327: Demystifying Food Allergy Signs, Symptoms + Skin Rash w/ Dr. Ruchi Gupta

Spotting food allergy signs quickly can be tricky, especially since they don’t manifest in everyone in the same way. But it’s so important to be able to identify the symptoms of food allergies, because a whopping 1 in 13 kids have at least ONE food allergy. And that number is surprisingly high for adults, too. Food allergies are an IgE immune-mediated reaction. Essentially, your body sees a particular food as an invader, so it goes on attack by releasing chemicals like histamine. So if you’ve ever wondered what causes food allergies, common food allergy signs, and whether you can prevent them altogether, this episode is for you! My guest is not only an expert in food allergies, but she’s also a mom raising a child with life-threatening food allergies. Her invaluable information and insight about what’s driving food allergies in kids and adults is really sobering, some of which may surprise you (as it did me). My guest today is Ruchi Gupta, MD, MPH, a Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a Clinical Attending at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. Dr. Gupta has over 20 years of experience as a board-certified pediatrician and health researcher and currently serves as the founding director of the Center for Food Allergy & Asthma Research (CFAAR). She is world-renowned for her research on the epidemiology, economic impact, prevention, and management of allergic conditions, and strives to find answers and shape policies surrounding these conditions in order to reduce burden and improve health equity. Do you have personal experience with a food allergy? Are you comfortable identifying food allergy signs should they arise? Share your questions, comments + experiences in the comments below! In This Episode: Dr Gupta’s personal experience with food allergies What’s driving the explosion in food allergies (in children and adults) Differences between food allergies, food intolerances and food sensitivities Food allergy signs and anaphylaxis signs (you might overlook) Anaphylaxis treatment options (why to NOT use Benadryl if you notice food allergy signs) Shocking food allergy trigger (NEW RESEARCH) Updated food allergy prevention tips for parents Quotes “About 8% of kids have food allergy. Now that's about 1 in 13, or 2 in every classroom. So it's a lot.” “If you only give Benadryl, it may mask some of the symptoms because it takes away maybe some of the rash and some of the itching, but the reaction continues to happen in your body.” “One of the biggest hypotheses right now is if a food is introduced through your skin before your gut, then your immune system goes on the attack.” Links Find Dr. Gupta online | Instagram | Instagram | Facebook | Facebook | Twitter | Twitter Find Yobee online and on Instagram Get Dr. Gupta’s book, Food Without Fear