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Lifestyle and home remedies
By Mayo Clinic staffYou can take a number of steps to avoid exposure to wheat proteins and ensure prompt treatment when you're accidentally exposed to wheat.
- Keep others informed. If your child has wheat allergy, make sure that the principal, teachers and school nurse know about the allergy and the signs of wheat exposure. If your child needs to carry epinephrine, make sure school personnel know how to inject epinephrine if necessary and that they need to contact emergency care immediately. Inform close friends and relatives of your own food allergy.
- Wear a bracelet. If you're at risk of anaphylaxis from wheat allergy, wear a medical identification bracelet that describes the allergy and need for emergency care.
- Read labels. Read all food labels carefully. Because wheat proteins, especially gluten, are used as food thickeners, they appear in many unexpected places. Don't assume that once you've used a certain brand of a product, that it's always safe. Ingredients may change.
- Shop for gluten-free foods. Some specialty stores and supermarkets offer gluten-free food products. While such foods are targeted toward people with celiac disease, they also provide wheat-free alternatives to people with wheat allergies.
- Consult wheat-free cookbooks. Cookbooks specializing in recipes without wheat can help you cook safely and enable you to enjoy alternative foods to common wheat products.
- Be cautious when eating out. Communicate your allergy carefully to restaurant staff. Explain that such things as bread crumbs on a cooking surface may be a problem. Order simple, uncomplicated dishes prepared with fresh foods. Avoid foods that may have hidden sources of wheat proteins, such as sauces that often have multiple ingredients or deep-fried foods that may be cooked with other foods containing wheat.
References
- Inomata N. Wheat allergy. Current Opinion in Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2009;9:238.
- Groetch M. Nutritional issues in food allergy. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 11, 2011.
- Wheat allergy. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=9&sub=20&cont=519. Accessed April 11, 2011.
- Wheat allergy. Food Allergy Initiative. http://www.faiusa.org/?page=wheat. Accessed April 11, 2011.
- Atopic and allergic disorders. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/sec13/ch165/ch165c.html?qt=atopic&alt=sh. Accessed April 11, 2011.
- Kurowski K, et al. Food allergies: Detection and management. American Family Physician. 2008;77:1678.
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