Soy, wheat (gluten), dairy, eggs, shellfish, fish and tree nuts are the 8 most common allergens in the United States. Fifteen million Americans, at times, struggle to find suitable (TASTY) nutrition when avoiding their allergen. Many base ingredients contain these forbidden items: flour is made of wheat, milk is a dairy product, soy is in about every other grocery item and don’t get me started on eggs. It can be tough to avoid the basic food items when they seem almost necessary to the recipe of your dish. What is an omelette without eggs or cookies without flour?
Well you’re in luck.
We live in the present day of 2018 which means there’s thousands of alternative options for those avoiding allergens. This isn’t like the 1980s where the only variety of milk was the percentage. There’s approximately three to maybe four different kinds of milk that come from other sources besides a cow: almond milk, cashew milk and soy milk that are found in most common grocery stores. The only drawback to these options is that they come at a high price. Every allergen accommodated for in a product gives it all the more reason to increase its price. However, sticking to fresh fruits, vegetables and proteins keeps the grocery bill down for those who are completely allergen-free.
Being “allergen-free” means to avoid all eight of those allergens in your daily diet. These individuals might undergo the elimination diet to better understand their allergies and the severities fo them. They do this by removing one allergen from their diet at a time for three to four weeks then slowly reintroducing the food back into their diet. This allows them to properly gauge their sensitivity to the food. It’s a free and reliable allergy test! To learn more about the elimination diet check out: https://www.precisionnutrition.com/elimination-diet
Saying goodbye to these foods may seem impossible because of their everyday appearances in your favorite products but this is more so an opportunity to live a fresher lifestyle. But how do you avoid all of the foods you’ve grown up to love? You just do. Being allergen-free is not a diet for weight loss; it’s a lifestyle for those who struggle with food sensitivity. Weight loss can occur but it’s not the ultimate goal of being allergen-free. It’s about living a higher quality life outside of the nearest restroom.