Food Allergies For Dummies by Robert A. Wood MD and Joe Kraynak

"I would thoroughly recommend this book to all serious allergy sufferers" (Women's Fitness, September 2007)

Owner Reviews, Ratings, Comments and Criticism
If you read just 1 book about food allergies, make it this one. This book is my food allergy bible. Why? 1. It is comprehensive without being overwhelming. By this, I mean it covers a lot and it does so in an empowering way; you don't finish the book (or even a chapter) feeling paralyzed. You leave with information to make decisions about how you want to deal food allergies as they affect you, a family member, a friend, etc. 2. It is nice to see so much key information presented in one place. I tried obtaining the same information from other publications and websites. I could not find it all (I am not sure most of it exists elsewhere) - and I had to hunt all over the place to collect the golden nuggets that I could find. 3. I love that everything is presented in layman's terms - not the "medical speak" one finds in medical journals or research papers/studies (which clearly have value, but, for an "average Joe" like me, can be difficult to muddle through). 4. The authors present specific information - with details and quantitative references/benchmarks rather than generalizations. For example, they provide percentages about how likely one is to outgrow a particular food allergy, how likely one is to have a child with a food allergy (if you have an allergic disease) or another child with a food allergy (if you are a parent with one food allergic child already), etc. The information provided is also very practical; it takes into account that food allergic people do not live in a plastic bubble and talks about ways to deal with "everyday situations" (including social situations) as well as emergencies. 5. The book answers questions that you would ask if you had unlimited time with your own allergist or with Dr. Wood himself. So, do not worry if you cannot get an appointment with Dr. Wood (arguably the nation's leading authority on food allergies and asthma); in a sense, this book brings him to you. Topics cover everything you would expect, including the pros and cons associated with RAST testing and skin testing; how some allergies tend to travel together; hidden sources of allergens; promising research; challenges associated with day care and school environments (along with recommendations on how to deal with them).