ShiftCon Panel: Why Are We So Allergic?

Food allergies and food intolerances are on the rise. THAT is a fact.

A study released in JAMA Pediatrics found that children born in the U.S. are almost twice as likely to develop allergic diseases than children born in other countries. The study, which used health survey data with close to 80,000 children, revealed that U.S.-born children have a 34.5 percent chance of developing asthma, hay fever, eczema, and food allergies, compared with just 20.3 percent of foreign-born children. In addition, children born outside the U.S. but then moved here were more likely to develop allergies the longer they lived in the country.

And not only are food allergies, eczema & asthma on the rise, but other childhood diseases like cancer are on the rise as well. Cancer is now the #1 disease related cause of death for children. Everything, it seems, is getting more serious.

Do you remember children having as many allergies when you were a child? It wasn’t as prevalent. It’s actually increased about 400% since the mid 1990s. We went from hearing every once in a while that there was someone with an allergy to having it be so common that schools have to institute a “nut-free” zone in order to protect the increasing amount of children that have a life threatening allergy to food.

So it begs the question: What is going on here?

Join this panel for a lively discussion on all the possibilities. Each person from this panel either has an allergy, has a child with an allergy, or sees patients/clients with food allergies. Each perspective will give you a unique look into this mystery prevalent ONLY in the United States.

Panel members include:

Andrea Donsky, RHN—Andrea Donsky is an Author, Registered Holistic Nutritionist (R.H.N.), Editor-in-Chief, and Founder of NaturallySavvy.com. She is an expert label reader and has made it her mission to help others make healthier choices by teaching them how to properly read labels. She is a sought after grocery store tour guide, and appears regularly as a healthy living expert on TV and radio cross North America. Andrea hosts her own live radio show on RadioMD every Wednesday from noon-1pm ET which is syndicated through iTunes, iHeart Radio Talk, Stitcher, and NPR. She is the co-author of the popular books, Unjunk Your Junk Food: Healthy Alternatives to Conventional Snacks and the Label Lessons series. Andrea is proud to be the kind of mom who feeds her kids fish oil, chia seeds and seaweed.

Ashley Koff, RD–Ashley Koff is an internationally-renowned registered dietitian who believes better nutrition is simple and is on a mission to help people achieve their personal health goals by providing simple but highly effective tips and strategies. A self-described “Qualitarian,” Koff emphasizes the value of quality nutritional choices in achieving optimal health and developed tools such as The AKA Qualitarian Nutrition Plan and The AKA Personal Shopper to help people make better quality choices. Widely sought after for her knowledge and ability to translate nutrition science into practical and motivating messages, Koff regularly appears on The Dr. Oz Show as well as on shows such as The Doctors, The Today Show, Good Morning America and Fox & Friends and twice monthly on Fox DC where she answers viewers questions for her “Ask Ashley Koff RD” segment. She is also frequently featured in and writes articles for national publications, including Dr Oz The Good Life, The New York Times, O!:The Oprah Magazine, Every Day with Rachael Ray, Redbook, and Women’s Health. A respected industry advisor speaking at conferences like Natural Products Expos East and West, Koff regularly shares nutrition expertise as a keynote speaker, panelist, emcee, and moderator with audiences nationwide. Koff has been recognized by Share- care.com as one of the Top 10 Social Health Makers in Nutrition and by the natural foods industry leader New Hope 360 as one of the leading “50 Natural Influencers” in health and nutrition to follow on Twitter. Koff was also named among the Top 10 Registered Dietitians in the US by Today’s Dietitian Magazine and the Best of LA’s “Nutrition- ist/Dietitians” by CitySearch, three years running.

Dr. Jean Layton–Doctor, Mom, Chef, Author, Social Media Expert are accurate titles but no single label creates a complete picture of Dr. Jean Layton. Widowed at 29, jobless at 31, Jean knew there had to be a better way to heal and live. Remarriage, Medical school, the birth of premature twins confirmed that life challenges you but ultimately give you what you need. Diagnosed as gluten intolerant in 2006, Dr. Jean understands, you get what you can handle. Knowing that food is the first medicine, Dr. Layton researches the complex pathways of food science, health and allergies. A passionate advocate for healthy food, Dr. Layton co-authored Gluten Free Baking for Dummies (Wiley 2011) while maintaining a private practice in Beliingham WA. Follow along on the journey to health. Google+, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest

Sarah Kay Hoffman–Sarah Kay Hoffman is a professional healthy lifestyle blogger at A Gutsy Girl and the founder and (current) CEO of “A Loving Spoon” nut butters. Her early career began in various marketing, sales and communications positions across different industries, most recently with an emphasis on social media optimization, online community building and general marketing. She began A Gutsy Girl in early 2009 as a way to document her journey with food intolerance and Colitis, and in 2012 became a Holistic Health Coach in order to work with women who struggle with the same. In early 2013, A Loving Spoon, LLC was born out of Sarah’s desire to reinvent the everyday snack and dessert. The initial national launch with the first flavor, Honey Vanilla Bourbon Peanut Butter, is expected for March, 2014. When Sarah is not working, she lives for spending time with her new baby girl, Samarah, her husband, Ryan, and their two dogs. Find her on Twitter at @sarahkayhoffman.

Sarah Stanley—Sarah Stanley is a wellness educator, endurance athlete, speaker, author, founder of #wellnesschat and wellprint. Passionate about healthy living Sarah lives what she speaks about, practicing an organic, whole foods, plant-based lifestyle that fuels her ultrarunning adventures and endurance training. A former organic farmer on one of the first certified organic farms in the country, her goal today is to empower others to be knowledge about what they put in & on their body so they can live a healthy, disease-preventative and happy life as well! She’s been featured in SELF, SHAPE, Ladies’ Home Journal and Washingtonian. Connect with Sarah on Twitter (@SarahStanley), G+ (+SarahStanley) and visit SarahStanleyInspired.com to start your wellness journey today!

Jasmine Jafferali-Whitehead—Jasmine Jafferali, MPH is a Corporate Lifestyle and Wellness Consultant in fitness, wellness, and nutrition. She is the creator of the Snack Smart Solutions app which was created on need that Americans are over snacking by almost 600 calories per day causing many to overeat. She realized that Americans were not eating proportioned snacks that was helping to sustain blood sugars and curb cravings. Each snack is balanced in terms of the amount of protein, fiber and good fats all under 200 calories. The app is available on iTunes, GooglePlay and Amazon apps.Jasmine is also a seasoned fitness and wellness professional having over 15 years of experience in the industry working a Fortune 100 companies and world class health clubs. Having an undergrad in Exercise Physiology, she is a personal trainer, certified perinatal trainer and group fitness instructor. She speaks on a variety of health and alternative health topics both publicly and professionally and meets with individuals who are looking to make positive lifestyle changes and transform their lives. Jasmine has appeared on WGN, NBC5, ABC7 and The Living Healthy Chicago show for fitness and her gluten free lifestyle.Jasmine is a firm believer that true healthcare reform begins in the grocery cart. She realizes we all have choices when it comes to eating and how we care for our overall health and wellbeing. It is her mission to empower people to make the right food and health choices by staying away from chemical laden packaged foods and understanding alternative health options for better healing. She wants you to speak up and be heard for a better “well”care system. One that embraces exercise, fresh, quality foods, stress reduction, family time, sleep and one’s spiritual health.