Shortly after dinner last night, I enjoyed a small bowl of some new So Delicious frozen dessert that we picked up at the grocery store. I don’t usually buy frozen dessert unless I need it for a special dessert for a group (otherwise I just make Banana Soft Serve!). Normally, I buy Coconut Bliss frozen dessert, but the only problem is that it’s very expensive for a tiny container (around $7-8). Last night I opted for this new soy-based kind because it’s twice the size and a few dollars cheaper.
![IMG_8353[3]](/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/IMG_83533_thumb.jpg "IMG_8353[3]")
Not even 5 minutes after having a small bowl (maybe half a cup?), I immediately knew something was wrong. The centre of my face started to burn and I walked over to a mirror and my face was the deepest shade of red I’ve ever seen! I felt like I just got the worst sunburn of my life. The redness quickly spread down my neck, shoulders, chest, and arms, and I knew something I ate was not happy in my body!
Eric gave me a Benadryl pill and we headed for the hospital. I was burning up so I brought an ice pack with me in the car and held it on my red arms. My throat felt like it was a bit swollen and my voice sounded like I had a bit of a cold and I was worried that it would get worse. We waited for about an hour at the ER and then I was brought into see the nurse to get my vitals checked out. Everything was fine and a little while later my body just completely returned to normal, except for my throat which was still a bit sore and a lingering headache. The ER was absolutely packed (with over 5 hour wait time), so we decided to head home now that my reaction had subsided. This morning I woke up with a slight headache, but other than that I feel fine.
The only new food I can think that I had yesterday was this frozen dessert. Everything else I ate was stuff I normally eat every day.
When I got home, I checked out the ingredient list:
![IMG_8354[3]](/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/IMG_83543_thumb.jpg "IMG_8354[3]")
I looked up Chicory Root Extract and apparently it can cause reactions in some people. I wonder if it was that? I also had no idea that the product may contain traces amounts of tree nuts, dairy protein, and peanuts! I know my sister had a really bad reaction to pine nuts before, but I can’t imagine there would be much in that tiny bowl I had. I also had an allergy test a couple years ago and everything came back negative. Could it be the Chicory Root or maybe something else? Has anyone else ever experienced a reaction like that? I was just thankful I didn’t break out into hives!
On our way home, I picked up a few Canada Day flags for our get together tonight and also a Best Health magazine. Myself and three other bloggers who won the Best Health Blog Awards are featured in the magazine. This was possible because YOU voted for me, so thank you again for your support!
I have a big Canada Day/long weekend BBQ menu post planned, so stay tuned!
Happy Canada Day!!!!!!!!
That is so scary Angela! I had an allergic reaction once to a lotion that I had used all over my arms, chest, back, etc. Within ten minutes of putting it on, I was bright red, splotchy and had hives all over the places that I had put the lotion on (so basically my entire torso and arms). I never did figure out exactly what it was that caused the reaction and certainly never used that lotion again. I’m so glad your reaction was short lived.
Enjoy your celebrations!!!
I have a friend who had a similar reaction to a protein shake from Starbucks; she visited an allergist and it turned out Chickory Root was the culprit. It shows up in a lot of protein bars and shakes.
oh, wow scary stuff. Glad you’re ok. I have a ton of allergies and have tested positive for peanuts and soy multiple times yet I’ve never had a reaction to them (i eat both frequently). It’s really weird and I’m freaked out that one day my body is just going to react and I’ll be somewhere remote!
Oh my goodness–how random. I’m so glad you’re okay!
My goodness, what a horrible experience! Nothing like that has ever happened to me. I hope that it is the chicory root so that you know what to avoid from now on.
Gah that’s so scary! I’m glad you’re okay though! Thankfully I’ve never had any sort of reaction like that – I wouldn’t know what to do!
Yikes! So glad you are okay and didn’t have anything more pressing because that ER sounds like you would’ve had to pass out to get seen! Congrats on the magazine mention and Happy Canada Day!
Oh no, I’m glad you are doing better though, how scary!
Also- Happy Canada Day from your southern neighbors!
So scary!! Glad you’re doing better. For my body, Chicory Root is the devil. But for me, it results in doubled over stomach cramps, like can’t stand upright kind of cramping. So yeah, it’s on my “list of things to avoid”. I hope you figure out what caused it.
Happy Canada Day to you!
Yikes! Glad you’re doing okay! I have a reaction to Chicory Root Extract as well but mine is more gastronomical. My stomach swells and gets really uncomfortable. A lot better than potential airway being cut off though!
Looking forward to your BBQ menu!
Happy (and apparently) healthy Canada Day Angela! My brother’s girlfriend is Canadian and is celebrating it in the Northern Territory (Australia) – where ironically enough today is ‘territory day’ and they have fireworks, so she got to celebrate in the traditional way even on the other side of the world :)
Hope you’re feeling better today. Give yourself an hour of nothingness if you need it.
that sounds fun!
Congratulations on the magazine feature!
I can’t imagine why SOY Delicious would allow themselves to be exposed to non-vegan dairy, which may be your problem, although other vegans I know trying animal products just get problems in their digestive cycles.
I don’t buy vegan ice creams for the smae reason-them being two expensive.
My gosh, what a scary reaction! But glad to hear you’re doing alright today.
Congrats on making it into the magazine…what an honor!
Happy Canada Day to you, Angela! :)
Oh no that sounds really scary! Glad you’re okay. Congrats on the magazine feature!
I’ve seen chicory root extract on so many lists of ingredients. I never knew it was a common problem for people. Although, you might want to double-think everything you ate yesterday (I’m sure you’re probably still doing this) because it seems like most people just get stomach problems when they react to it. Your reaction was so extreme, that it makes me think it might be from something else. But I’m not a doctor, so who am I to say? Maybe you’re just extremely sensitive to it. Anyway, I’m glad you’re better, and at least now you know to beware! I don’t like soy ice creams anyway. Coconut Bliss might be more expensive, but if you’re going to buy a vegan ice cream, it’s worth the splurge in my opinion!
I agree…it didnt even taste that good ;)
I am so sorry about your ER visit!
A five-hour wait???? I thought that only happened in America! :)
Glad you had that Benadryl on hand…feel better!!
And…Happy Canada Day!
I’m almost completely sure that you’re having a reaction to processed food, as such a large proportion of your diet (if not all???) is natural and whole-foods based. I recently posted about having the exact same symptoms as you (plus hives!) after eating tofutti vegan cheese, and indeed I’ve experienced the same thing whenever I’ve eaten any ‘fake’ food, from vegan soy ice-cream to ‘cheeses’ to seitan. I also eat more tofu than you do, and you could well be reacting to the soy as well as the uber-processed, sugary food. My diet is nowhere near as clean as yours and I still can’t tolerate vegan replacements for dairy foods (other than rice/hemp/coconut milk), so I think that might well be the reason why you can’t too.
Hope you’re feeling better now and have a lovely day!
xxx
Glad you had a speedy recovery after a disturbing experience. Congratulations on your success with your excellent blog. I am sure you are helping a lot of people.
Glad you are ok! I have heard that about chicory root before… have you looked to see if it’s in anything else you eat? If not, I bet it’s the culprit!
Happy Canada Day!
As far as I can see, I haven’t had it in many things before, if at all. Hopefully I can get it tested in an allergy test!
Allergic reactions are scary! Glad you’re okay!
I have been a “lurker” until now but I love your blog have been reading it every day for a couple months. You have taught me so much and are a positive inspiration! I just had to respond to this one because it reinforces what you say all the time about eating REAL WHOLE food without all these crazy ingredients which no one really knows what they are and what effects they have on the body. Xantham gum and soy lecithin are on my questionable list too, and they are found in so many things! Do you know anything about these?
Now that I have been cooking a whole lot more (thanks to you!), I find that I don’t want to eat pre-made or processed foods that much anymore, and when I eat out, I think to myself, “I could make something that tastes soooo much better at home!!” :-)
Thanks again for your wonderful blog and recipes!
Thank you Laura!
And yes I couldnt agree more about real food. It’s funny b/c when I picked up the ice cream I was like…geeze the ingredients arent great, but I got it anyways against my gut feeling. Should have known!