{"id":1626,"date":"2014-09-06T09:42:10","date_gmt":"2014-09-06T13:42:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.allergyhome.org\/blogger\/?p=1626"},"modified":"2016-03-11T22:55:24","modified_gmt":"2016-03-12T03:55:24","slug":"superman-food-allergy-analogy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.allergyhome.org\/blogger\/superman-food-allergy-analogy\/","title":{"rendered":"The Superman, Food Allergy Analogy"},"content":{"rendered":"

“Superman and kryptonite are make believe and make for an awesome story.\u00a0But food allergy is very real and must be taken seriously.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Written by Michael Pistiner, MD, MMSc<\/a><\/p>\n

The Superman, Food Allergy Analogy<\/h1>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"images<\/a>Like\u00a0lots of kids, Superman\u00a0is faster than a\u00a0speeding bullet\u00a0and can’t be stopped.\u00a0Like teenagers, he thinks he’s invincible and\u00a0has a snazzy wardrobe. And, like children with food allergy and other causes of anaphylaxis, he can be hurt and\u00a0weakened by even small amounts of a substance that is harmless to most. For Superman, it’s Kryptonite, for\u00a0kids with a food allergy, it’s their allergen.<\/p>\n

Superman and kryptonite are make believe and make for an awesome story.\u00a0But, food allergy is very real and must be taken seriously.<\/p>\n

Kryptonite is make believe, but how can a food allergy do that?<\/h1>\n

Sometimes it can be\u00a0hard for some people to get it.\u00a0 “How bad can it be? It’s just a food. How can a food do that?”<\/p>\n

Let’s start with\u00a0some basics.\u00a0 A food allergy is an abnormal immune response to a food –\u00a0in most cases a food protein.\u00a0Our immune system is what we use to fight germs like viruses and bacteria. Sometimes a person’s immune system gets confused and attacks a food. This can cause an allergic reaction and can be severe.<\/p>\n

Superman always has a plan.\u00a0What is\u00a0the plan for food allergy management?<\/h1>\n

\"Food<\/a>Know\u00a0the pillars of food allergy management.<\/p>\n

People with food allergy need to prevent allergic reactions and be prepared for allergic emergencies.\u00a0 They need to do certain things to say safe. \u00a0Prevention and preparedness are the two pillars of food allergy management. <\/a>You need both, always.<\/p>\n

X-ray vision is make believe. How do you\u00a0avoid exposure to\u00a0allergen?\u00a0<\/strong>(see above link to the Pillars of Food Allergy Management)<\/em><\/p>\n