A breakthrough in food allergy prevention

Milk, eggs, wheat, soy, tree nuts, peanuts, fish and shellfish account for 90% of the cases of food allergies that around 19 million people, including 5.5 million kids, in the U.S. contend with. Severe allergic responses send folks to the emergency room 33,000 times a year and around 150 adults and children die from an anaphylactic reaction that triggers low blood pressure, respiratory distress, a weak and rapid pulse, gastrointestinal woes, dizziness and fainting.

So, it’s great news that the Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of a medication to help anyone age 1 and older mute their food allergy if they accidentally ingest the culprit — and, in many cases, make it possible to eat a small amount of the once-risky food.

Stanford researchers published a study in the New England Journal of Medicine that found that regular injections of the drug, omalizumab, AKA Xolair, for 16 weeks could protect youngsters and adults from severe allergic responses to food, such as difficulty breathing. It also benefited folks with more than one food allergy (40% of kids and 46% of adults are allergic to multiple foods).

If you or your child has a food allergy, always carry an Epipen so you can stop a life-threatening allergic reaction and ask your doctor about taking advantage of this breakthrough in protection. We’re not sure about insurance coverage yet — but keep checking.

Tip: If you have a food intolerance (not an allergy), check out the iherb.com blog, “6 of the Most Common Food Intolerances + Helpful Tips for Supporting Digestion.”

Dr. Mike Roizen is the founder of www.longevityplaybook.com, and Dr. Mehmet Oz is global advisor to www.iherb.com, the world’s leading online health store. Roizen and Oz are chief wellness officer emeritus at Cleveland Clinic and professor emeritus at Columbia University, respectively. Together they have written 11 New York Times bestsellers (four No. 1’s).