Food allergies. They seem to be everywhere, lately. We hear most about peanut allergies, but we humans can be allergic to pretty much any food. Some foods are more likely to cause allergies, which are often referred to as the "Top 8": Dairy, Eggs, Soy, Wheat/Gluten, Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Fish, and Shellfish. Food allergies are on the rise in the US, but the answer to the logical question "Why?" remains elusive. One raging debate is about how we produce food in this country, en masse, to feed the masses quickly and cheaply. Another, related debate, is the use of genetically modified crops (GMOs) that go along with the more potent pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides we use to minimize crop losses. I'm not going to get into all of that today. Rather, talk a bit about the social and psychological impact of food allergies. But first, announcements! The Discovery Channel will air a documentary, “An Emerging Epidemic: Food Allergies in America,” on
If you're living with a chronic illness, you're in the right place.