary substances from tree nuts, causing an overreaction of the immune system which may lead to severe physical symptoms for millions of people.

Tree nut allergies occur mainly, but not exclusively, in children. They are usually treated with an exclusion diet and vigilant avoidance of foods that may be contaminated with tree nuts or nut particles and/or oils.

Common tree nuts include cashews, almonds, pecans and walnuts. It should be noted that tree nut allergy is slightly different from peanut allergy because the type(s) of nuts that cause the allergic reactions are not the same. Peanuts are actually considered legumes, whereas tree nuts are classified as dry fruits.

The symptoms of peanut allergy and nut allergy can be the same, but a person with tree nut allergies may not necessarily be allergic to peanuts, and vice versa. For a frame of reference, research by Mount Sinai School of Medicine shows there is a 30 to 60% chance a child with a peanut allergy will develop a tree nut allergy as well. As with all food allergies, it is possible to "outgrow" tree nut allergy.

Tree Nut Avoidance

Similar to other allergies, the most severe nut allergy reaction is called anaphylaxis, and is an emergency situation requiring immediate attention and treatment with epinephrine. A strict exclusion diet and vigilant avoidance of foods that may contain or be contaminated with tree nut allergens is the only 100% effective treatment.

Some people also wonder if other common food products are classified as tree nuts, such as coconut, nutmeg or water chestnuts. The answer is no, although it is possible to be allergic to these food items on their own. (Coconut has even been determined to be a tree nut by the FDA for the purposes of labeling, but does not cross react with tree nuts allergies.)

Allergy Free Shop offers a wide variety of foods that are Tree Nut Free. Some of our best sellers are Orgran’s Vanilla Outback Animals and Itsy Bitsy Bears, as well as No Nuttin’s Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips, and Vermont Nut Free’s yummy chocolate covered pretzels. Our entire line of Tree Nut Free products can be found here.

Our goal is to provide you with a wide variety of allergy-free products for you and your children, a place where you can find EVERYTHING that you need in one place. And with ongoing vigilance, and armed with an understanding of your child's or loved one's food allergy, you CAN avoid exposure and reactions to Tree Nut allergens!

Labels: allergens, allergic reaction, allergy free, anaphylaxis, big eight, food allergy, ingredients, peanut proteins, tree nuts allergy

Early January is always a time for New Year's resolutions. And one annual goal for the parents of a food allergic child is to get through another year without any serious reactions. Here are some tips to help you accomplish that goal in 2010.

Tip 1 – Read labels.

If there is one skill that food allergic parents and individuals themselves must get good at, it's reading labels. Foods manufactured since January 2006 are required to clearly list the Big Eight food allergens that we have been discussing in previous blogs. But beware of hidden allergens, often found in non food items. Example: Some lotions contain "Arachis oil", which is derived from peanuts.

Items that are part of larger package are often marked "Not Labeled for Individual Sale," and the entire list of ingredients should be found on the original container or box.

And always read the label, even for items you have bought or consumed before. Ingredients and formulations can change over time. If you’re not sure of every ingredient that went into the item, don't eat it!

Tip 2 – Continue to educate family and friends.

Don't assume that since you told Aunt Edna years ago that little Tommy was allergic to wheat that she has taken the time to ensure that every item she serves or that he may be exposed to won't contain the allergen. Continually educate and remember: no one will be as diligent about your child’s allergy as you are.

When dining with others, you might consider providing all the food for the entire meal – for either your child individually or for the whole gathering, if feasible. Or simply skip the food issue altogether by spending special time with family and friends in nonfood-related activities.

Tip 3 – Closely monitor children while eating out.

Many smaller children will put whatever is in front of them into their mouth, and many accidental exposures are simply caused by not paying close enough attention. If possible, use a high chair or booster sear with a tray if a child’s allergens are being served.

For young children or infants, consider an item of clothing like our Star Alert shirt that tells others that your child has food allergies, to prevent well-meaning sharing.

Using these tips, and others you will find within the Allergy Free Shop website and other online resources (like the Mayo Clinic), you can create techniques and methods to ensure that your food allergic child can remain reaction free in 2010!

Labels: allergy free, anaphyaxis, big eight, dining out, food allergen, food allergy

The Allergy Free Shop exists to provide parents and caretakers with allergen-free foods and products for those with food allergies and sensitivities. We also strive to provide resources that help to provide guidance to those just beginning their education about specific food allergies affecting their children.

Just in time for New Year’s Eve celebrations, and also perhaps a large plate of cocktail shrimp, our next allergy profile is Shellfish.

Prevalence & Prognosis

Shellfish allergy is one of the most common food allergies. When referring to this allergy, "shellfish" refers to all marine animals with shells, such as clams, oysters, crabs, lobster and shrimp, as well as octopus and squid.

Those that have shellfish allergy may have an allergic reaction to only certain kinds of shellfish, or an allergy to ALL shellfish.

Shellfish allergy is different than many other food allergies because it occurs primarily in adults and older children, as opposed to infants/younger children. But it can appear at any age, and can be caused by foods that had been previously eaten without any problems. Many people who develop a reaction to shellfish allergens will not lose or "outgrow" the allergy later in life.

Avoiding Shellfish

Seafood allergies are usually treated with an exclusion diet and vigilant avoidance of foods that may be contaminated with shellfish or fish ingredients and/or oils. As with all food allergies, reading labels is a must!

Of course, any restaurant that serves or specializes in seafood should be approached very cautiously or avoided completely. Allergic individuals also need to be especially careful with fried foods. Many restaurants use the same oil to fry shrimp, chicken and French fries. Keep in mind that "imitation" shellfish may still actually contain allergens, as manufacturers often add small bits of real shellfish for flavoring. (Imitation shellfish is often sold for strictly financial reasons, not allergy-related ones.)

Another unique characteristic of shellfish allergy is that allergic reactions may result when the susceptible person is not even consuming the allergenic substance, but by exposure to vapors resulting from cooking of seafood or even preparation or handling.

Other products which often are comprised of shellfish are glucosamine and Omega 3 supplements. Allergy Free Shop offers a wide variety of foods and dietary supplements that are Shellfish Free. Some of our best sellers are the Hero Nutritional line of supplements such as Slice of Life Omega 369, and children’s Yummi Bears multivitamins.

Our goal is to provide you with a wide variety of allergy-free products for you and your children, a place where you can find EVERYTHING that you need in one place. And with ongoing vigilance, and armed with an understanding of your child’s or loved one’s food allergy, you CAN avoid exposure and reactions to Shellfish allergens!

Labels: allergens, allergy free, big eight, food allergy, shellfish allergy