Chocolates Can Make Your Day

Yum! Yum! Chocolate is the best problem solver of all times. So what happens if you have had your 'fix' for the day, but you later develop a fever, sore throat that is swelling, and difficulty breathing? Perhaps you are allergic to the only thing that keeps you sane!

Don't give up all hope though, oh thou chocoholic. There are very few people who are truly allergic to chocolate. Often, people are allergic to added ingredients in the chocolate.

Sometimes, there can be more than one trigger in the particular type of chocolate you are eating. If you are allergic to more than one thing, this is especially true. There might be dairy, gluten, soy, corn, nuts, the list could go on and on.

If you are having an allergic reaction you may experience one or more of the following symptoms. Heartburn, headache, perhaps nausea, rectal itching, hives, being disoriented, and breathing difficulties. There is also a life threatening situation that involves more than one part of the body.

If you find that you do have a food allergy, you will need to be very careful about what you eat. You may have to avoid prepackaged food, as many things may be added in that you are allergic to. Here are a few tips that may be of some use to you.

If you decide to go the route of prepackaged foods, make sure you read the ingredients list very carefully to screen for any thing you might be allergic to. Food companies are required to clearly list all their ingredients for such a purpose as this. There are eight top allergen sources that will be listed separately on the packaging: eggs, milk, nuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, shell fish, and fish.

Going out to eat and know that you have asthma? Make sure to ask if the restaurant uses sulfites in their food. These can cause a serious flare up. Also check all food labels so that you can be sure to avoid these triggers.

Perhaps if you have a severe allergy and you are eating out, it would be wise to tell your server of your allergy and explain what happens if you eat something you are allergic to. If your server realizes how serious your condition is, they will be better able to meet your needs and warn you of anything you should know about.

You can also ask your server to pass the word along to the cooks. They may use the same pans and serving dishes to serve different things, and this could lead to cross contamination. They will then be able to meet your needs if they know of your condition.