Dealing With Food Allergies in Bulimia Recovery

Contributor: Crystal Karges, MS, RDN, IBCLC, Special Projects Coordinator at Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope

For anyone who is allergic to a certain type of food or food group, planning meals can become more challenging. Many individuals who have food allergies must take careful precautions to ensure that foods they are eating are safe of allergenic components as well as prepared in an environment that has not been cross contaminated with foods that they may be allergic to. While food allergies can range in terms of severity, managing food allergies are crucial to ensuring safety and wellness of an individual.

Food Allergies Should Not Be Self-Diagnosed

Many food allergies can be diagnosed by a qualified medical professional and can be identified by various tests, including a skin prick test, blood test, or trial elimination diet. Food allergies should not be self-diagnosed, as unnecessary elimination of foods can lead to inadequate nutrition. The most effective method for preventing a food-allergic reaction is to avoid the problematic food. Symptoms of food allergies might include sneezing, itching, rashes, and hives, while more severe reactions include anaphylaxis.

Living with Food Allergies and Bulimia Can Be Difficult

Managing food allergies with bulimia recovery may be more challenging but is certainly doable. If you or someone you care for has food allergies and is also in recovery for bulimia, it is important to work with your treatment team to devise a treatment plan that takes all factors into consideration. Your doctor along with your treatment team can help you develop a food allergy and anaphylaxis emergency care plan if needed. If you are in inpatient or residential treatment for bulimia, consider wearing emergency medical identification that highlights your food allergies and communicating any medication needs with your treatment team.

Collaborative care between your primary doctor and eating disorder specialists is necessary for effectively managing food allergies while in recovery for bulimia. Your registered dietitian can help you develop a meal plan that avoids allergenic foods while assisting you in getting the necessary nutrition needed for recovery from bulimia. Working together with the various members of your team can help provide you with the safest and most effective care during your treatment for bulimia.

Community Discussion – Share your thoughts here!

Have you or someone you love dealt with food allergies while in recovery from bulimia or an eating disorder? How did you effectively manage your food allergies while in treatment and during recovery?

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Crystal is a Masters-level Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) with a specialty focus in eating disorders, maternal/child health and wellness, and intuitive eating. Combining clinical experience with a love of social media and writing, Crystal serves as the Special Projects Coordinator for Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope, where her passion to help others find recovery and healing is integrated into each part of her work.

As a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, Crystal has dedicated her career to helping others establish a healthy relationship with food and body through her work with EDH/AH and nutrition private practice.

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The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of eating disorders. These are not necessarily the views of Eating Disorder Hope, but an effort to offer discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals.

We at Eating Disorder Hope understand that eating disorders result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.

Last Updated & Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on January 14, 2016
Published on EatingDisorderHope.com