Should I get tested for allergies?

[SNMB]

I just came off of a seven-day juice fast. I was feeling really good until I ate a tomato. My tongue started to burn and I now have at least twelve canker sores on it as well as a few on my inner lips and pain in the place between my gum and cheek. It seems this was an allergic reaction, no? I hadn't been eating too many tomatoes before the fast because they didn't taste too good and they caused a bit of burning, but nothing like this!

I'm wondering if going in for a full allergy test would be useful. It seems that it would be but I also know that allergies can change on raw. Are there reasons NOT to get it done? I'm wondering what else I could be allergic to, as I never considered the possibility that I was allergic to the tomatoes; I just thought they didn't taste very good just then. There are other foods that I feel the same way about. Suggestions?

[sport]

I heard a radio interview recently that was discussing the fact that they have spliced fish genes in to the tomatoes and that people with fish alergies have been reacting.
Do you have a fish allergy.
Was the tomato organic. Maybe there was pesticides.

[SeaRose]

I would suggest that you stay away from tomatoes, far away. If they caused such a strong reaction, why eat them? You could go for allergy testing, that is what I did, and it is faster than doing an elimination diet to figure out your food allergies.

Since you just did a seven day fast, your system was clear, probably why you got such a strong reaction, lucky for you. I would suggest that if there are other foods you are thinking are causing allergic reactions, eliminate them for at least a week, then eat a small amount and judge your reaction.

If you are finding alot of foods are causing problems, then find a good allergist. Good luck!

[dreamrawalwz]

You could get an allergy test (the skin prick test), but they don't always show up that way from the proteins they test. I know NONE of mine showed up therefore the doctor didn't believe me at all (even if i said my throat closes up and gets anaphalaxis symptoms, not shock). I did get a blood test through another practice and all the ones I was suspicious of came up.

[Framboise]

For getting rid of allergies once and for all, and if you find a therapist who is REALLY well trained and knows what they are doing, the NAET method is miraculous.

A lot of people are disappointed with it, because they go to a therapist who is only half trained.

http://www.naet.com/

[dreamrawalwz]

I heard a radio interview recently that was discussing the fact that they have spliced fish genes in to the tomatoes and that people with fish alergies have been reacting.
Do you have a fish allergy.
Was the tomato organic. Maybe there was pesticides.

Jw why they would do that to perfectly good tomatoes? Would organic tomatoes have that as well?

[rawnora]

There's no reason to have tests done, imo. Your body has given you all the information you need. Avoid tomatoes for now. Try them again in a few months when you're healthier. If anything else you eat causes an unpleasant effect, stop eating it temporarily.

Eat only foods that you like the taste, smell and 'feel' of. The senses that guided our primordial ancestors to choose the correct foods are still completely reliable, whether we're healthy or not. It is a myth that we can't rely on our senses until we're completely raw, or 100% healthy, etc.

I wrote a small blurb in the last issue of "Living Nutrition" magazine that explains allergies if you're interested.

All the best,
Nora
www.RawSchool.com

[juliebove]

You could get an allergy test (the skin prick test), but they don't always show up that way from the proteins they test. I know NONE of mine showed up therefore the doctor didn't believe me at all (even if i said my throat closes up and gets anaphalaxis symptoms, not shock). I did get a blood test through another practice and all the ones I was suspicious of came up.

There is also the RAST test. It's a simple blood test and purportedly more effective for food allergies than the prick test. But I've also read that in order for it to be effective, one needs to eat a varied diet before having it done. For instance, if you've never eaten shellfish, you wouldn't show a shellfish allergy even if you did actually have it.

My RAST test showed allergies to dairy, eggs and almonds. Never would have suspected the almonds! I also have the kind of allergies where an immediate reaction doesn't manifest. With the eggs, it took 16 hours to get sick. Then if I was fool enough to eat more egg, the reaction that time would come a half an hour later. However, my daughter and I have both learned that after getting all the allergens out of our systems, the reaction now comes much quicker than it did before.

I also have bad reactions to foods that don't show on allergy tests. Pineapple causes blisters in my mouth. So do oranges. But I can have some orange juice mixed in something and I don't get the reaction. I sometimes get canker sores from walnuts. And occasionally from tomatoes. But I can usually eat tomatoes and walnuts with no problems. And when I do get canker sores from them, they usually clear up right away. My brother (who has not been allergy food tested) can't eat pecans, walnuts or raw tomatoes without getting canker sores.

[juliebove]

I just came off of a seven-day juice fast. I was feeling really good until I ate a tomato. My tongue started to burn and I now have at least twelve canker sores on it as well as a few on my inner lips and pain in the place between my gum and cheek. It seems this was an allergic reaction, no? I hadn't been eating too many tomatoes before the fast because they didn't taste too good and they caused a bit of burning, but nothing like this!

I'm wondering if going in for a full allergy test would be useful. It seems that it would be but I also know that allergies can change on raw. Are there reasons NOT to get it done? I'm wondering what else I could be allergic to, as I never considered the possibility that I was allergic to the tomatoes; I just thought they didn't taste very good just then. There are other foods that I feel the same way about. Suggestions?

I would, if I were you. Had I not had mine done, I never would have know about the almonds. I figured out the egg and was leaning towards figuring out the dairy on my own. But not the almonds. No clue on that one!

You can get a RAST test done if you go to a naturopath. You might be able to get your GP or allergist to do it, but they seem less inclined to care about or believe in food allergies. RAST is a simple blood test. It doesn't cause the bad, itchy reactions that the prick test does and it's over much quicker. You don't have to get all those pricks and then sit there waiting for a reaction.

[chilove]

Hi there,

I would recommend NOT getting an allergy test and trusting your body, like Nora suggested. I had an expensive blood test done at a naturapathic Dr's office and some things showed up that I know that I have no problem with and some things didn't come up that I know I am definitely allergic to. I told that to the Dr and she said, we'll there are a lot of false positives and negatives with this test!! After I paid about $300.00 for it! I wasn't very happy to say the least.

Take care,

Audrey
www.rawhealing.com

[SNMB]

Thanks for all of your responses! I think I'll just stay away from the tomatoes for now and see how I do.

[Lay-Lay]

I have had allergy testing done. Would I do it again? No (but that is me), I am fine tuning my body to tell me when something is right or wrong for my body.

When I had my testing done I had a reaction to every single thing. They had me giving myself injections several times a day (expensive too) and only eating the foods I was allergic too every 4 days. The shots didn't help much and neither did rotating my foods.

Guess what I went raw 3 years ago and only have 2 allergies now and it is not as severe anymore ---those allergy is bleach by the way which I NEVER use, but if I get around someone who is using it (visiting relatives) then I get sick, but not as bad. The other one which used to cause me to pass out is pollution that a local company in my town releases. Which my mother and I fought back on and they have improved the pollution a great deal. Everytime I am exposed to these it gets less and less. ALL of my food, mold, pollen, grass, animal, etc.... allergies are 100% completely GONE, thanks to RAW!

It is your body and if you feel allergy testing would benefit you, then by all means go for it, but if you feel your body can do its own tests then there you go!