What's the deal with peanut allergies?

[Cindy's Mom]

ITA. I think there aren't that many more kids but my goodness the parents so over react now. Many kids are allergic to ingesting peanuts and they want the whole school to be peanut free for 1 kid who just needs to not eat any, and we willingly go along with it. Same with airplanes.

I also think the over sanitizing everything and the over protectiveness today doesn't help. the kids immune systems never have a chance to be built up.

I also agree with the ADD diagnosis. Saw it happen to 2 kids in my DS's kindergarten class. One was spirited but could have been dealt with, the other was just a spoiled brat.

I am thanking my lucky stars there are no parents (or you for that matter) at my DD's school. With attitudes like yours, my daughter would have been dead already.

How exactly is it that we overeact? Is it because we ask you not to send peanuts to school, because it will kill my child.

To me its the same as bringing a gun or drugs to school. I would get the same outcome. DEATH

 

[Imzadi]

I am currently reading The Omnivore's Dilemma. I am only in the early chapters of the "Corn" section and I'm absolutely disgusted with the "industrial" food supply in America. Thoroughly depressing.

You might also be interested in reading The South Beach Diet book - even if you aren't interested in dieting. It was never intended to be a weight reducing diet. It was developed by a cardiologist (heart doctor) who was trying to get his patients to live till their next check up by unclogging their arteries, lowering their cholesterol & balancing their blood sugar levels. I already stated, Adult on-set diabetes is one of the leading growing epidemics in AMERICA today vs. the rest of the world. The point is to stabilize blood sugar. The weight loss is simply a healthy by-product. The Dr. talks very much about Adult on-set diabetes in the book.

You can also get synopsis of the book by just joining this forum discussion group at Yahoo Groups:
Newbies2SouthBeachDiet (http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Newbies2SouthBeachDiet/messages)
You don't have to post there, but in the files & archives there is a summary of the SBD book.

South Beach Diet is NOT LOW carbs like Atkins. It is eating the RIGHT carbs and the RIGHT fats and fiber with a moderate amount of protein.

The RIGHT carbs are what are known as Complex carbs, like whole GRAIN foods, ie. whole grain breads - like 7 grain bread, long grain & wild rice, bran, veggies with fiber and a low glycemic (sugar) index.

Whole Wheat should not be confused with whole GRAIN bread, because nowadays, even that is so stripped & pulverized, it has become a deceptive ad-word like "low fat".

The RIGHT fats are unsaturated fats, like those in nuts, tofu, etc., vs. saturated fats (artery clogging) in meats, dairy, etc.

None of this is NEW information. Complex carbs & unsaturated fats are taught in high school biology classes for years.

South Beach Diet simply gives GUIDELINES on what are better things to eat and when, including 3 healthy snacks a day, to combat the sugar cravings that naturally accompany a low blood sugar dip. We have become a society used to eating, picking & buying high, simple carb items, because of industrialization & advertising. He's just helping people to start consciously picking BETTER carb & fat foods so as to not blow the pancreas, vs. our badly programed choices.

 

[Hannathy]

I'm glad you enjoy picking on me go ahead, I just happened to agree and quoted another poster before me and another poster agreed with me. I don't understand why it is ok to get "snarky" with folks who disagree with you?. and if you think any school is 100% peanut free you are kidding yourself. Schools can't even get parents to send there kids to school fed let alone sent with no peanut butter with them or on them or that their clothes are clean and their faces and teeth brushed, social services would be out of a job. I do think there is a lot of over reacting because we aren't a peanut free society and yet you hear of very few peanut related deaths.

As far as the children I spoke of how do you know? did you work with them everyday? I did and the school actually agreed that the child didn't need meds but the parents were so set on it they took him out of the school district.

 

[poohandwendy]

Return to breastfeeding our kids. Diabetes, high cholesterol, food allergies, increase in breast cancer rates, etc, are proven to have links to whether the adults were fed formula or breastmilk as children. The increase in food allergies also follows the decrease in successful breastfeeding.

But hey, breastfeeding isn't going to make anybody rich, so why should we listen to the laboratories saying the same things my grandmother said for years??? *argh*

Brandie

I disagree with bottlefeeding being a factor, at least when it comes to peanut allergies. The vast majority of kids growing up when I did were bottlefed and ate peanut butter regularly. It was rare to come across a kid who was allergic to peanuts.

And Fwiw, breastfeeding in the last 15-20 years is probably at the highest it has been in the last 70 some years and allergies seem to be more and more prevalent today than ever.

 

[Fitswimmer]

Inhalation isn't deadly for you. The lady down the street used to work at our local major league park and said a guy had to have a tracheotomy from an inhalation reaction.

If I were exposed to it long enough without medication I probably would have to have the same thing. For inhalation, it isn't instaneous for me, I have time to move away and medicate.

When I had my first reaction, that was the next step if the shot hadn't started to work. My mother says she'll never get over seeing the MD standing over me with the scalpel at the ready.

 

[Christine]

As far as the children I spoke of how do you know? did you work with them everyday? I did and the school actually agreed that the child didn't need meds but the parents were so set on it they took him out of the school district.

Okay, devil's advocate here. Hannathy, you may be correct about those kids. But, really, how did YOU know what the child needed and, for that matter, how did the school know? You had a snapshot into that child's life, as does the teacher and the school.

I will agree that many parents rush to medicate. As a country we rush to medicate everything and everybody. But until you are the parent of the child and live with that child and accompany that child to the psychiatrist's eval then you really have NO CLUE if that child needs medication or not. On top of that, the school has no business commenting on it to you, who I assume are just a parent at the school? Not sure, maybe you are a teacher?

Also, ADHD comes in many forms and "behavioral" problems are only a small portion of it. Some kids are beautifully behaved yet have ADHD and need medication. People need to stop stereotyping everyone they see and making their own diagnoses after working with a child for a few hours here and there. Then coming out and assuming that most children don't need to be on medication because of the one or two kids you happened to disagree with.

 

[RIDISNEYLOVERS]

My cousins son who is 9 was just diagnosed with an allergy to high fructose corn syrup. Try finding foods for him to eat!!

Dakota_Lynn: ITA with the aspartame thought!! Aspartame is really bad for you. Aspartame is linked to obesity and obesity brings on so many other health issues. Your body needs (natural) sugar, as in whole fruit, not the processed junk.

 

[momof2inPA]

If I were exposed to it long enough without medication I probably would have to have the same thing. For inhalation, it isn't instaneous for me, I have time to move away and medicate.

When I had my first reaction, that was the next step if the shot hadn't started to work. My mother says she'll never get over seeing the MD standing over me with the scalpel at the ready.

Well, you be careful.

 

[basas]

Why do so many kids have these deadly allergies to peanuts? I don't remember a single kid when I was growing up having one of these critical allergies, but now you hear of so many. What is the cause? And do they ever outgrow it?

A lot of these allergies are greatly exaggerated. As are the responses by some places (for example a school near me) who first banned any type of peanut, then banned anything that might be baked in a shop with peanuts. It basically ruled out anything that wasn’t baked in the home kitchen (which didn’t make sense since most people’s home kitchens have peanuts!). How do they expect these kids to function in the real world?

 

[Christine]

My cousins son who is 9 was just diagnosed with an allergy to high fructose corn syrup. Try finding foods for him to eat!!

Now, that's a very hard one to deal with. It is in everything. This child, though, will probably benefit from his allergy because he's going to be forced to eat mostly unprocessed food. Poor kid, though--how difficult.

 

[momof2inPA]

Blah, blah, blah....I do think there is a lot of over reacting because we aren't a peanut free society and yet you hear of very few peanut related deaths.

As far as the children I spoke of how do you know? did you work with them everyday? I did and the school actually agreed that the child didn't need meds but the parents were so set on it they took him out of the school district.

1) In society, there aren't groups of kids sitting at tables next to each other eating peanut butter. People with peanut allergies are statistically more likely to die at school or a friend's house, than anywhere else.

2) I'm sorry. I guess you were the child's psychiatrist. Is that what your job was, or was it something else?

 

[Cindy's Mom]

I'm glad you enjoy picking on me go ahead, I just happened to agree and quoted another poster before me and another poster agreed with me. I don't understand why it is ok to get "snarky" with folks who disagree with you?. and if you think any school is 100% peanut free you are kidding yourself. Schools can't even get parents to send there kids to school fed let alone sent with no peanut butter with them or on them or that their clothes are clean and their faces and teeth brushed, social services would be out of a job. I do think there is a lot of over reacting because we aren't a peanut free society and yet you hear of very few peanut related deaths.

As far as the children I spoke of how do you know? did you work with them everyday? I did and the school actually agreed that the child didn't need meds but the parents were so set on it they took him out of the school district.

I assume you have directed your first paragraph toward me. I don't get "snarky" with people who disagree with me, but I sure will get "snarky" with you. How dare you tell me that I overeact you don't even know me.

My kid's school is not peanut free, nor has it ever claimed to be. I wouldn't expect it to be, but each teacher and parent I come across have been nothing but cooperative.

I would bet the reason that there are not as many peanut related death in children would be because the parents of these children are DILIGENT in making sure their children do not come in contact with nuts and by that I mean PEANUTS.

 

[Dakota_Lynn]

I disagree with bottlefeeding being a factor, at least when it comes to peanut allergies. The vast majority of kids growing up when I did were bottlefed and ate peanut butter regularly. It was rare to come across a kid who was allergic to peanuts.

And Fwiw, breastfeeding in the last 15-20 years is probably at the highest it has been in the last 70 some years and allergies seem to be more and more prevalent today than ever.

She's right! Breastfeeding was actually kinda weird when I was a kid in the 1970s. Kids growing up in my time and before drank moo juice and ate peanut butter like there was no tomorrow! It really is the kids who've grown up since breastfeeding became very popular who are sicker; not that I think there is a connection, I don't. I'm just saying, I don't think breastfeeding is a factor one way or the other in the amount of sick kids.

 

[Christine]

A lot of these allergies are greatly exaggerated. As are the responses by some places (for example a school near me) who first banned any type of peanut, then banned anything that might be baked in a shop with peanuts. It basically ruled out anything that wasn’t baked in the home kitchen (which didn’t make sense since most people’s home kitchens have peanuts!). How do they expect these kids to function in the real world?

First of all, the allergies are not "exaggerated." You cannot walk into a school and announce you have peanut allergy because you feel like it that day. You must go through a certified physician, have appropriate testing done--sometimes a few times, and have it all documented. Forms must be filled out and a doctor must attest and sign his name that you are allergic to substance XXXX and the physician tries to make a determination of the severity.

Also understand that many parents of peanut allergic children make NO demands on the school and are perfectly willing to "handle" it. However, we must notify the school of the allergy and, many times, it is the school's decision to ban peanuts and not the neurotic, overrexaggering parents. I have never demanded a peanut ban in my son's school or classroom. I have just made his allergy known. The school has made its individual decison on how to handle the problem. We've ranged from all-out peanut bans to having nothing special done.

I wish people would quit acting like parents are crazy over this, when oftentimes it is a reaction by others to make sure they do their job to keep ALL students safe.

 

[Hannathy]

1) In society, there aren't groups of kids sitting at tables next to each other eating peanut butter. People with peanut allergies are statistically more likely to die at school or a friend's house, than anywhere else.

2) I'm sorry. I guess you were the child's psychiatrist. Is that what your job was, or was it something else?

1. millions of children eat at schools that aren't peanut free, millions eat at restaurants that aren't peanut free, everyday isn't that in society? and you still hear of a minuscule amount of deaths.

No I'm not a psychiatrist just have an opinion like you but I guess only your opinion is the right one?

 

[Fitswimmer]

I am thanking my lucky stars there are no parents (or you for that matter) at my DD's school. With attitudes like yours, my daughter would have been dead already.

How exactly is it that we overeact? Is it because we ask you not to send peanuts to school, because it will kill my child.

To me its the same as bringing a gun or drugs to school. I would get the same outcome. DEATH

The allergists in the group I go to would totally disagree with you. They are against peanut free schools. Their position is that making an entire school peanut free does more harm than good to the allergic child. Isolating the allergic child stigmatizes them, banning the allergen makes it that child's "fault" that the other kids can't have what they want. That's just the emotional angle.

The world your DD and others like us live in contains our allergen and it always will. We have to learn how to adapt to that environment, not expect that environment to adapt to us.

There are reasonable adaptations that can be made to protect allergic children without going overboard. If a child is that severely allergic that a peanut butter sandwich eaten anywhere in the school by another child could kill them instantly-then perhaps public education is just too inherently dangerous for them. If that child is that allergic, how could they safely go anywhere? The mall, WDW, the park-none of those places is "safe". Even a MD's office could cause a problem-what if a child before them had eaten nuts or a sandwich? It would have to be like The Boy in the Bubble.

 

[basas]

First of all, the allergies are not "exaggerated." You cannot walk into a school and announce you have peanut allergy because you feel like it that day. You must go through a certified physician, have appropriate testing done--sometimes a few times, and have it all documented. Forms must be filled out and a doctor must attest and sign his name that you are allergic to substance XXXX and the physician tries to make a determination of the severity.

Many of these ‘deathly allergic to peanuts’ people really are not deathly allergic to peanuts. Some are, but many DO exaggerate their allergy. The same goes with ADD, ADHD, asthma and the million other issues 99% of kids have these days.

Also understand that many parents of peanut allergic children make NO demands on the school and are perfectly willing to "handle" it. However, we must notify the school of the allergy and, many times, it is the school's decision to ban peanuts and not the neurotic, overrexaggering parents. I have never demanded a peanut ban in my son's school or classroom. I have just made his allergy known. The school has made its individual decison on how to handle the problem. We've ranged from all-out peanut bans to having nothing special done.

I wish people would quit acting like parents are crazy over this, when oftentimes it is a reaction by others to make sure they do their job to keep ALL students safe.

When did I say anything about the parents? I didn’t even mention parents in my post. I was talking about the school and its ridiculous policy.

 

[Crankyshank]

I disagree with bottlefeeding being a factor, at least when it comes to peanut allergies. The vast majority of kids growing up when I did were bottlefed and ate peanut butter regularly. It was rare to come across a kid who was allergic to peanuts.

And Fwiw, breastfeeding in the last 15-20 years is probably at the highest it has been in the last 70 some years and allergies seem to be more and more prevalent today than ever.

I was born at the very end of 1974 and bottle feeding was the norm then. Myself included. I don't know anyone my age that has a peanut allergy. Quite a few bee allergies, but no nut, corn, soy, etc.. allergies. I do know several people who developed a seafood allergy in their 20's and 30's though.
In my case, I had a slew of allergies since I was a toddler and not one of them was food related. And fluffernutters with coffee milk were a lunchtime staple growing up, so it wasn't a lack of exposure that saved me either

 

[Dakota_Lynn]

My cousins son who is 9 was just diagnosed with an allergy to high fructose corn syrup. Try finding foods for him to eat!!

Dakota_Lynn: ITA with the aspartame thought!! Aspartame is really bad for you. Aspartame is linked to obesity and obesity brings on so many other health issues. Your body needs (natural) sugar, as in whole fruit, not the processed junk.

This is true. Aspartame increases weight and the reason why is that it makes you crave carbs. You end up getting less sugar in sodas, but you end up wanting to eat noodles and pastries and other high-carb foods and that ends up making people more overweight than if they drank regular sugared sodas. Studies HAVE shown this to be fact. Most people (myself included) actually lose some weight when they stop drinking diet sodas.

 

[poohandwendy]

How dare you tell me that I overeact you don't even know me.

Let's be fair, no one said YOU overreact (when it comes to peanut allergies), Hannathy said that 'there is a lot of overreacting'. No part of that specifies you, in any way.