February 19, 2008
View Comments | Post CommentYour Food Allergies
I've always been very suspicious of people who claim to have allergies, whether food or otherwise. When pressed, they often say they know they have allergies because "one time I ate X, and the next day I had Y reaction, and everything else I ate that day was something I eat all the time." I'm suspicious not just because such stories lack solid causative links, but also because I once claimed a bullshit allergy of which I was convinced at the time.
While doing yardwork as a kid of maybe seven years old, I once was cutting some elephant ear fronds and got some of the sap on my inner elbow. The area turned red. I ran inside to wash it off, and then told my parents I couldn't cut elephant ear fronds anymore, because I'm allergic to the sap. I maintained this argument for maybe a year, and then decided voluntarily to cut those fronds the next year because the alternative was raking leaves, which I hated more. Naturally, some of the sap got on me again; no reaction. In retrospect, the most likely explanation for the original irritation was that a frond's jagged, freshly cut edge had scraped me as it deposited sap on my arm.
So... do you have any allergies? What about food allergies? Jeanette claims to be allergic to codeine without having been clinically diagnosed. Her sister, Betty, claims to be allergic to peanuts without having been clinically diagnosed. What do you think you're allergic to? Think about it. Okay. Got it in mind? Now check out this little fact I just read about:
"More than one-quarter of the population in seven countries in the European Union claims to suffer from food allergies or intolerances. ...[C]linical tests indicate that the incidence of such allergies is much lower than commonly believed (about 3.5% of the population)..." -- Herve This, Molecular Gastronomy: Exploring The Science Of Flavor
So... 86% of those who claim they have food allergies are wrong. How sure are you about your allergy now? Are you missing out on all sorts of delicious, peanutty goodness thanks to your own misdiagnosis? Are you avoiding oranges just because you caught a virus after eating them once? Wouldn't you rather feel guilty about eating ice cream because it makes your thighs fat than not eat ice cream at all?
It seems to me like it would be worth getting my allergies clinically tested. Or, if I'm one of the people claim to have a "mild allergy," it seems like it would be worth jumping into the deep end of the pool: Eat what you fear, and see how bad it really is. If you know it's not a serious enough reaction to cause permanent injury, and you don't have anything important going on that weekend, just eat it, and see what happens. There's an 86% chance that you'll experience no adverse effects.
Cross-posted at EatFoo.
Posted at February 19, 2008 1:57 PM | Comments (6)
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My tongue goes apeshit about half the time I drink red wine. No other symptoms, just painful red spots on parts of my tongue. It happens almost always with Shirazes, occasionally with Cabernet Sauvignons, and never with Merlots or Pinot Noirs. Nor does it happen with white wines. Though it happens a lot with tequila, bizarrely enough. I'd get it clinically tested, but I have no idea how to explain that to a doctor.
Posted by: Jeff at February 20, 2008 3:38 PM
I am proud to say I have never had (nor claimed to have had) an allergy to any sort of food. The only undiagnosed allergy I've ever cited for myself is to cats, and even that one seems to be very fickle.
Jeff, I would probably explain by printing out a copy of that paragraph (sans last sentence) and reading it to the doctor.
Posted by: Mike at February 21, 2008 10:01 AM
Yeah, Jeff, I think you explained it pretty well there. You should probably try to induce the symptoms before going in, though. Are the red spots similar to normal cold sores on the tongue? I get those occasionally, but it doesn't seem to be connected to what I've ingested.
Based on what you've described, I'd say it has to do with the acidity. It probably isn't the tequila, but the limes you probably lick (or lime juice you drink) along with it. Little red bumps as a response to acid is quite normal, it sounds like yours might just be more severe than most people. I bet there are ways you could keep it from happening as well, like eating something fatty that will coat your tongue somewhat, then drinking.
Posted by: Barzelay at February 21, 2008 8:44 PM
I generally respect people's declaration of allergic reactions because it's not any of my business (or your business) if they're true.
After the age of puberty, most people can control what they eat and so many an OCD impulse becomes "I don't eat x" or "I only eat y if I prepare it for myself." Try explaining to a nosy acquaintance (when it is, again, none of their business) that the sight of tomato slices on your sandwich brings tears to your eyes and annihilates your appetite. "Allergic" is a savior-word, and you should leave people to it, regardless of their histamine status.
Posted by: Amanda at March 20, 2008 7:09 AM
Amanda, I agree that it generally isn't any of my business what people eat--until I'm cooking for them, or eating with them. Then it is very pointedly my business, and certain habits and preferences can make my experience much more pleasant or unpleasant. I am not immune to having preferences, but those at least can be dealt with. For instance, the rule in my family was that you had to try at least one bite of something you don't like, each time it is served. Allergies, however, close the door on even sampling. They mean someone will never open up to a particular food.
To you, that is apparently a convenient strategy to avoid things one doesn't like. To me it's dishonesty and closed-mindedness, as well as being a little bit disrespectful to the cook. If you don't want to eat something, then tell me honestly that you don't want to eat it. I will try to convince you to eat it, and you can try to convince me to shut up about it. Eventually you'll either eat it, or else I'll shut up about it. If you don't eat it, I will probably respect you just a little bit less. But that's the way it should work! You shouldn't get to avoid the consequences of your idiosyncrasies. It's no different when I bring home some really weird thing from the Asian grocery, and one of my roommates won't try it. It's their right not to try it, and it's my right to respect them less for their lack of adventure.
I'm not any kind of expert on OCD or other mental disorders, so I apologize if this is horribly ignorant, but wouldn't having to constantly explain one's OCD tics (and suffer the resulting humiliation) give one more incentive to get over them, or at least learn to deal with the impulses?
Posted by: Barzelay at March 20, 2008 12:30 PM
Barzelay - not all allergies are mental aberrations or outright lies. Ask your doctor. Some food allergies can kill the person who has them. Adults will likely have the sense to tell you to stuff it rather than risk their health, but never, NEVER do this to a child.
Posted by: Kay Shapero at May 29, 2008 5:52 PM
