Why in the world would I be telling you not to eat eggs if your allergic to Ragweed?? Concomitant Food Allergies.

Did you know there are certain foods that can make your environmental allergies worse? There are also foods that can worsen food allergies and food intolerance. These are called Concomitant or Synergistic Allergies. When certain environmental allergens are blooming (like ragweed for instance), eating these foods (such as eggs or milk) can make the allergy symptoms worse. Avoiding these foods during the blooming season is very helpful.

I wrote a post last week with basic allergy information, symptoms and treatment options, Springtime & Sneezes…You might have allergies if…. This post will help you recognize and treat your allergy symptoms.

You may not know what you are allergic to, and that is why allergy testing can be helpful!! Treating allergies isn’t easy, and knowing which allergens affect you can make developing a treatment plan easier. I remember calling my friend Kathy, RN/Allergy Specialist and asking her about Joshua’s allergies. She is my saving grace when it comes to Joshua and his allergies. (If you haven’t picked up on it yet, Joshua is definitely one of those kids that needs the entire village!) 😉 I have mentioned that Joshua has allergies, but has a negative RAST test. RAST testing is done via blood draw with lab testing to identify specific allergens.

There are many different panels that can be ordered depending on what part of the country you live in. Joshua was unable to do skin testing because he reacted to the control test that contained only saline. 😦 How his RAST test was negative alludes me… But, I say kids don’t read and follow the books. 😉 Also, we can’t test for every substance under the sun, it’s just not possible. Every April since this boy was 2 months old he has had a clear runny nose, that, my friends, is allergies!! No doubt about it. Some doctors will tell you that infants can’t have allergies. I beg to differ, I live with that clear runny nose, morning cough and sneezing each April, and have for 10 years now. Joshua eats a lot of apples, this high fiber food is actually necessary to help Joshua with another of his problems, but we can talk about why kids need fiber another day. 😉 So in April, when all the trees are blooming, Joshua avoids apples.

Keep in mind that allergy symptoms can be cough, congestion, clearing your throat, sniffles, runny nose, sore/scratchy throat, itchy/watery eyes, headache, skin rash, dry skin, eczema and asthma.

So, I wanted to share a list of specific foods that compound allergy symptoms. The following charts are provided by Online Allergy Center, and list what foods make specific allergies worse.

As you or your children sneeze and cough your way though this allergy season, I hope this information helps you Enjoy the Journey and beauty of Spring a little bit more! 😉