Living with allergies is more than a chore for many sufferers, it can also mean the difference between life and death with some allergies deeply affecting the welfare and health of those with them. Some allergies, such as peanut allergy, create a serious constraint on the lifestyle and eating habits of those afflicted – especially as peanuts and products derived from them are used in such widespread abundance throughout the food chain.
The Peanut Allergy Answer Book
By Dr. Michael C Young
This is the first book to deal with the life-threatening and life-changing peanut allergy. Food specialists consider the peanut allergy to be the most dangerous of all allergies and it should be of concern to everyone that it is becoming much more prevalent.
Why peanut allergy is on the rise is uncertain and no-one really knows, however while medical teams search for an answer, parents with children suffering from this reaction must ensure their children are protected and safe.
Dr Young is a pediatric specialist in allergies and his book is considered to be the definitive work on the subject. Concerned parents can use this very helpful guide to assess whether their children are also susceptible to peanuts (particularly if one of their children already has the condition). It is packed with practical information and especially, listings of those foods which either contain peanuts and by-products in their manufacture.
While it focuses upon peanut allergy, this is a must read for anyone with a food related allergy.
Mommy, Is This Safe to Eat? For Kids Allergic to Peanuts and Tree Nuts, 2nd Edition![]()
This is an extremely useful and enjoyable book which is aimed at children with nut allergies, though it is useful for any child with a food related allergy. This is a picture book with follows Ricky, a preschool child with a peanut allergy. By reading through and following the picture story, both parent and child can educate themselves on what foods are safe to eat and there has been no skimping on pictorial representations of safe foods and those to avoid.
A word of caution – this is sold as a “book” however, some readers are disappointed when it arrives because it is not presented in a hard cover but rather a pamphlet form. Nevertheless, it serves very well for children and it is the message which is far more important than the book presentation.
This is an excellent tool for getting the message on nut allergies over to your child and can be used again and again.
Allie the Allergic Elephant: A Children’s Story of Peanut Allergies
By Nicole Smith (Illustrated by Maggie Nichols)
Again, using the pictorial format to convey the message on food allergies to children in a format they will like and enjoy. This is one of my personal favorites as we follow the food adventures of Allie the Elephant and it is suitable for all children and not just those with an allergy. As an educative tool for children (and adults) as to how serious an allergy can be for those with them and why some foods should never be shared with or given to sufferers, this is a superlative tool for helping children understand the impact and seriousness of food allergies. It is also a great introduction for adults who can use the book to increase their own understanding of food allergies so they in turn can explain it better to children.
Food Allergies : Enjoying Life with a Severe Food Allergy
by Tanya Wright
Ms Wright has written an extremely informative book which is based upon her personal experiences and the effects upon the dietary requirements of sufferers. This is an excellent guide on how an allergy sufferer can come to terms and live with the condition given the reduced range of foods sufferers may use and the increasing number of foods which they must avoid.
The focus is upon proactive prevention with outlines of special diets and practical tips for eating away from home.
The Allergy Bible: Understanding, Diagnosing, Treating Allergies and Intolerances
By Linda Gamlin & Jonathan Brostoff
Allergies affect some 25% of the population in one form or another (with 10% of children also suffering from them). Allergic reactions from all sources are outlined and described here, together with illustrations and up-to-date information on medical developments.
While it is detailed and packed with medical information, it is also written and presented in a style which makes it highly readable and informative; an eminently suitable volume for the layperson who is interested in the subject or for those who are suffering from an allergy and need definitive information specific to their condition. This book also includes sections on alternative and complementary medicine, which have also scored some success with the treatment of allergies and alleviating symptoms.
How To Cook for Food Allergies: Understand Ingredients, Adapt Recipes with Confidence and Cook for an Exciting Allergy-Free Diet
By Lucinda Bruce-Gardyne
One major issue for those suffering from food allergies is the restricted range of foods which they cannot tolerate in their diet. It is not simply the natural food which may be the sole cause of allergic reactions, but any by-products or other foods which use them in their own production. Clearly, peanut allergy is a serious issue in this respect because it is so widely used to make other foods, including cooking foods with peanut oil.
The layout of this volume is recipe driven, with clear instructions on how to prepare a meal and the ingredients to be used as well as tips on how to source them. There is also an excellent dietary section on satisfying the sufferers vitamin and nutrition requirements.
Gluten-Free Almond Flour Cookbook: 100 Recipes: Breakfasts, Entrees, and More
By Elana Amsterdam
A thoroughly comprehensive book on cooking for those with gluten intolerance”! Food allergies dramatically impinge on the ability to cook nutritional and enjoyable food for sufferers, but this book gives a wide range of recipes and cooking ideas using gluten free almond flour.
This is perfect for those who want to bake cakes for children and give them all the treats that they feel they are missing out on, but at the same time you can rest assured you are feeding them nutritious food as well.
For those seeking self-help, this is also a great book to have in the kitchen library but it is also a book for the professional adviser. Written clearly by someone with a great deal of allergy experience, this is packed full of practical tips which have been derived from personal experience.
Related articles
- Association Between Peanut Allergy and Severe Asthma (allergizer.com)
- Home Air Purifiers (rabbitair.com)
- Solstice Medicine (solsticemed.com)
- 23andMe Allergy Survey: Nothing to Sneeze At (spittoon.23andme.com)
- The Air Quality (theairquality.com)
- Doctors trial ‘cure’ for peanut allergy (guardian.co.uk)
