[Sca-cooks] Re: allergies vs. sensitivities

[Lady Elisabetta Maldestro]

This is why it is so important to pre-publish ingrediant listing for 
feast menus.

The reason I wrote allergies/sensitivity regarding nightshades, is that 
it could be either depending on the person. But most humans have a 
negative reaction to at least one of them.

For more information on allergies, I suggest the American Academy of 
Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (www.aaaai.org).

Each person differs with non-food allergies, but they do tend change 
with every hormone cycle, which is every 7 years. I just found out that 
I am no longer allergic to ragweed or tree pollen or mold or dogs. 

There are allergy blood tests which have advanced much in the past few 
years, as well as tests for celiac and laxtose intolance. This is 
important because I was told that I had a low grade wheat allergy (if I 
ate more then x amount per week I would get sick) when in fact I do not 
have an allergy but a bile issue. Sometimes people have digestive 
issues that mimic allergies, like acid reflux.

My allergist informed me that anything not an "official" allergy (like 
pollen, mold, dander) is considered a sensitivity. This includes 
chemical or enviromental allergies, like smoke. And some allergists 
will NOT treat these. 

As for lactose intolance, well from personal experience I can tell you 
that if you had it as a child, and slowly re-integrate milk back into 
your diet as an adult, you no longer have this issue. And you can drink 
chocolate milk because it takes longer to digest (first the stomach has 
to seperate it). And according to my OB/GYN, chocolate milk is the 
preferct PMS food. Trust me, it works.

Ok, that's too much information for now....
:)
Elisabetta