Sesame is the newest food to be added to the United States Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) major allergens list. This means its allergen status and inclusion must be properly documented on food product labels. With an upward trend of sesame allergy in America and the public’s growing awareness, more people are seeking viable treatment options for their families.
Understanding Sesame Allergies and How to Manage Them
If you or a family member experience symptoms of a sesame allergy, you’ll want to make an appointment with a food allergist at an allergy treatment center like TexasAllergyMD. While a family doctor or nurse practitioner can give you basic information, a board-certified specialist like Dr. Mireku provides the appropriate food allergy testing and diagnosis, along with a detailed treatment plan to get you on a path to better health.
The results of your tests may show that you are sesame intolerant, rather than having a full-fledged sesame allergy. As the Mayo Clinic explains, there is a difference between a food allergy and food intolerance. While the symptoms and adverse reactions to sesame protein may overlap in this area, there’s a big difference. A food intolerance affects the digestive system and the physical response will typically be some sort of discomfort, while an allergy is an immune system response that can be life-threatening in some cases. However, both conditions do require treatment from a specialist.
Many people who learn they have sesame allergies first take the avoidant approach to minimize negative reactions and harm. As with any allergy, it’s important to monitor what foods you eat and how you prepare them. This means no longer cooking with or using sesame oil in recipes. While other oils (like peanut and soybean) are highly refined to the point they are safely consumable by people with allergies, sesame oil is not.
According to the FDA, there are more trace amounts of sesame in foods now than there were previously, but thankfully we also have more innovative treatments like oral immunotherapy (OIT), so avoidance isn’t the only path that patients have to a healthy life.
Can Oral Immunotherapy Effectively Combat Sesame Allergy?
The simple answer is yes! Oral immunotherapy is a desensitization technique to help the body’s immune system tolerate the presence of an allergen (in this case, sesame protein). TexasAllergyMD patients have seen great results from this therapy. OIT is a long-term process with phases that can last for months, yet many patients find these steps absolutely worthwhile, as the treatment’s effectiveness in alleviating symptoms and reducing vigilant diet monitoring means that eating becomes much less stressful and enjoyable once more.
This is great news for patients seeking relief. Research continues in OIT, with more studies ordered for other major food allergens. For instance, approximately 60 to 80 percent of studied OIT patients treated for peanut, egg and milk allergies experienced desensitization. As these studies and treatment options develop, Dr. Mireku (one of the few food allergy specialists in North Texas) will continue to track and update services to help our local communities thrive in their health and wellness journeys. OIT is just one of the ways our allergy treatment center can get you to a point of taking your life back from sesame sensitivity and avoidance.
At TexasAllergyMD, another effective and innovative treatment available for people allergic to sesame protein is sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT), also known as food allergy drops. This treatment plan is great for busy individuals on the go, as most dosing is done at home after the initial in-office visits.
In the case of both OIT and SLIT, to achieve the best results patients must be disciplined in following their specialized treatment plans and follow-up schedules. Our allergy treatment center doctors and staff are here to provide personalized care during your food allergy desensitization journey.
Get Treatment Today for Sesame Allergy
Oral immunotherapy is an ideal treatment for a sesame allergy, so let’s get you on the path to eating safe and feeling great! TexasAllergyMD has two North Texas locations to serve you in McKinney/Prosper and Southlake. Call (469) 375-1525 to talk to our friendly staff, or you can request your appointment now.
