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We are discussing Cooking for life
With Kurma Dasa, Sue Dengate, Dave Tuff, Jacinta Dugbaza, Roger Bayley

Question:
I have hayfever, could this be an intolerance or allergy, what do I stop eating?

Answer:
Sue - Hayfever – technically called rhinitis - can be associated with either allergy or intolerance. Allergy to pollen is particularly common, seasonal and tends to be characterised by sneezing, runny nose, watery itchy eyes, nose and palate. Persistent rhinitis occurs year round and can sometimes be mistaken as a long-lasting cold, with symptoms such as blocked or runny nose, snoring, loss of sense of smell and sneezing. There can also be an associated cough or constant throat-clearing, glue ear or sinus headaches. Both kinds of rhinitis can be managed by diet.

If you had food allergies as a child, especially to milk or eggs, suspect those foods since children who appear to grow out of food allergies often develop airborne allergies. Avoiding milk may mean also avoiding yoghurt, icecream, commercial products such as bread or biscuits that contain milk powder, cream and butter. Some people whose rhinitis is related to cows milk say they do better on the new A2 milk from special Jersey cows. For more information, see the A2 Australia website.

For rhinitis related to intolerance, food additives and natural chemicals such as salicylates in foods and medication can be a problem. Nasal polyps are a warning of salicylate sensitivity, however those without can also be salicylate sensitive. It’s possible to have rhinitis aggravated by both allergy and intolerance. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, you could try avoiding dairy products and/or additives for three weeks. However, the most effective way to find out exactly what is affecting you is to try the RPAH elimination diet followed by systematic challenges, supervised by a dietitian.

For more information see the Fed up with food additives website or ask for our list of supportive dietitians by emailing confoodnet@ozemail.com.au.

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