Foods We Love

It's funny how much we struggle to cut down on foods that are fattening or that are categorized as "bad for you." Admittedly, it's hard to eliminate or even cut down on foods we really enjoy just because they'll result in packing on a few extra pounds. It's as if being overweight isn't a health risk, though we know for many people it certainly can be. But go to the doctor for a specific health concern, and she or he restricts your diet as part of the treatment, you're more likely to heed the warning. At least, I know I am. 

Such has been the case with my recent journey into allergy treatment. I've suffered from pretty bad allergies for most of my life. They've changed over the years, and the severity of my symptoms has had peaks and valleys. But this summer the suffering hit new heights in new ways. Previously I had horrible bouts with hives and rashes (mostly as a kid), and incessant sneezing attacks and sinus infections (mostly in adolescence and young adulthood). I have never been completely free of any of the symptoms, but this summer my eyes became the target of these allergic reactions. Dark brownish and purple circles around and under my eyes, red and irritated lids inside and out, and burning, painful itching. I'm talking the kind of itch that made me want to scratch my own eyes out. I probably almost did a couple of times. No eye make up, looking like death, I felt awful and everyone knew it. They told me. They looked at me with pity.

I decided it was time to bite the bullet and consult with an allergist for the third time in my life. I was hopeful but skeptical. I needed help, and no treatments had freed me of symptoms before. There was a whole slew of things he asked me to do and not do. The hardest one on the list: Cut out dairy. All of it. Completely.  At first it didn't seem like a big deal. I'm not a milk drinker and I quit eating yogurt about a year ago when I recognized it exacerbated my allergies (figured that one out on my own). Ice cream? Frozen yogurt? A little bit of a bummer, but not that difficult to avoid. Cream cheese? Don't really like it. Sour cream? I like it, a lot. But it didn't seem like a big deal. The one food, the hardest to avoid, was cheese. I love cheese. Think about it. No cheese and crackers, no mac and cheese, no pizza, and Mexican food without cheese? It's been rough. I also can't eat milk chocolate (I prefer dark anyway) and food baked from batters made with milk.

But two months in, and I'm doing ok. I figure maybe I'll drop a few pounds from cutting out my favorite food group- the cheese group. Now that the testing is done, the doctor said to avoid liquid and cream dairy at all costs, and the rest as much as possible. But he assured me an occasional piece of pizza or two would be ok.

Then he dropped the next bomb. Among about 40-50 (that's not an exaggeration) other things, I am highly allergic to mold. Not a surprise at all. I was pretty sure I knew this it already. But what followed was an explanation of how to avoid it while I was treated for it with the shots. Clean the bathrooms and kitchens really well, use Lysol, keep the bedroom doors shut. None of this was surprising, in fact much of it was downright obvious. But then... "Here is a list of foods associated with mold allergies." Wait, what? More foods I can't eat? This time I was surprised. Cheese was still off limits. Besides the dairy, molds are used to make cheeses. And I probably could have seen mushrooms coming. But wait until you hear this list...

• beer and wine
• vinegars and foods containing vinegar
• pickles and pickled foods (including sauerkraut)
• soy sauce
• dried fruits
• smoked meats
• soured breads (think sour dough)
• sour cream

One of my favorite, seemingly healthy salads? Sliced cucumbers with rice wine vinegar and soy sauce. Can you believe it? My favorite healthy, low calorie lunch is poisoning me! Okay, that's an exaggeration, but it could be contributing to my allergies. Same with the mushrooms which are my favorite pizza topping. I look at this list, and I can't believe how this list represents so many foods I like. Sour dough toasted with cheese? Yum. My favorite sub from Publix? Boars Head mesquite turkey. Trail mix with dried cranberries and apricots, another favorite TV snack.

It's been a difficult couple of months, and I'm sure the challenge will continue. But it's amazing when it's not about losing weight or dieting, and it's more about feeling better and staying healthy, changing what you eat really isn't that hard.