I received the following question from a reader:
Do you avoid coconut?
Initially, you might think this question has nothing to do with a peanut allergy. Believe it or not, it actually does have quite a bit to with PA.
Did you know that a coconut is considered a tree nut by many (including the FDA)? When you think about it, it does grow on a tree. It has a hard outer shell. And many that are allergic to tree nuts are also allergic to coconuts.
I will admit that I did not give this much thought until recently. In the back of my mind, I knew there was a chance of Tyler having an allergy. I don't like coconut so I don't cook with it. I do, however, love the smell of it. So, at times, I have had lotions and candles in the home with coconut.
Tyler's eczema has been terrible this winter. I have been looking for a natural treatment for it, rather than topical steroids. I stumbled across information that said coconut oil was good for it. I knew I needed to test him for a coconut allergy before I headed down that route.
The test was performed during his last allergy test. Guess what...he has a mild coconut allergy.
My advice to anyone dealing with a peanut allergy is to avoid coconut until you have a test performed to ensure there is not an allergy. Just to be on the safe side.
I never dreamed Tyler had a coconut allergy. Until he was diagnosed earlier this month.
Don't think coconut just hides in food. Check out sunscreens this coming summer. Beware of lotions. I am even concerned about some of the candles I have. Just like peanuts, coconut can hide in the most unsuspecting places.
13 comments:
I wanted to say thank you so much for writing this blog.. My 6 year old son Tobi was diagnosed on Friday with a peanut allergy. Your blog has been a lifesaver for us.. We have been feeling somewhat overwhelmed, however thanks to your blog I now know some safe foods for Tobi to have, things that I should carry with me at all times and last night we ordered him the book Allie the Allergic Elephant..
God Bless both you and Tyler
linda miller
linda
Thanks so much for this post. I have often wondered about coconut and have read conflicting information. I want to give my son extra virgin coconut oil for its many health benefits, but I will hold off until he gets tested. Thank you.
It's worth noting that peas, lentils, beans, and so on can be related to peanuts in a similar way as coconuts and need to be treated with caution. My PA daughter turned out to be allergic to all of them as well. I haven't touched the issue of coconut yet... I hold little hope that she'd be able to eat it anyway.
Your blog is the greatest. My daughter just went to John Hopkins yesterday to receive allergy testing and among the numerous foods she is being tested for she will also be checked for a coconut allergy. She has tested in the past to have a peanut allergy, but it was at a local lab so everything is being redone. I enjoy logging into your blog and love all the info you supply from a "mom's" point of view. Thank you!
-Cookie in DE
Only because I can't stand coconut, unless it is in lotion or jellybeans.
We haven't had any situation where it has come up.
The only thing I can think of is my mother-in-law using shredded coconut on her otherwise delicious banana bars with cream cheese frosting.
Emily
Hi, My son is allergic to peanuts and all tree nuts. We didn't realize he was allergic to coconut until we had an Immuno blood print done. With that same test, we realized he is allergic to 21 different foods. All have been cleared from his diet and he has been symptom free for 20 days now. Amazing!
MS
Oh my MS! Twenty one is unbelievable!! If you are dealing with milk or egg, I can help you with recipes. We had those for over 2 years and I got pretty good at cooking for it. I'm so sorry for your news!
Hi there - I've just learned that I'm allergic to Coconut. They did not test for Palm, but I understand it's in the same family. I'm completely depressed because I can't find ANY shampoo, conditioner, laundry detergent, bath soap, lotion, skincare/facial products etc. ANYWHERE that don't contain coconut or some derivative of coconut. I'm reading more and more about people who are learning they have the same problem. Can someone tell of any products they've found that are Coconut free? I'm at a complete loss. Thanks!!
Hi proudmommyof5! This is a great question and one that I had not even realized was a big deal. Who knew coconut oil was in so many things?
I have been looking all over the Internet and think this subject is worthy of a post on the blog. I will try to get it researched and posted in the next week or so. I will tell you that Tyler is only 4 and still uses baby shampoo. This appears to be safe. As for adult shampoo, I will look into it.
What are some of are the names of the derivatives of coconut you have found?
Here is a link to a discussion of coconut allergy and a list of coconut-free soaps, shampoos, etc.
Hopefully the information here will be useful to someone who is trying to cut coconut out of their skincare diet :-)
http://www.latitudes.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=2501&st=0&gopid=32842&#entry32842
baobab
I had a peanut allergy for most of my life. Actually, I was allergic to many nuts including: walnuts, pecans, chestnuts, filbert, hazelnut, etc. We used to joke that I had a snob allergy as I could heat the "expensive" nuts like Macadamia, Cashew, Pistachio and Brazil. I was not, however allergic to ingesting coconut. About 10 years ago (at age 50) It ended. I think it was due to the small amounts I ingested when eating a rice snack that came with peanuts. I didn't eat the nuts, but I suspect the dust contained just enough to slowly build an immunity to the allergy.
Now, I have a toe fungus and I was using Tee Tree Oil and Lavender Oil. I was also using coconut oil as part of an "Oil Pulling" regimen so I tried adding that. My foot broke out in a terrible case of eczema. I had eczema as a child but not in the last 40 years. I now wonder whether the early eczema wasn't also caused or exacerbated by coconut as I am sure coconut was in many of the lotions I used to try to get relief from the symptoms of eczema. If you are dealing with eczema on someone who has a peanut allergy, look for possible coconut sources.
I have a coconut allergy, but I am not allergic to peanuts. It is possible to have a tree nut allergy and not a peanut allergy and vice versa; however safer to avoid all since they might be processed at same place. There are a lot of beauty products and food containing coconuts. Their is cross-reactivity with coconuts and hazel nuts and coconuts and walnuts.
Wondering if anyone knows anything about coconut granules and/or coconut aminos - they are both made from tapping the tree, not the coconut itself. So if you have a allergy to coconut are these products perhaps okay to consume?
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