Balsam of Peru Avoidance Diet

Balsam of Peru Avoidance Diet

Those allergic to Balsam of Peru, and diagnosed by patch testing, may find that their skin condition improves with an avoidance diet. This may come as as surprise to many.

A Balsam of Peru avoidance diet is a great tool to use in living a reaction-free lifestyle. An avoidance diet excludes foods containing BofP constituents like cinnamates, vanillin, benzoic acid, and eugenol. Many Balsam of Peru chemical constituents are found in citrus fruits, tomatoes, spices, condiments, sweets, and liquor.

Those allergic to Balsam of Peru by patch testing may find that eliminating topical allergens is not enough to be reaction free. Following an avoidance diet, you may find that your skin condition improves. By eliminating (or greatly reducing) your intake of these foods, reactions can diminish. Many find by eliminating as many of these foods as possible for 8-10 weeks, a reset in tolerance happens.

Think of this allergy as a bucket

I like to illustrate this as a bucket. When your bucket is already full, any extra exposure or accidental exposure will overfill the bucket. When resetting or emptying the bucket, an accidental exposure might not tip you over the edge. By the end of this time, you should be able to tell if following the diet has helped your skin. It can take up to 6 weeks to see a skin clearance, although some find in as little as 10 days they are feeling much better.

I like to drink this Balsam of Peru Avoidance diet smoothie while recovering from an exposure. The smoothie is simple and nourishing.

Avoid all BoP Containing foods for 8-10 weeks

While the list of foods to avoid can seem quite daunting, many find it is only a few food items causing all the trouble. After 8-10 weeks of clearance, adding one food back each week will allow you to see what foods you can consume without a reaction. Not everyone will have a skin reaction when they eat all of these foods, but since individual food testing is not always reliable, we recommend avoidance of all and then reintroduction of individual foods one at a time.

Balsam of Peru is not a histamine-mediated allergy and therefore is not a typical food allergy that causes anaphylactic shock. Balsam of Peru Allergy is a Type IV Delayed Hypersensitivity allergy mediated by your body’s T-Cells. Read more about What is Allergic Contact Dermatitis here.

Avoid these foods…

▪Products that contain citrus fruits: oranges, lemons, and grapefruits, as well as juices, marmalades, & baked goods

▪Spices such as cinnamon, cloves, vanilla, allspice, anise, ginger, turmeric

▪Foods that may contain cinnamon and vanilla flavorings, such as ice cream, baked goods, candy, and chewing gum

▪Flavor is found in toothpaste, chewing gum, mints, cough drops, and mouthwash, in addition to other foods. [can be listed just as Flavor]

▪Tomatoes and tomato-containing products

▪Red sauces and tomato-based foods, including salsa, pizza, chili, and Italian food

▪Spicy condiments: ketchup, chili sauce, barbecue sauce, and chutney

▪Chocolate (cacao beans are high in benzoates and eugenol, prepared chocolate can be contain additions like soy lecithin and vanilla/vanillin)

▪Cola (specifically Coca-Cola, Dr. Pepper – caramel/brown artificial coloring can also contain BoP derivatives or benzoate preservatives)

▪perfumed or flavored tea and tobacco, pickles and pickled vegetables

▪Oaked wines and spirits, rum, some wine, beer, gin, vermouth