A Trip to the Growers Market

Jeri, I, and our dogs went to the Growers Market this morning to gather some fresh produce.  This is generally a safe bet, as most of the growers at the market we visit use organic methods, which reduces the risk for sulfites.  The folks at the market we attend are always very friendly and many offer free samples of what they have to offer. Which of course we have to try; we would not want to risk offending anyone, ;0).  They welcome the dogs, and several even put out water dishes for the many visitors with dogs.  Overall, even though Jeri usually has to drag me kicking and screaming out the door, we usually enjoy the trip. 

We had a reminder today about the hazards of assumptions.  One of the growers, a very nice man, was offering samples of his fresh off the tree peaches, and Jeri tried one.  It was very flavorful and she bought a few.  About 15 minutes later, she was regretting the decision not to verify he was an organic grower, and reaching for her ever-present emergency supply of Benadryl. 

It turned out he was not, an organic grower.  The tipoff should have been the size of the peaches.  Organic produce tends to be smaller than non-organic, and these peaches were a decent size.  Should we have been upset with the grower?   I do not think so, he never stated he was an organic grower, we simply assumed he was because he was at the grower market.  There is an old Latin phrase dating back as far as 1523 that would apply here, “caveat emptor” which translates roughly to “let the buyer beware”. 

The lessons this week are simple.  Always remember to learn how the foods you consume are grown or processed.  Always have the medication your physician recommend handy, just in case, Always ensure the produce is washed before consuming. 

Jeri is doing fine; just a little tired, from the Benadryl.  As one may expect, she is frustrated by this allergy once again.  It makes it difficult for her to select food that she loves, because of the Sulfite allergy.

Check out your local growers market, they have some great deals on a wide range of products, and it supports your local economy.  They are becoming very popular for good reason; they offer about the freshest produce available short of growing it yourself, at reasonable prices, and they are a great way to get a little sunshine and fresh air.  They are easy to find, just use you search engine of choice and enter “growers market”.

Check back next week for more ways to survive Sulfites.

D

     Good morning and welcome to the Surviving Sulfites Blog. This Blog is intended to be a place to learn about Sulfite Allergies/Sensitivities, and how to deal with them in day to day life.


     We will try to post about once a week, at the least once a month, something new, hopefully interesting, and ideally helpful to folks with Sulfite and related allergies. We will also post our experiences dealing with restaraunts, stores, farmers markets, medics, and life in general as affected by this allergy.


     I am not a doctor or physician of any type, and neither is my wife, who has a sulfite allergy, nor will we pretend to be. We will always try to provide a reference for our conclusions or statements. We strongly encourage you dear reader, to seek the advice of a qualified physician. It is not our intent or our place to provide medical advice.

     That being said, Lets get to it.

What is a Sulfite and who may be affected or at risk?

Here is the WebMD definition:

"Sulfites are a group of sulfur-based compounds that may occur naturally or may be added to food as an enhancer and preservative. The FDA estimates that one out of 100 people is sensitive to the compounds. A person can develop sensitivity to sulfites at any time in life, and the trigger for the sensitivity is unknown. For a person who is sensitive to sulfites, a reaction can be mild or life threatening."

Where can Sulfites be commonly found?

Also from WebMD:
Examples of foods that may contain sulfites include:

• Baked goods
• Soup mixes
• Jams
• Canned vegetables
• Pickled foods
• Gravies
• Dried fruit
• Potato chips
• Trail mix
• Beer and wine
• Vegetable juices
• Sparkling grape juice
• Apple cider
• Bottled lemon juice and lime juice
• Tea
• Many condiments
• Molasses
• Fresh or frozen shrimp
• Guacamole
• Maraschino cherries
• Dehydrated, pre-cut or peeled potatoes

Sulfite-containing ingredients to look for on food labels include:

• Sulfur dioxide
• Potassium bisulfite or potassium metabisulfite
• Sodium bisulfite, sodium metabisulfite, or sodium sulfite

     We will reference WebMD,  the Mayo Clinic, and other sources often.  Again we are not medics, and defer to the experts.  I have worked and lived around medics for many years, while in the military and in my professional career.  Several members of my family are in the medical arena, and I've come to value their opinions.  WebMD and the Mayo Clinic are frequently referenced as very reliable sources from my own physician, those I have worked with, and our family and friends in the medical arena.

     We happily invite and encourage anyone in the medical community to chime in and add to, or corect any statements we make on this Blog.  Our intent is to share our experiences on an allergy that is wide spread, and at the same time relatively unheard of. 

     As always, consult your physician, DO NOT take our word for it.