Allergies

You're sitting in a room. The doors and windows are closed. Everyone else is having a great time, chattering away about this new fashion or that person's week. Everyone... except you. The lack of ventilation is becoming stifling. And all the sudden, you can sense what is about to happen. Your throat feels tight. Your skin itches. Your eyes become puffy. You. Know. You. Need. Out.

Maybe it was caused by mold. Maybe it was Mrs. Jones's new perfume from New York City. Or maybe it was the person next to you who owns cats, dogs, rabbits, or something else you were allergic to. Or maybe it wasn't airborne. It could have been the baked goods Mrs. Henry brought to share with everyone. Whether its flour, nuts, soy, eggs, or milk, there was bound to be something problematic in that delicious sweet bread. 

Allergies and sensitivities are difficult to handle. No one wants to blatantly advertise sensitivities to things that 'no one else has a problem with.' It can make certain situations just awkward. For a few years now I have had to be very careful or haven't been able to have anything made with refined white sugar or high fructose corn syrup. That eliminates ice cream, cookies, cakes, candies, pies, desserts, breads, juices, ketchup, barbecue sauce, pasta sauce, granola bars, cereals, carbohydrates, and most snack foods. What's left to eat, you ask? Well, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, and meat are usually fine. But those things aren't exactly party food. It is awkward. I'm not allergic to sugar, but if I eat it, I become tired, dizzy, disoriented, see spots, start twitching. It's not worth it for me to eat those things, so I don't. 

However, my reaction to sugar is usually self-inflicted. The girl sitting in the room whose throat is beginning to close because of the cat dander on Miss Millicent's sweater from her grey-eyed furball Tootsie is another matter entirely. When it comes to airborne allergies carried in on clothing and personal articles, we would all do well to look out for the comfort of others. Growing up with a dad who is allergic to cats I think I became more used to being careful. Now that my friend Hannah (who is the person I spend more time with than anyone outside of my family) is also allergic to cats, I have been even more aware of how dander has a tendency to remain alive, active, and problematic for up to six months. 

I could write more, but here are a few brief tips for helping our friends with allergies and sensitivities avoid reactions to invisible contaminants such as food, our furry friends, and fragrances. 

1.) Keep pets away from coats, purses, and clothes that will be worn out. Even if there is no visible hair on your clothing, the dander has a way of getting into things and not coming out in a hurry. 

2.) Be cautious about wearing strong perfumes, scents, body sprays, or hairsprays - especially if you know someone might be sensitive to it. Better yet, refrain from wearing it at all! Someone probably is bothered by it and you just don't know. 

3.) Instead of placing the responsibility on a person who might have allergies to find out what hidden ingredients are lurking in a treat or dish, bring a recipe card along with you, or alert the group of all ingredients that could possibly be problematic. Make sure to check a list of common allergens online. Sometimes people without allergies aren't always aware of how many foods cause reactions, such as some fruits. 

4.) When it is your turn to bake something, ask ahead if anyone has an allergy and make something special just for them, or make the whole recipe allergen free.