Food Allergies

Symptoms of weakness and nausea were afflicting me, sometimes disabling me for hours at a time. So I went to an internist, who ran a series of tests, which turned up nothing. Finally, at a loss, he ordered a brain scan. I vividly recall the words of the neurologist when the results came in: "There's nothing wrong with your brain. But you might have a potassium deficiency. If you are feeling low, eat a banana." How easy! I enjoyed slicing a banana onto my Wheaties and milk for breakfast.

The number of children who have food allergies is not only increasing, it now encompasses 4% of all kids in the United States, according to an analysis of four large, national surveys published Monday in the journal Pediatrics. The study -- the first to make a broad estimate about the prevalence of food allergies among U.S. children -- supports previous studies suggesting that allergy rates are rising rapidly, for reasons that are unclear. Government researchers found that self-reported food allergies increased 18% between 1997 and 2007.

Allergies are on the rise, experts know. What they don't know is why. The most popular theory is the so-called hygiene hypothesis. It holds that our culture's addiction to cleanliness, antiseptics and antibiotics prevents our immune systems from developing the ability to ward off real infections. Our bodies then end up overreacting to things they should be ignoring.

Allergies were far from Christie Littauer's mind when she fed creamed spinach to her son Jack for the first time. The 6-month-old had already eaten peas and green beans. Why not try something more exciting? "A few bites into it, he started wheezing," says Littauer, of Henderson, Nev. "He got bright red. Something was obviously wrong."

Do your allergies (or your child's) make it challenging for you to travel abroad? Selectwisely.com helps liberate travelers who have food allergies and other health concerns. What's hot: If you are a traveler who has a food allergy, you can order a translation card that lets restaurant servers and store clerks -- really, anyone who has a hand in serving you food -- know that there's an issue. The site offers cards in more than 25 languages.

Bulbs galore and a view Stroll down a gently winding mountain garden path and see thousands of daffodils, hyacinths and tulips in bloom at the Daffodil Garden in Running Springs, Calif. The 5-acre private garden, open to the public through April 12 (Easter), is the handiwork of Alma Gene and Dale Bauer, who have planted more than 1 million bulbs on the property in the last 50 years. Paths lead to eight sitting and viewing areas overlooking the San Bernardino Valley.

Your kid doesn't have an allergy to nuts. Your kid has a parent who needs to feel special. Your kid also spends recess running and screaming, "No! Stop! Don't rub my head with peanut butter!" Yes, a tiny number of kids have severe peanut allergies that cause anaphylactic shock, and all their teachers should be warned, handed EpiPens and given a really expensive gift at Christmas.

Q: I am throwing a dinner party for my husband's 40th in less than a week, and I have hired a private chef to cook an amazing five-course meal in our home. The menu is set, and each dish is one of my husband's favorites. Yesterday, a friend's wife e-mailed me to say that she is allergic to cow's milk and nuts. She also claims that she is intolerant to gluten and wheat. I know that she's lying because I saw her eating a Gruyere grilled cheese at Campanile last month!

FOR millions of people with food allergies, every trip seems like adventure travel. Like mountain climbers and trekkers, they must have their own gear and rely on themselves to cope with risks that may prove life-threatening. "It's like Russian roulette," said Jamie Hintzke of Pleasanton, Calif. "You've got to be super careful." The challenges can be formidable, but they needn't keep sufferers from leaving home, doctors and travelers say. They just have to prepare.