Q. I recently developed an allergy to all types of nuts. A couple of years ago I became allergic to bee stings. I’ll be 50 in July. Why am I getting allergy problems now? Should I be concerned? — Kathy, Campbellstown, Ky.
A. Although allergies seem like something you develop as a child, the truth is that they’re like wild days in the stock market: They can happen anytime and for no apparent reason. We think the recent dramatic increases in nut allergies may be due to the ever-expanding number of ways they’re used by food companies: The more nuts are combined with other ingredients — especially proteins — the more these nut combos seem to alarm our immune systems. Regardless, food allergies occur when your immune system mistakenly decides something you’ve eaten (usually a protein, like nuts or shellfish) is harmful and orders antibodies to attack it immediately. The effects of your immune system’s assault can include anything from an itchy rash to a frightening swelling of your airways.
