2 Questions: Corn and Coconut

amy21tom · July 2011

Just found out today that I have to do an egg, nut and corn free diet in addition to milk and soy that I've been doing for just over 3 weeks. I was a little overwhelmed talking to the pedi about lots of things today and forgot to ask about 2 things:

#1: When avoiding corn do I only have to avoid corn itself or also corn starch, high fructose corn syrup, etc? I know with milk and soy you avoid every form of the ingredient, but corn threw me off a little since I don't really think of it as a common allergenic food.

#2 does coconut always count as a tree nut? I know it techinically is, but is it something that always has to be avoided with tree nut allergies? (LOVE the So Delicious coconut milk ice cream and will be sad to give it up! : ( haha)

TIA! Sorry if these are basic questions--very new to the corn/nut free thing.

mrs_kelly1014 · July 2011

It's so overwhelming at first to cut to much out of a diet so hopefully we will be able to help a bit!

#1 - You do need to avoid all forms of corn if you are avoiding the corn allergen. Here is a really detailed list of what contains corn, and what corn can be called (obviously, other than "corn"). https://www.cornallergens.com/list/corn-allergen-list.php

#2 - Coconut actually doesn't usually count as a tree nut when it relates to avoidance for the allergen. So, that should be good news in that you should be able to keep eating the delicious ice cream! Obviously, if there was a reaction, you would need to rethink that, but typically a coconut allergy is not considered part of tree nut allergies.

amy21tom · July 2011

mrs_kelly1014:

It's so overwhelming at first to cut to much out of a diet so hopefully we will be able to help a bit!

#1 - You do need to avoid all forms of corn if you are avoiding the corn allergen. Here is a really detailed list of what contains corn, and what corn can be called (obviously, other than "corn"). https://www.cornallergens.com/list/corn-allergen-list.php

#2 - Coconut actually doesn't usually count as a tree nut when it relates to avoidance for the allergen. So, that should be good news in that you should be able to keep eating the delicious ice cream! Obviously, if there was a reaction, you would need to rethink that, but typically a coconut allergy is not considered part of tree nut allergies.

Thank you! So excited about the coconut! ; )

thatsmary · July 2011

mrs_kelly1014:
It's so overwhelming at first to cut to much out of a diet so hopefully we will be able to help a bit!

#1 - You do need to avoid all forms of corn if you are avoiding the corn allergen. Here is a really detailed list of what contains corn, and what corn can be called (obviously, other than "corn"). https://www.cornallergens.com/list/corn-allergen-list.php

#2 - Coconut actually doesn't usually count as a tree nut when it relates to avoidance for the allergen. So, that should be good news in that you should be able to keep eating the delicious ice cream! Obviously, if there was a reaction, you would need to rethink that, but typically a coconut allergy is not considered part of tree nut allergies.

Oh my gosh! I just looked at this list (I've been questioning if DD may be sensitive to corn also - EBF) and found that it would be impossible to do! I mean, salt is on the list. So is baking powder and just about every even basic ingredient to make anything. I just have to assume that most people react to only a few of these ingredients, right?

julandjo · July 2011

thatsmary:
mrs_kelly1014:
It's so overwhelming at first to cut to much out of a diet so hopefully we will be able to help a bit!

#1 - You do need to avoid all forms of corn if you are avoiding the corn allergen. Here is a really detailed list of what contains corn, and what corn can be called (obviously, other than "corn"). https://www.cornallergens.com/list/corn-allergen-list.php

#2 - Coconut actually doesn't usually count as a tree nut when it relates to avoidance for the allergen. So, that should be good news in that you should be able to keep eating the delicious ice cream! Obviously, if there was a reaction, you would need to rethink that, but typically a coconut allergy is not considered part of tree nut allergies.
Oh my gosh! I just looked at this list (I've been questioning if DD may be sensitive to corn also - EBF) and found that it would be impossible to do! I mean, salt is on the list. So is baking powder and just about every even basic ingredient to make anything. I just have to assume that most people react to only a few of these ingredients, right?

No, if someone reacts strongly to corn, they typically react to all forms of corn. For myself, I'm incredibly sensitive - I cannot tolerate table salt, even as a small ingredient of something else. Sea salt is safe. Likewise, traces of corn syrup, ascorbic acid, xanthan gum, etc. all make me just as sick as if I'd eaten an ear of corn.

I know it looks overwhelming, but it's not impossible. I've been living like this (actually, 100% free of grains in any form, dairy, legume, nut, tropical fruit, pork, fish, eggs, citrus, and nightshades... it's ALL out of the question for me) for almost a year. It's been the biggest struggle of my life and I had to change everything about my diet and my relationship with food, but I had no choice. It can be done, and you'll become much healthier for it - eliminating all processed food does a body GOOD. Just make sure you've got support, because it's tough.

If BFing is worth it to you (and I'm not saying it should be - if I was faced with my diet just in order to keep BFing, I'd say no way Jose!), give going 100% corn free a shot. If she improves, you can then trial using some of those less obvious ingredients. Maybe she's only got a slight sensitivity and you can get by that way. And if she does react, then you'll have your answer. Sorry you're dealing with this.

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