True Life - Did it live up to the hype?

After watching 'True Life: I'm Allergic to Everything' last night on MTV, I was a little disappointed. Having watched 'True Life' before I'm not sure why, but I was expecting something different. I understand that they are looking for extreme situations, I was just hoping last nights episode would be a little more focused on the majority of those with food allergy. While trying to watch as an outsider not effected by food allergy, I was worried that it may have came across as exaggerated and unrealistic. My fear was that the show would portray those of us dealing with food allergies to be, for lack of a better word, "crazy". Not to say that I didn't feel for and understand what the teens on last nights episode where going through, it just may have been difficult to grasp for those who are not forced to live like we do and or lack any food allergy awareness and education. 

I would have liked to have seen some focus on what it is like to have to constantly read labels for everything you touch let alone put into your mouth. Maybe shed some light on the problems that exist with food labels such as the various names for one specific allergen or the lack of advisory labels that lead us to have to worry about cross contamination.

Speaking of cross contamination, how about the poor communication between the girl, Raelyn and her waitress while dining out? They made that look easy. Although it did show her having a reaction, it was hard to blame any of that on the miscommunication with the wait staff since she was suffering from idiopathic anaphylaxis. I do see where they may have been trying to get the message across about the difficulty and danger of eating out. However this message was failed in my opinion. Again, I was trying to watch as someone unaffected by food allergy.

I know a lot of you who watched voiced concern for Raelyn and her families poor  management of her food allergies. I was shocked to hear that she is on FAAN's teen council. I think the thing that sent me over the edge with her was after she realized she shouldn't have eaten the chinese food (that I thought her doctor made pretty clear was not a good idea earlier that day) her dad continued to praise her poor decision by telling her, "Yes you should [have eaten the chinese food] I think its so brave." What the hell?

Not to just pick on Raelyn or to say that we don't all make mistakes. After all there was Zeke's food challenge with the tuna that I disagreed with being done in the evening. Luckily he was still awake when his body ultimately reacted and it was treated. Was it treated correctly? I don't know. I think I would have used the epi after he started having stomach pain along with his rash or hives.

I did like that the show, though briefly, highlighted the situation between Zeke and one of his peers on the hockey rink picking fun at him for his food allergies. This is just another common and serious issue with food allergies that I was hoping to see a little more of, especially being that it is MTV and there is such a large young, or teen, audience.

In all, I do applaud their efforts in creating an awareness for food allergy and showing the dangers. I just think I was expecting something different and held my expectations of the show too high. What did you think? I'd love to hear your opinions on the show, though I fear some of my wording may have just set myself up for some lashings from some of you. Haha! Let me have it.

If you have not yet seen 'True Life: I'm Allergic to Everything' you can watch it this Saturday at 3:30pm on MTV or watch the entire episode here at mtv.com.

What's in your sunscreen?

This Memorial Day my son had a reaction to Banana Boat sunscreen. He broke out in a rash almost immediately after I applied the sunscreen. My first thought was of course tree nuts. However, after reading the label and calling Banana Boat I was assured that there was no use of tree nuts in the ingredients, BUT they still could not guarantee that the facility used to process and package their products was indeed a nut free facility. Based on his previous reactions I am almost certain though that this outbreak was from something other then tree nuts so I did some research and was shocked to find that most sunscreens, unfortunately, contain an active ingredient known to cause contact sensitivity such as an allergic response as well as several other potentially hazardous ingredients.

According to the European Journal of Dermatology the most common active ingredients in sunscreens reported to cause reactions are as follows:

Para aminobenzoic acid (PABA)

Benzophenones or Oxybenzone

Dibenzoylmethane derivatives

Cinnamates or *Octinoxate (octyl methoxycinnamate)

Octocrylene

*This was the chemical used in the Banana Boat sunscreen my son used. In Japan, use of octinoxate is limited in certain cosmetics.

Sunscreens containing zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are a good choice for people with allergy to sunscreen, concerns of developing allergy to sunscreen, and/or those who are looking for the best UVA protection without any sunscreen chemical considered to be a potential hormone disruptor such as those listed above.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG), has recently released its fifth annual Sunscreen Guide where the Banana Boat sunscreen used on my son received an overall score of 6 including a HIGH health concern. What's worse is that EWG can only recommend one in five of more than 600 sunscreens in its guide.

Also, Laura at Living Gluten and Grain Free, has compiled a great list of gluten-free sunscreens which also includes an Allergen Column, listing those sunscreens that contain grain and nut ingredients. Review Laura's Gluten-Free Sunscreen list.

As recommended by my sons allergist, we are now using Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen which I was very happy to see received a overall score of 2 on the EWG Sunscreen Guide. The Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen, Sensitive, SPF 30+ and the Blue Lizard Baby Australian Sunscreen, SPF 30+ that we use both contain no Octinoxate which I believed to have caused my sons earlier reaction. I also happen to like that the bottle turns pink in UV light. Its the little things.

**The FDA hasn't issued any new sunscreen safety regulations for more than 30 years. EWG Action Fund is meeting with the FDA soon to tell them to finally do their job to protect the American people and  they need your help. 12,278 more signatures are needed by midnight tonight to take to the FDA. Visit the petition in the upper right hand side bar and sign today.

Food Allergies: Health and Healing Book Review

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Food Allergies: Health and Healing 

By: Jo Stepaniak, MSEd
Vesanto Melina, MS, RD
Dina Aronson, MS, RD
Reviewed by Frank and Mary Hoffman

Review: I just finished reading Food Allergies: Health and Healing, a Natural Health Guide sent to me from Books Alive publishing for review. I found the book very informative and practical for those new to food allergies. With only 64 pages it is a quick afternoon or evening read covering the basics of food allergies including symptoms, causes, and diagnosing. I did find that the use of the terms "food allergy", "food intolerance" and "food sensitivity" used throughout the book to be a bit confusing for those new to food allergies although these terms where defined in the beginning of the book.

There is a section in the book that discusses a Do-It-Yourself Elimination Diet and Food Challenge that I felt to be misleading in that this self diagnosing approach should only be done if food intolerance is suspected or you are under strict orders from your physician. The severity of food allergy was, in my opinion, slightly downplayed.

I did like that the guide touched on the risk of cross-contamination and misleading labels. Dairy, egg, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, corn and wheat allergies where highlighted, while fish and shellfish, seeds, latex and other food culprits where briefly discussed.

Food Allergies: Health and Healing also provides a sampling of food allergy safe recipes based on a plant-centered diet. I found that the Berry Delicious "Ice Cream", Choco-Currant Cranberry Squares, and the Black Bean Tostadas, which are more of a black bean taco, to be about the only kid friendly recipes out of the eight included in the book.

Overall I would recommend the Food Allergies: Health and Healing natural health guide to anyone who may be new to food allergies and looking for a quick overview until other in depth material and education can be provided. Given the length, only 64 pages, this would make a great read for relatives or friends who may not be directly affected by food allergies but require the education. It will provide the basic understanding of the difference between a food intolerance and a food allergy, the range of symptoms associated with food allergy and how to recognize them as well as some hidden sources of food allergens and how to avoid them while preparing food, traveling, and eating out. 

*This was not a paid post and honest opinions were used. The opinions are solely my own and may vary from others.

Other related posts:

Allergy Safety Products by Onespot Allergy - Review 

Shabtai Gourmet Gluten Free Review