 Image from Goodhousekeeping.com All across America, Thanksgiving is celebrated as a time of love, appreciation, and gathering. Unfortunately, many families across the nation cannot afford to buy adequate food supplies year round — let alone for Thanksgiving. The situation is even more troubling for individuals who also experience medical dietary restrictions; allergen-free food is often even more expensive and inaccessible.
What is Nourish America doing about it? This Thanksgiving, Nourish America is helping all families in the local area spend time with their families without having to worry about getting food on the table. We are excited to announce that we will be hosting an allergy-friendly food drive at the ShopRite in South Plainfield, NJ from November 20th - 28th! How can I get involved? There are many ways for you to get involved in helping members of your community! The easiest is by participating in food drives — you simply have to buy an extra canned or boxed good when you stop by the grocery store. Make sure to contribute to our food drive by buying an allergen-free food and dropping it in the box at the entrance of ShopRite. You can also spread awareness by handing out our food drive flyers or simply by talking to others that you interact with on a day-to-day basis. Spreading awareness will help more people join the cause and understand the severity of the issue, and possibly even donate. You can also consider volunteering at your local food bank or hosting your own food drive. Although this requires a larger commitment of time and effort, it will really make a difference and allow significantly more people to enjoy Thanksgiving with allergy-friendly food on their plates. And finally, use your creativity and skills to come up with ideas of your own! There are so many ways to give back to the community and utilize your talents at the same time. Happy Thanksgiving! By Nami Jain
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 Thanksgiving is a holiday in which people gather to celebrate all that they have to be thankful for: family, friends, good health, to name a few. However, not everyone is able to celebrate Thanksgiving with food on their table.
The USDA defines food insecurity as “a household-level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food.” In 2018, 14.3 million American households were classified as having food insecurity. This is a staggering number which becomes even more worrisome because 12 million American children live in food-insecure homes today. Food insecurity can have a profound impact on society and public health. People with food insecurity sometimes live in “food deserts” or areas where it is difficult to buy affordable and fresh foods. In such areas, supermarkets are few and far between, while fast food restaurants are numerous. Thus, it is no surprise that food insecurity is associated with a rise in obesity in at least twelve states. People who live in food deserts often resort to eating inexpensive, calorically dense foods with poor nutritional value. To solve food insecurity in America, a nonprofit organization called the Fair Food Network in Detroit, MI (one of the nation’s top food deserts) has come up with a solution: the Double Up Food Bucks program. Under this initiative, Michigan Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants get double value for every SNAP dollar they use to buy fresh fruits and vegetables at certain grocery stores. Indeed, the Double Up program is not a panacea for food insecurity: more supermarkets need to be built in food deserts and public transportation improved so that people can reach them. But it shows how states can incentivize and support people with food insecurity to access healthful foods. Another organization working to end food insecurity is the Community Food Bank of New Jersey. As the state’s largest anti-hunger and anti-poverty organization, CFBNJ provides millions of meals annually to New Jerseyans living in hunger. Nourish America is proud to announce that the allergen-free donations from our 2019 Thanksgiving Food Drive, in collaboration with ShopRite, will be donated to the CFBNJ in Hillside, NJ so that they can continue giving throughout the holiday season and beyond. Sources: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5230819/ CFBNJ Official Website: https://www.cfbnj.org/ By Shreya Shivakumar
The immune system is the human body's extremely powerful reaction system that thwarts bodily invaders like germs, viruses, and bacteria. Usually, it does wonders to fight dangerous infections and diseases with reactions like swelling and fever — however, it can sometimes mistake harmless objects for truly threatening ones, causing an allergic reaction to occur.
While almost anything can trigger an allergic reaction, from dust mites to pollen, one of the most common causes is a specific type of food, most commonly peanuts, tree nuts, and shellfish. It is estimated that about 4-6% of Americans have a type of food allergy, and for some, dietary restrictions can make it extremely difficult to find a proper meal. Today, we're going to investigate more closely the relationship between food allergies and the immune system. You may already be familiar with what an antibody is — a Y-shaped protein in the blood that can bond to a specific kind of particle in order to neutralize it by impeding it from functioning or by allowing another immune system cell to swallow it. These immunoglobulins are usually used to fight harmful pathogens — however, for people with food allergies, antibodies (called IgE in this case) develop in order to "fight" innocuous food particles. When this bonding occurs between the allergen and the IgE, mast cells release a hormone called histamine that causes allergic symptoms like itching, sneezing, swelling, and a runny nose that normally fight dangerous bacteria but are now unleashed against something as harmless as a walnut. Surprisingly, allergies occur more often in those who have primary immunodeficiencies, or a sub-optimally performing immune system. Because PIs often only affect a part of the immune system, the rest of the system will not be regulated as well and bad reactions can be exaggerated due to the lack of control and stability within the body. Additionally, exposure to bacteria as well as the medication to fight them can negatively affect the immune system as a whole and worsen the reactions as well. PIs and food allergies could also share a specific genetic cause, making them inherently interlinked. This can also make it more difficult to identify the cause behind certain symptoms — is my runny nose due to an allergy, a cold, a weak immune system, or all three? Even medical professionals can be confused by the variety of interrelated symptoms and infections that may result from an assortment of immune system issues, from allergies to a PI. Scientific and medical research continues to investigate these relationships and the complex causes behind food allergies. If you think you may be suffering from a food allergy, we recommend keeping an eye out for any possible clues, but don't be too quick to diagnose yourself — always go to a medical professional first if you have any questions or doubts. Happy early Thanksgiving from us to you at Nourish America! By Michelle Liu  Food allergies are on the rise, and it is extremely important to be aware of the procedures in dealing with them, especially in children. Allergies occur when an individual’s immune system identifies a particular food as foreign and attacks its proteins, known as allergens. A chemical, called histamine, is released due to exposure to the allergen, causing the reaction. Depending on the child’s sensitivity to the allergen, the allergic reaction can range anywhere from itching to possibly fatal. There are approximately 32 million Americans with food allergies, with 5.6 million of those under 18 years old. Peanut or tree nut allergies in particular in children have approximately tripled in the US between 1997 and 2008. Common food allergiesThese are the top 8 allergies to look out for in children:
Symptoms of an allergic reaction
Why food allergies are on the riseAlthough doctors have not yet pinpointed why children's food allergies are increasing, they have come up with theories regarding the cause of this change:
Helping children with food allergiesThere are many ways to help your child and family manage food allergies.
By Sriya Chinthalapudi  Epinephrine is a life-saving drug used to provide rapid relief for patients who suffer from anaphylaxis. During a severe allergic reaction, the patient’s airways start to close. The EpiPen is epinephrine in an auto-injector form. EpiPens deliver epinephrine, or adrenaline, to make the patient’s heart beat faster and open up the airways to allow breathing. The EpiPen has been available in the US since 1987, where it is available in two doses: 0.3 mg for adults and 0.15 mg for children. In 2007, global pharmaceutical company Mylan bought the EpiPen from the Merck Group, its competitor. Since then, the price of a two-pack of Epipens has increased by over 500%, currently sitting at over $600.
How can epinephrine, which costs less than $1 a milliliter, be sold for hundreds of dollars? Some argue that the inflated price of the drug can be traced back to its relatively short expiry date or convenient injecting system. Yet others attribute the skyrocketing costs to Mylan’s near-monopoly on the device. Nevertheless, over 3.6 million prescriptions for the EpiPen were written in 2015. After this drastic upsurge in EpiPen prices, many families were unable to guarantee that they would have EpiPens for their children with food allergies. Faced with public backlash, Mylan announced that it would offer a $300 “savings card” to buy a two-pack of EpiPens. While the company insisted that this discount would reduce the drug’s price by 50%, it only applied to patients with commercial insurance. The price would remain unchanged for patients with government insurance programs like Medicare or Medicaid or no insurance at all. Unable to afford Mylan’s EpiPen, many patients began to search for viable and cost-effective alternatives. Prescriptions to EpiPen alternatives such as Adrenaclick jumped by about 9% in January 2017 but then stagnated. Doctors could not confidently switch from prescribing alternatives because of their more difficult injecting systems. Furthermore, the FDA, citing insufficient evidence, has stated that it does not consider EpiPen and Adrenaclick to be therapeutically equivalent to one another. Mylan introduced a generic version of the EpiPen in December 2016, and Teva Pharmaceuticals followed with its own FDA approved version in August 2018; however, both these generics cost about $300 for a two-pack of epinephrine auto-injectors. Additionally, there has been a supply shortage of EpiPens since May 2018 due to problems at Pfizer’s manufacturing plants. This has prompted the FDA to extend the EpiPen’s expiry date by four months to ensure patients have access to the drug while the issues are being fixed. For families that rely on the EpiPen for their food-allergic children, there is no end in sight. They will have to empty their pockets for a generic alternative to this essential medication- that is, of course, if they are lucky enough to get their hands on it. By Shreya Shivakumar  What is a food allergy? A food allergy occurs when the body has a specific immune response to foods. Some reactions can be severe and life-threatening, especially for children. Eight food groups account for 90% of serious allergic reactions in the US such as milk, fish, eggs, shellfish, wheat, peanuts, soy, and peanuts. In a typical classroom of 25 students, at least one student is likely to be affected by food allergies. How can we manage food allergies in schools? As a responsibility of a parent, guardian or school official, there are a plethora of ways to manage food allergies in schools. One of the first things to do is to make sure school officials and nurses are aware of the allergies a child possesses and provide necessary medication. Next, administrators need to ensure appropriate storage and administration of epinephrine. Most schools contain a stock of epinephrine auto-injectors, which was enforced by the School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act, signed by President Obama in 2013. Another way to manage food allergies in schools is by designating allergy-safe seating areas during lunch to avoid reactions. Teachers should not allow food sharing for children who they know have allergies and encourage hand washing after handling food. For example, washing surfaces on which food has been eaten with wipes or spray cleaners are effective at removing peanut protein from surfaces. Another method is keeping “safe snacks” in a classroom for unplanned events is useful just in case the child’s lunch accidentally becomes contaminated. In environments where children are unable to bring lunch from home every day, posting lunch menus beforehand allows parents to identify unsafe meal offerings and plan accordingly for their child’s meals. Training food service personnel on allergy issues such as avoiding cross-contact with food preparation is a suggested requirement. All in all, the idea of promoting food allergy safety in schools requires collaborative efforts of parents, students, and staff.
By Vasundhara Kulkarni  Anaphylaxis is a generalized term for a severe reaction to an allergen that may be fatal if left untreated. Epinephrine, more commonly referred to as adrenaline, may be life-saving if administered to a person experiencing an anaphylactic reaction as quickly as possible. What is anaphylaxis?Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that can happen within seconds of exposure to an allergen, with peanuts and dairy being popular examples. But what makes someone allergic to these seemingly inoffensive substances? People who are allergic to these substances are allergic because their bodies respond to them as if they were infections. Our bodies are designed to attack foreign antigens and kill them, which results in the typical immune response to fever or inflammation. When your body detects that harmless substances are the equivalent to a foreign flu virus or bacteria, you are going to experience an unneeded immune response every time you come in contact with these substances. Anaphylaxis is a more severe immune response, resulting in chemicals flooding your bloodstream, resulting in shock; your airways close and your blood pressure drops, and immediate medical attention is necessary. Why is epinephrine a life-saving drug?Epinephrine is so useful during a anaphylaxis crisis because it increases blood flow in veins, thus decreasing swelling in your airways. Epinephrine, a hormone that the body naturally produces, is known as adrenaline and is associated with our fight-or-flight response. This is because epinephrine plays a significant role in the contraction of muscles, the metabolism of sugar in the bloodstream, and a person’s feelings of awareness and fear. Epinephrine may also attach to receptors on smooth muscle cells, which control autonomic processes such as breathing. So, when epinephrine is administered using an EpiPen, an epinephrine auto-injector, to the upper thigh, the hormone binds to the smooth muscle cells, causing airway constriction to subside. The hormone also signals your body to pump more blood, relaxing muscles and returning breathing to normal; this subsides the significant symptoms of anaphylaxis shock and may save a person’s life. However, it is important to note that epinephrine is not a long-term medication for allergies, and should not be a substitute for allergy medications such as antihistamines.
By Sarina Thapar  The terms “allergy” and “intolerance” sound similar and most people would say that they are synonymous; however, this is a common misconception. Food allergies and intolerances exhibit clear differences and require different types of treatment.
A food allergy is defined as a chronic condition in which exposure to a food triggers a damaging immune response. This response, called an allergic reaction, occurs because the immune system identifies these proteins as invaders in the body. The immune system overproduces antibodies called Immunoglobulin E (IgE) to attack the proteins, causing an allergic reaction. Food allergies can cause serious reactions by consuming or inhaling microscopic amounts of the offending food. Signs of an allergic reaction include hives, a swollen throat, and itching or tingling of the lips. Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that, if not treated immediately, can be fatal. In contrast, food intolerances are often less damaging because they involve the digestive system. In some cases, one is able to eat small amounts of the offending food without harmful effects. He or she may also be able to prevent an adverse reaction. For example, having a dairy allergy is sometimes confused with being lactose intolerant. Those who are lactose intolerant are able to drink lactose-free milk or take lactase enzyme pills to aid digestion. A food intolerance might make you feel uncomfortable or cause indigestion, but a food allergy has the potential to be life-threatening. Both food intolerances and allergies can cause nausea, stomach pains, excessive gas, and fatigue. This is why you should be aware of the effects that food has on your body. It is important to get tested for food allergies if you suspect a food is causing you harm. It is important to distinguish between food allergies and food intolerances in order to maintain good health and stay safe. By Samhitha Mupharaphu  Image from minimalistbaker.com Makes 2 Servings
Written by Sarina Thapar Adapted from Bon Appetit Ingredients:
Instructions
 Celiac disease is an immune reaction to ingesting gluten. Gluten is a common protein found wheat, rye, and barley products. When gluten is ingested by someone with Celiac disease, their body’s immune system attacks their small intestine. This process damages the villi, threadlike attachments to your small intestine that absorb nutrients. Every time someone with Celiac disease ingests gluten, they effectively impair their body’s ability to absorb nutrients. If continued, further consumption of gluten could lead to medical conditions such as Type I diabetes, malnutrition, infertility, miscarriage, neurological issues, lactose intolerance, and/or cancer. The chance of developing autoimmune diseases if undiagnosed past 20 years old is 34%. Currently, there is no cure for Celiac disease. The most common lifestyle change made by people with Celiac is adopting a completely, gluten-free diet. Even tiny amounts of gluten can trigger irreversible damage to the small intestine.
Stocking your pantry with gluten-free foods would seem like a logical first step, but what happens when you are not capable of having a choice? In fact, 1 in 7 Americans rely on food pantries for their meals. Those that are financially underprivileged often are not able to afford “free-from” groceries. Americans living below the poverty line rely on food pantries for their rations and millions of these people have food allergies/restrictions that comply with their health conditions. When there are no food options suits one’s health conditions, one simply eats what is given to them or doesn’t eat at all. Nourish America believes that we must focus on providing those in need with foods that enable them to thrive. By Sriya Chinthalapudi Edited by Shreya Shivakumar |
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