Anaphylactic response to tree nuts

[c'estlaviebelle]

Hi all,

My roommate has an anaphylactic reaction to all tree nuts. Its a very severe allergic reaction (her throat closes up almost instantaneously and she swells up rapidly apparently) and she could die if ingesting any nuts. She's had to learn that if I make something these days she is not to eat any of it just in case.

She was asking me if it would be even possible to be a raw foodist with her situation. I've only seen lots of recipes with nut based desserts.

Does anyone here have this condition? I'm thinking it would be near impossible to be raw and not be able to eat nuts. I'm sure it could be done, but it would be so restrictive...

Are there any theories on how anaphylactic response develops? Is it genetic or is it a response to too much of that item of food? I keep getting conflicting info online, so I was wondering if someone here has some knowledge about it. Thanks! :)

[pamparred]

I don't know the reasons for allergic reactions, but in a lot of nut recipes you could use sunflower seeds. Also for some recipes, using fruit for crust would work. I don't think it would be hard to be raw and not have nuts, I use them very little and a lot of people here on the list don't use them at all. It would be no different than her not eating them on Sad.

[Raene]

The interesting thing about allergies is that they're always changing. I wasn't allergic to strawberries until I turned 13, was allergic for about 8 years, and then grew out of the allergy.
I've heard of people who become raw and lose all raw food allergies. Who knows?

[Blazin'Jane]

Those darned nut allergies are scary. We had a friend in our Vegetarian G Gourmet Group (in my pre-RAW days) who was seriously allergic to peanuts. She carried emergency measures in her purse, and I saw her have to rush to the hospita more than once. Those peanuts just sneak int everything when you're not looking! I hope your friend gets it worked out. It would be a wonderful thing indeed if her allergies just went away on RAW!

[c'estlaviebelle]

Those darned nut allergies are scary. We had a friend in our Vegetarian G Gourmet Group (in my pre-RAW days) who was seriously allergic to peanuts. She carried emergency measures in her purse, and I saw her have to rush to the hospita more than once. Those peanuts just sneak int everything when you're not looking! I hope your friend gets it worked out. It would be a wonderful thing indeed if her allergies just went away on RAW!

That's how my friend's allergy is! It is very severe, and although she has had only 3 reactions in her life, she has been told by the Dr that each time she has a reaction the Epipen will be less and less powerful. So, she has to be very careful- she doesn't eat much that is prepackaged and concentrates (unfortunately) on mostly meat and grains for her diet, with some veggies, because she says too much vegetarian food is processed in places where nuts are being processed as well.

Her mother has severe reactions too, so I wonder if it is simply the genes.

[c'estlaviebelle]

The interesting thing about allergies is that they're always changing. I wasn't allergic to strawberries until I turned 13, was allergic for about 8 years, and then grew out of the allergy.
I've heard of people who become raw and lose all raw food allergies. Who knows?

My friend says she used to eat tree nuts in huge amounts when she was a child, and then all of a sudden became allergic about the same age. The Dr says it is possible that consuming too many causes the body to treat the substance as a threat and allergen. :confused: I'm not sure if she is planning to go raw (especially since her bf and she are big Bar-b-que eaters), but I wanted to give her info since she showed some small interest.

[c'estlaviebelle]

I don't know the reasons for allergic reactions, but in a lot of nut recipes you could use sunflower seeds. Also for some recipes, using fruit for crust would work. I don't think it would be hard to be raw and not have nuts, I use them very little and a lot of people here on the list don't use them at all. It would be no different than her not eating them on Sad.

That's a really good point. I guess you don't *need* to eat nuts on raw if you find substitutes. I guess it is because I make a lot of nut based desserts that I couldn't imagine not being able to eat them. Especially since a lot of the time I use them for the "bulk" in my diet.

[raven]

Yes, she could be raw but she would have to scrupuously avoid all prepared foods that may contain nuts. She couldn't even eat at raw restaurants. Even many raw foods, such as seed butters, are processed at plants where nuts are also processed and you'll see disclaimers on the labels. I assume she'd be fine with hemp, pumpkin and sesame seeds but she'd have to be careful that these items haven't been processed on the same machines as tree nuts.

People do overcome allergies but if you go into anaphlyatic shock how would you take the chance of finding out?

Suzy

[Raene]

Yeah, that's the scary part...