My Allergist Dad

Are peanut, tree nut, or sesame allergies really forever? And is it actually possible to train your body to stop reacting?

On this episode of My Allergist Dad, Drew and his real-life allergist father, Dr. Z, break down everything you actually need to know about food allergies, reactions, anxiety, and desensitization treatments. They start with a timely question about wildfire smoke, asthma, and whether air pollution can trigger allergic reactions, then dive deep into a listener-submitted topic: how to lessen or eliminate allergic reactions to peanuts, tree nuts, and sesame.

You’ll learn:

• The difference between true food allergy vs. cross-reactive pollen allergies

• Why peanut oil usually doesn’t trigger peanut allergies

• How sublingual immunotherapy (drops under the tongue) works

• The real difference between oral desensitization vs. sublingual therapy

• How stress, sleep, diet, and lifestyle can raise or lower your allergy threshold

• Why controlling allergies may actually help you fight off more infections

• The difference between a localized allergic reaction and full anaphylaxis

• And why your immune system is way more connected to your daily life than you think

Along the way, Drew learns about micro-dosing allergens, shared birch tree proteins, peanut RH proteins, eosinophilic esophagitis, and why your body sometimes reacts even when your brain knows you're probably safe. 

If you or someone you love deals with food allergies, asthma, or constant environmental reactions, this episode breaks it all down in a way that’s actually understandable — and even a little funny.

 Got a question for Dr. Z? Submit it for a future episode and you might hear it answered on air.

This week on My Allergist Dad, comedian Drew Zwetchkenbaum and his real-life allergist father, Dr. Z, break down the actual science behind introducing allergens to babies, the unexpected role of eczema and skin barriers, why farm kids and babies licked by dogs have fewer allergies, and whether breastfeeding exposes children to the foods the mother eats.

Plus:
• A wedding cat-bite emergency (yes, it ends in the ER)• The mysterious rise of mashed-potato bars• Why half of adults who think they have a penicillin allergy... don’t• And, a shocking revelation: babies get rashes for reasons other than food (who knew?)

If you're a new parent, expecting parent, aunt, uncle, cousin, or simply someone who likes hearing a doctor say the phrase “don’t rub shellfish on your baby,” this episode is for you.

We’ll tackle all the big questions:
• When should you introduce peanuts, eggs, and milk?• Does breastfeeding help prevent allergies?• Should pregnant or breastfeeding parents avoid certain foods?• What myths about baby allergies need to die already?• And… can you test for zebra allergies? (We ask. You’re welcome.)

Full of laughs, science, and frequent references to Rhode Island, this is your friendly, evidence-based guide to giving your kid the best shot at an allergy-free future

Subscribe now for more episodes. 

https://linktr.ee/myallergistdad

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0:00 - Intro

1:26 - Checking in: Allergic Reaction at a wedding

6:35 - What is the best way to introduce allergens 

to your baby? 

10:00 – When to Introduce Eggs, Peanuts, and Milk

11:00 – How breastfeeding interacts with early food introduction.

13:40 - Probiotics, Microbiome & Other Helpful Add-Ons

19:09 - Should you eat or avoid certain foods to decrease

allergen risk?

23:06 - What are some myths about allergies for babies?

24:20 – Closing Thoughts

25:10 – Outro

My Allergist Dad is a new podcast where comedian Drew Zwetchkenbaum and his board-certified allergist father, Dr. Z break down everything you need to know about allergies. Every week they answer YOUR listener submitted questions about asthma, food sensitivities, immune system issues, and do some father-son bonding while they do it!

Whether you’re a parent, allergy sufferer, or just curious about why your body does weird stuff, this show makes medical science simple, useful, and fun.
Subscribe and send us your questions!