they sound fat.

Somehow, those 3-4% who actually do have food allergies are all prolific Farkers.

But don't forget the people with food intolerances whose symptoms are identical to being neurotic.

Well my father is convinced that he is allergic to pesticides used on fresh fruits and tree nuts. Mainly because if you cook them he is fine with them.

I'm in the group this article is talking about. Generally speaking, I tell people that I'm allergic to nuts, melons, and bananas. It's not that I'll go into shock or swell up if I eat these things, instead I'll just get sick to my stomach and have an itch deep inside my ear. Is it life-threatening? Hardly. But saying that I'm allergic to these things is so much simpler than repeating this whole post every time the issue comes up.

meat0918: God, the trolling potential of this article is huge.

Get tested people, don't just assume.

You may be subjecting yourself to a strict, no frills, unhealthy, and disappointing diet without cause to address your Munchausen's Syndrome.

Celiac disease is the new chronic fatigue syndrome.

My dad use to say he was allergic to garlic, I'm pretty sure he had acid reflux and the garlic just triggered it.

But yeah, 3-4% of people with allergies, and how much do we spend in public schools on the whole peanut free thing?

Great article. All 4 sentences.

Dont know about food allergies but I wish I had discovered digestive enzymes earlier.

mrmyxolodian: Great article. All 4 sentences.

I disagree. The fourth sentence was only good, not great.

tjsands1118: My dad use to say he was allergic to garlic, I'm pretty sure he had acid reflux and the garlic just triggered it.

But yeah, 3-4% of people with allergies, and how much do we spend in public schools on the whole peanut free thing?

Seriously, if your kids goes into anaphylactic shock at the sight of of a Snickers, he aint allergic to peanuts, he's allergic to living.

meat0918: God, the trolling potential of this article is huge.

Get tested people, don't just assume.

You may be subjecting yourself to a strict, no frills, unhealthy, and disappointing diet without cause.

B-b-but, my anecdotes about my eating habits plus this book I picked up at the health food store! It has testimonials and everything!

logic523: I'm in the group this article is talking about. Generally speaking, I tell people that I'm allergic to nuts, melons, and bananas. It's not that I'll go into shock or swell up if I eat these things, instead I'll just get sick to my stomach and have an itch deep inside my ear. Is it life-threatening? Hardly. But saying that I'm allergic to these things is so much simpler than repeating this whole post every time the issue comes up.

THIS. It's easier to say that I'm allergic to avocado than to explain that if I eat them I WILL vomit (and this is true even if I don't know there's avocado in something).

moops: Celiac disease is the new chronic fatigue syndrome.

Pretty much.

Now, there *is* some nuance here. You can be sensitive to certain foods without being allergic to them. I'm sensitive to citric acid, as is my father, but neither is an allergy.

This is a different attitude entirely, though, than the folks who think they're allergic to MSG, but happily eat things with "glutimate" in it.

/and who fail double blind tests

I don't have food allergies but I do have a reaction to some foods because of allergies to certain plants.

It's just easier to tell people I'm allergic to apples than it is to explain that I can't eat apples because I will have a reaction due to my Birch allergy.

Knara: moops: Celiac disease is the new chronic fatigue syndrome.

Pretty much.

Now, there *is* some nuance here. You can be sensitive to certain foods without being allergic to them. I'm sensitive to citric acid, as is my father, but neither is an allergy.

This is a different attitude entirely, though, than the folks who think they're allergic to MSG, but happily eat things with "glutimate" in it.

/and who fail double blind tests

I get a slight scratchiness to my throat whenever I eat bananas or anything menthol-flavored. It usually lasts for a few minutes. Never once have I considered it an "allergy" or "insensitivity" or whatever.

/Still eat plenty of bananas and mint gum

Knara: Now, there *is* some nuance here. You can be sensitive to certain foods without being allergic to them. I'm sensitive to citric acid, as is my father, but neither is an allergy.

I think there's a gradient of food intolerance.

I probably have some sort of dairy intolerance - since I went vegan, I fark 100x less.

I don't know if that's a good or a bad thing.

I tend to say I'm allergic to garlic. Have I been tested? No. I do know that if I eat garlic, bad things happen. That said, I'm willing to accept that I might NOT be allergic to garlic and it's something else.

For now, avoiding garlicky foods seems to work, annoying as it may be.

Recently found out that I am mildly allergic to carrots. Didn't even know that was possible.

newmilpan: I don't have food allergies but I do have a reaction to some foods because of allergies to certain plants.

It's just easier to tell people I'm allergic to apples than it is to explain that I can't eat apples because I will have a reaction due to my Birch allergy.

Eh, Apples are tough for some people to eat because of the pectin in them. Irritates some folks' upper GI to no end because of how difficult they are to digest.

Fark you subby
/Coming from a person who almost had a breathing tube inserted in my neck from eating a piece of fish.
//My fish allergy started off with perch and shellfish then moved on to all seafood

Speaking of food allergies...

csb

I was asking my son what kind of sandwich he wanted for school the next day. I suggested PB&J. He said 'We can't bring peanut butter to school". My wife confirmed it. I'm all WTF?????

Just because some kid might have an allergy to peanuts, no kids are allowed to bring PB&J to school. WTF? It's not like my kid is going to assault the allergy freak with his sandwich, and even if he did there are already rules for that.

The Supreme Court has roundly rejected prior restraint!

Teen Wolf Blitzer: I get a slight scratchiness to my throat whenever I eat bananas or anything menthol-flavored. It usually lasts for a few minutes. Never once have I considered it an "allergy" or "insensitivity" or whatever.

/Still eat plenty of bananas and mint gum

Yeah, I still go through fits where I drink the shiat outta OJ, simply cuz I'm willing to put up with it because OJ is so good.

djZorbof: I get pretty wicked diarrhea when I eat wheat, potatoes, or dairy so I think something is wrong with me.

Eat more leafy greens and white rice? If there's one odd thing about my digestive system, it's that if I eat Mexican or fast food I'll get the squirts unless I start the meal with some rice or a small salad. I think it absorbs/does something to the grease. Not sure what, exactly.

"Not only am I allergic to fresh fruits and vegetables, but no one believes me!"

/first world problems

Teen Wolf Blitzer: Somehow, those 3-4% who actually do have food allergies are all prolific Farkers Mefites.

FTFY

Additionally, they all have every known aphasia, synesthesia, and diagnosable psychological affliction known to medicine and some that aren't yet known.

Knara: newmilpan: I don't have food allergies but I do have a reaction to some foods because of allergies to certain plants.

It's just easier to tell people I'm allergic to apples than it is to explain that I can't eat apples because I will have a reaction due to my Birch allergy.

Eh, Apples are tough for some people to eat because of the pectin in them. Irritates some folks' upper GI to no end because of how difficult they are to digest.

You may be right but apples make my lips swell and my mouth/throat itch and burn. There are some other fruit that do the same thing to me because of plant allergies.

theflatline: I work with a 25 year old girl who says she is lactose intolerant.

I have been lactose intolerant for the last 25 years.

I am an average weight for my height and age.

She is around 5'3 250 lbs. She says she is overweight because she has to get her nutrtion from other sources than dairy which are more fattening.

Yesterday I saw her drink a large coke, 32 oz, 15 chicken wings, and nachos with fake cheese for lunch....

Yeah, that lack of dairy is what is making her fat.

Those are the sorts of folks who the wait staff at Chinese restaraunts know what they're gonna order before they even talk to them.

2 orders of cheese wontons and a diet Coke

/all the lactose intolerant folks I know are in better shape than I am

Marmanukem: Recently found out that I am mildly allergic to carrots. Didn't even know that was possible.

There is some girl in England that is allergic to water.

/not rabid

Lactose intolerance? That's like, when you come home from a hard day at the gym and all you want is to chug a half-gallon of whole milk, but you drink it too fast and end up puking, right?

No food allergies, but if I eat a couple slices of pizza I won't be able to sleep that night due to acid reflux. I can eat Creole food all day, I can pop jalapenos like candy and I don't have a problem. One decent sized slice of pizza will keep me awake all night if I don't have an antacid on hand.

/if no antacid is available, a teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water does the trick.
//eats pizza at least twice a month

newmilpan: You may be right but apples make my lips swell and my mouth/throat itch and burn. There are some other fruit that do the same thing to me because of plant allergies.

It's certainly possible, though apples in general are just rough on ya, y'know?

/wish I had less citric acid sensitivity so I could eat more tasty froots more often

I hate onions. I'll give them a chance every now and then to confirm that, yup, I still hate them. Now I can tell people I don't like onions and have a 5 minute debate on how awesome onions are and that I'm insane for disliking them, or I can say I'm allergic and be done with it.

moops: Celiac disease is the new chronic fatigue syndrome.

No, it isn't. Celiac disease is a condition for which there are objective tests. And it is a disease. CFS diagnosis is subjective. And it is a syndrome.

Gah I have at least 5 girl friends that think they have gluten intolerance. Each one is in a different friend group and claim that because they feel tired all the time it must be the gluten.

/retarded

Onions are awesome and if you don't like them, you must be insane.

AverageAmericanGuy: Onions are awesome and if you don't like them, you must be insane.

This bears repeating

Litig8r: No, it isn't. Celiac disease is a condition for which there are objective tests. And it is a disease. CFS diagnosis is subjective. And it is a syndrome.

CFS is can be concluded by a professional, but not just any professional.

Likewise, celiacs can be concluded by a professional, but not just any professional.

If you haven't noticed that the 10-fold increase in the last 5 years of folks who are eating gluten-free because they claim to have self-diagnosed celiacs, i can only conclude you've been living in a cave.

Litig8r: moops: Celiac disease is the new chronic fatigue syndrome.

No, it isn't. Celiac disease is a condition for which there are objective tests. And it is a disease. CFS diagnosis is subjective. And it is a syndrome.

meat0918: God, the trolling potential of this article is huge.

Get tested people, don't just assume.

You may be subjecting yourself to a strict, no frills, unhealthy, and disappointing diet without cause.

Tested for what? They can test for food allergies but the only test for food sensitivities is to eat it and see what happens.

I do agree that many people have made mistakes in this regard, though, once they figure out what seems to be the problem they simply assume that it is without actually trying it again to see.

Without experience it's very easy to be mislead by the obvious ingredients and not realize the true problem is some minor ingredient.

logic523: I'm in the group this article is talking about. Generally speaking, I tell people that I'm allergic to nuts, melons, and bananas. It's not that I'll go into shock or swell up if I eat these things, instead I'll just get sick to my stomach and have an itch deep inside my ear. Is it life-threatening? Hardly. But saying that I'm allergic to these things is so much simpler than repeating this whole post every time the issue comes up.

Yup. A lot of us with sensitivities simply say "allergy" because it's simpler.

Marmanukem: Recently found out that I am mildly allergic to carrots. Didn't even know that was possible.

You can be allergic to anything with *ANY* protein. You can be sensitive to most anything that's not a normal part of the body itself.

The Southern Dandy: Speaking of food allergies...

csb

I was asking my son what kind of sandwich he wanted for school the next day. I suggested PB&J. He said 'We can't bring peanut butter to school". My wife confirmed it. I'm all WTF?????

Just because some kid might have an allergy to peanuts, no kids are allowed to bring PB&J to school. WTF? It's not like my kid is going to assault the allergy freak with his sandwich, and even if he did there are already rules for that.

The Supreme Court has roundly rejected prior restraint!

[3.bp.blogspot.com image 320x180]

Yeah, that's going too far. The burden should be on the person with the problem to avoid it rather than on everyone else.

vudukungfu: they sound fat.

I THINK U SOUND FAT.

meat0918: God, the trolling potential of this article is huge.

Get tested people, don't just assume.

You may be subjecting yourself to a strict, no frills, unhealthy, and disappointing diet without cause.

I dunno, I asked my doctor if I should get tested after explaining what I'm fairly certain is a food allergy (garlic and onions--but the onions are usually more of an intolerance). He said there wasn't really a point. Best case scenario, I pay for a test to confirm what I'm already fairly certain of.

Granted, mine wasn't a "rigorously remove random foods convinced vague problems are an allergy." I one day realized that everything at Olive Garden tasted like a sore throat. Reaction got gradually worse over the years with wheezing, itchy face and throat, lightheadedness, shortness of breath, etc.

My version of an allergy test was just describing it to nurses or doctor's and seeing their expression of concern and hearing them say "that's anaphylaxis." I try to avoid the fresh stuff since its physically excruciating and makes me really drowsy, but sometimes it's just too yummy. My doctor had me get an epipen, but it expired and I haven't felt like getting a new one.