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!!!!!!!!
Happy Canada Day! I hope you find out what caused your reaction!
If you get allergy testing done, you should really opt for a “food sensitivity blood test”. In this test, blood is drawn and tested for antibodies against tons of foods (mine tested me against 95 different foods). Food allergies don’t show up in the normal skin prick allergy testing, just environmental ones show up. The test is expensive (~$200) but it is accurate (you are either making a antibody against a food or you are not) and takes any “second guessing” out of your diet. If you visit a naturopathic doctor, you can get the test arranged, or maybe some labs in your area offer the testing. I got the test done as I was curious about some reactions I was having; I wanted to see if they were related to my diet.
I used to work at a bar and one night after we closed and everyone was having their staff drinks, I had the bartender make me ‘my usual’ a vodka soda. Within minutes of my first sip, my lips and tongue were swelling up, my upper body got seriously itchy and I broke out into hives. I took a couple of benedryl and felt fine but at someone’s advice, I went and stayed with a friend that night because apparently the most dangerous thing you can do is go home alone to bed.
How exciting! Congrats on the article!!!
Wow, how scary! I’m so glad you’re OK. What an awful wait time at the hospital. What if you actually needed to be seen? Jeez. It’s like that here too, unless it’s extremely serious even when it’s not very busy you’re there for hours :( It’s horrible with little kids.
Happy Canada Day!
I’m glad you were ok! What a scary experience! Allergies are so strange because they can literally appear and disappear at random times in your life. When I was a kid I was allergic to all kinds of things that I no longer am. But I know other people who have developed several allergies.
Happy Canada Day!
Oh gosh! I’m glad you are ok – that must have been scary!
I know it’s not as bad – but I’ve tried that brand 2x now and each time I get SO sick to my stomach (worse than dairy sick) so who knows? It must not happen to everyone though, because that brand has been kicking around for a long time!
Oh my gosh!! I hope you’re feeling all better this morning. That is so scary! I don’t have a reaction to chicory root but I hate when it’s an added ingredient. Really, do we need to be adding fiber to ice cream? Come on! CONGRATS on the magazine…you are amazing!
HOW SCARY!! I’ve never had an allergic reaction to anything before. I think I would be super freaked out!
I’m glad you are feeling better though!!
Random allergic reactions to substances you’ve never had a problem with are THE SCARIEST thing ever — I’m so glad you’re ok!! I’ve always had pretty bad seasonal allergies, but they’ve become really bad in the past ten years (“debilitating” is actually the word used on my medical chart). About 6 years ago, right after my 20th birthday, I was just hanging out eating an apple — THE SAME THING I HAD EVERY DAY — and my lips started to tingle and twitch. My tongue followed, and not long after, I got that itchy, “stuffy” throat that you’re describing.
Fast-forward to the present, and after a bunch of allergy tests, shots, etc., I now know that my seasonal allergies have gotten SO out of control that I have Oral Allergy Syndrome to anything birch-pollen related… meaning I can’t eat a lot of raw fruits, including apples, pears, plums, nectarines, etc, and I can’t eat fresh cilantro because they all make my lips swell until I look like Lisa Rinna. I also have real, Epipen-requiring allergies to peaches and anything mold-based, like bleu cheeses and the like, and I can’t eat anything “forraged,” like mushrooms, because the potential lurks for mold to have grown on them in the wild (I also can’t take any drugs that end in -cillan!). It’s SUCH a pain and I get so jealous when you and others post such mouth-watering recipes with them…. so please eat extra for me! :)
Anyway, I’m so glad that Eric gave you the benedryl and got you to the hospital, because in the event that the benes didn’t help, you were in the safest place! It’s terrifying, but at least now you have an idea of what you could have been allergic to… and that’s a good start! I’m glad you’re feeling better and please, stay safe! :)
Oooh what a scary reaction! I’m glad everything turned out okay…
Congrats on the magazine! That’s fantastic :)
Happy Canada Day to a fellow Canuck!
Chicory root is in a lot of prepackaged foods, also as ‘inulin’ or ‘inulin fibre’. It’s the same thing. So Delicious puts it in their coconut-based ice cream as well. I’ve had that and didn’t react to it. I usually stick to Blue Mountain’s raw cashew-based ice cream. Your body can change over the years, so maybe another allergy test might confirm something.
I think I might have an allergy to hemp. Whenever I use it, my skin completely breaks out. I was eating good-quality hemp protein and seeds too. It was all organic, non-gmo, etc.
I’m glad you’re okay!
Yikes! That sure is scary! You must’ve been worried & scared too, since usually, redness of the skin is not a good sign!
At least things subsided and returned back to normal. Oh, and don’t eat Fiber One bars then…since the first ingredient in the chocolate chip bars is chicory root extract!
At least you’re better plus the website is in a magazine!! Congratz ^^
I’m so sorry about your reaction– glad you’re doing ok now! That chicory root!
Have a wonderful weekend and congrats on the award!
Woah that is so weird!!! Thankfully it was nothing to serious!!! I think I’ve eaten things before with chicory root so I don’t think my body reacts to it….but still, very odd!
Happy Canada day! Hope you enjoy your weekend!
So glad that you are feeling better! Happy Canada Day to you!!! We’ll be celebrating to your south on Monday!
HAPPY CANADA DAY Angela!!! I just wanted to throw out there that yes, chicory root is used in packaged foods to add fibre but this is chicory root EXTRACT. Extracts are automatically more concentrated. Maybe you had such an intense reaction because it is so concentrated? I am no expert on allergies, just a thought. But there you have yet another reason why pre-packaged foods are not all that great for people. :) Have a great weekend!!!
Hi Angela,
Your reaction sounds similar to what I had when I ingested brie cheese one day. My face, arms and legs turned bright red and burning within 10 minutes after having a bite of brie. Up until that incident, I had been eating brie cheese all my life (I’m 28) without any problems. 3 months later my sister had the exact same reaction to walnuts without any previous reactions ever, then my boyfriend had the exact same thing happen to him after having some seafood, and then my mom after having chocolate. One of my coworkers also had the same thing happen to her out of nowhere a few weeks ago. None of us had any previous reactions to food and all of them happened within a period of 1 year. I think it’s something in the environment to be honest. Maybe GMO foods, something in the water, who knows. It’s just very strange.
Glad to hear you’re feeling better. :)
Wow that is crazy!! Who knows in this day and age, right? I think the best we can do is get any avail. tests but other than that, it’s not really predictable.
I tried this products years ago. I tend to have a lot of allergies so I read the ingredient list and allergens carefully. On the So Delicious label everything checked out fine, so I bought it figuring I found an ice cream I could eat. And I will NEVER touch that stuff again in my life! I’ve never had such stomach pain and cramps before (bending over in pain bad) in my life. To this day I still have no idea what caused such a reaction! Hope you feel better and that was smart thinking with the Benedryl!
Angela,
Although you do consume some soy products, processed soy is so much different and most of us react to it, but in a less intense way. Things like miso, tempeh, braggs are easier for us to digest because they are fermented. Have you consumed any soy milk, soy yogurt or soy ice cream in the last year? I know a few people (some clients) who went of processed soy, then had a major reaction when they had some in a similar situation to yours.
Katherine
http://katsnutrition.com
http://curvesforlife.com
I’ve had soy milk but not really soy ice cream or soy yogurt (maybe yogurt but in the tiniest amount ina muffin). Ive always thought soy gave me stomach cramps which is why I dont eat tofu and tempeh (I had really bad cramps from tempeh). My tests revealed no allergies to soy but they can develop later on I guess.