If you’ve just been diagnosed with one of the most common food allergies in adults, like dairy or nuts, you may be wondering what happens next.
Can you still go out to eat? Is it safe to go grocery shopping? Some food allergies can be life-threatening, so you’re right to be concerned.
However, the good news is that there are plenty of ways to manage allergies, allowing you to still enjoy your life. With a few precautions, you can stay healthy and minimize your risk of an allergy attack.
To learn more about handling food allergies, keep reading for our top five tips.
1. If You Have One of the Most Common Food Allergies in Adults, Never Leave Home without Medication
Many common allergies, such as peanuts, eggs, and soy, can cause serious reactions in a matter of minutes. One of our top tips to deal with food allergies is to always carry medication with you.
You can’t risk being caught out without it, so always keep it in your bag. Many allergy sufferers use an Epipen—visit here to learn more about them.
2. Wear a Medical Bracelet
When dealing with food allergies, it helps to wear a medical bracelet that lists your allergens.
If you become unconscious or unable to communicate, the bracelet ensures the paramedics know exactly what’s going on and can treat your allergies as quickly as possible.
3. Understand Food Labels
Food labels can be confusing, as multiple words can be used to describe the same thing. When purchasing food, always read labels with care.
For example, soy products can also be labeled as Glycine max or Mono-diglyceride—when in doubt, don’t purchase the product.
4. Cook with Caution
If you’re cooking in a shared kitchen, be cautious of contamination. If you have a nut allergy and someone else has cooked in the kitchen with nuts, there could be traces of nuts on the counter, on utensils, or in the microwave.
With allergies, always thoroughly clean before cooking in a new environment.
5. Know Your Symptoms
If you have allergies, it’s important to know your symptoms of an allergy attack, inside and out. This way, you can act fast if you suspect you’ve consumed the wrong food.
Allergy symptoms vary but often include hives, stomach pain, difficulty breathing, and dizziness. If you suspect you have allergies but haven’t been diagnosed, talk to your doctor about allergy testing.
Stay Safe with These Food Allergy Tips
If you suffer from the most common food allergies in adults, use the tips above to stay healthy and avoid attacks. Although living with allergies can be stressful, it’s certainly possible to live a normal life.
Even better, more and more restaurants and food distributors appreciate the needs of allergy patients, making it easier to know what you’re eating.
With an allergy management plan, you can stay safe from food allergies when dining out or at home.
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