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Registered dietitian Jessica Butcher goes over some helpful tips on how to recognize and avoid products that contain Milk and Wheat for those who are...

Registered dietitian Jessica Butcher goes over some helpful tips on how to recognize and avoid products that contain Milk and Wheat for those who are allergic.

Barnaby – What’s goin’, Barnaby here.  Another HelloLife Moment for you about allergies.  Because, we’ve identified the top eight allergies.  So let’s join Jessica Butcher, Registered Dietician to see what we’re talking about on this one.  Which allergies are we going to deal with?

Jessica – Today we’re talking about milk and wheat.  Now these are two common allergies found in children.  But the good news is – I mean even though it’s definitely and can be a scary thing and if your child is diagnosed with a food allergy.  But, 80% of children do grow out of these allergies.  So that is the good news for this segment.

B – let’s talk about what parents should be looking for to maybe get an inkling that their kids have an allergy to wheat or milk.  What sort of signals might they see?

J – Well, maybe your child suddenly, you know, you give them something with wheat or milk in it.  Within minutes or even a couple of hours, you may notice hives on your child.  They may say that their tongue feels weird – maybe it’s tingling.  If it’s a severe anaphylactic reaction, their throat could be swelling up and they may be choking because they’re having a difficult time breating.

B – Well you know, it’s interesting. Just because you buy products that are non-dairy – say, creamers or lactose-free milk, trying to protect your kids, it’s not necessarily going to protect them.  Why is that?

J – now, non-dairy creamer is one that just seems like controversy in itself, you know.  Such a weird topic to have that name and still contain milk.  And that’s because the proteins in milk are still pulled out so you may have casein in it or whey.  Even in those lactose-free or non-dairy products, they still can contain milk ingredients.  And it’s those proteins that we really need to watch out for with the milk allergy.  But what’s nice, is because the FDA does mandate it, any ingredient statement that you’re looking at does have to list out clearly, in plain terms, if it does contain milk, wheat or any of the other top eight common allergens.  So it makes it a little bit easier to keep an eye on.  We just need to always be looking at those ingredient statements.

B – Alrightie.  Now what about in the realm of wheat intolerances?  I imagine there’s also some detective work that needs to be done there as well.

J – That’s true.  Now wheat and milk can both be found in deli meat.  I mean, so there’s lots of surprising sources out there and we always need to – I cannot stress it enough – we always need to be looking at that ingredient statement.  Because there are a lot of surprising sources out there.

B – Soy sauce.  That certainly surprises me.  What’s in there that’s not good for the wheat and milk allergic?J – Well soy sauce is common with the wheat allergy.  And there’s lots of things in different dressings that can be added in there so do pay attention to those labels.  And soy sauces is one that certainly you wouldn’t think would contain much more than soy products.  But it does contain some wheat in there and often cases, so that’s always something to pay attention to. 

B – Well, I tell you what.  With the increase of people suffering from food allergies, it is due diligence.  I guess it’s all on you to really do the detective work necessary.  But hey, you know we’ll always keep you updated about what we know and how to help you down that path, right here at HelloLife.net.  Because we’re all about matching your commitment to a healthy lifestyle. 

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