Have Child Food Allergy Sufferers Found Their Erin Brockovich?
As a Registered Nurse and a first hand food allergy sufferer with 2 Anaphylaxis reactions under my belt, I can tell you that one must first take responsiblity for ones own health. By accepting your diagnosis then you can move on to managing your condition rather than having your condition manage you. Second, the use of practical and common sense is essential when dealing with food allergies. While we all agree that there are too many "additives, preservatives, hormones, etc" in our foods, the consumption of organic fresh fruits and vegetables is better for your overall health and a must for those with food allergies.
Working with many Doctors, I have discussed the growing cases of childhood allergies and asthma. Some of the commpn things from multiple healthcare providers that keep coming up are: Parents must wake up and realize that taking short cuts as time savers affects our childrens long term health. Starting babies on cereal at a few weeks to a few months is too soon and their digestive systems aren't developed enough to handle yet. Giving children under the age of 2 any peanut product is putting them at a very high risk of serious allergic reaction. While most people wouldn't hand a toddler a snickers, You would be suprised how many children come into the ER due to PB&J's. Then there is the fact that peanuts and soybeans are in everything from food additives to make up. Since we no longer grow our own food, we have to be prudent in reading labels, researching food products, and using basic common sense when selecting our foods for our families. While a lot of parents opt for fixing fast and cost affective dinners out of boxes, I found it's just as fast, usually more inexpensive in the long run, to prepare dinner using fresh ingredients. While its good to be aware of what food producers are doing as cost cutters, again, we have to realistic in our choices of time and money management as well as our own healthcare. Are we just too lazy to cook? While going through the drive in may seem time saving, how are we going to learn what our children and their friends are into when they are ripping into paper bags in the back seat of our automobiles. What ARE we putting into our precious childrens body when we opt for those fast packaged boxed or frozen dinners? I love my internet, dish network, advances in medicine, and all the opportunity and convience technology has given us, But I still take time to consider what a convience really is to me. I accept responsibility for MY choices, good or bad and I honestly enjoy teaching my son the skills in buying and preparing good food. For example, I personally believe butter is better for you over margarine, but I limit the amount and frequency we have it. I know Im allergic to soybeans, so I stay away from prepacked foods, and in a respectful manner, question foods I am unfamilar with. I in no way intend my personal views as an attack on anyone elses beliefs, however I do feel that some seem to jump on the blame wagon, the why me's, and the I can't because I have..... and as a member of the health care field...these excuses, that are seen over and over have become intolerably worn out.
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