Coconut: Is It A nut?
A pineapple isn’t an apple nor is a cauliflower a flower; but when it comes to allergies, if you are like me (and I think you are) anytime "nut" is in a name your antennae go up.
Coconut is neither coco nor nut (discuss). Seriously, coconut is a drupe.
From wikipedia: In botany, a drupe is a fruit in which an outer fleshy part (exocarp, or skin; and mesocarp, or flesh) surrounds a shell (the pit or stone) of hardened endocarp with a seed inside. These fruits develop from a single carpel, and mostly from flowers with superior ovaries. The definitive characteristic of a drupe is that the hard, lignified stone (or pit) is derived from the ovary wall of the flower.
Some flowering plants that produce drupes are coffee, jujube, mango, olive, most palms (including date, coconut and oil palms), pistachio and all members of the genus Prunus, including the almond (in which the mesocarp is somewhat leathery), apricot, cherry, damson, nectarine, peach, and plum.
So, NOT a tree-nut genetically speaking. However, few "nuts" in the tree-nut allergy world are actually nuts, many are in fact drupes or seeds. (The FDA has categorized coconut as a tree-nut--look at section 25 here).
Since, historically I have NOT been allergic to coconut, I thought it was time I re-tried some.
I’m always looking to add foods to my diet, to expand it. I try to add a new thing a week. I know, wild and crazy but it’s vital not to feel restricted even when one is, well, restricted. More importantly, the world of food is huge and there are lots of safe foods out there for this Allergic Girl to try [in a very safe way of course--see below].
Sometimes it’s a new company, like Home Free Treats, I’m going to try them soon and I'm looking forward!
Or a new dish at a safe Allergic Girl approved restaurant: I tried the braised pork at Shorty’s .32 on Monday, sweet and sour, a simple preparation, with only a few ingredients. All was OK for this AG.
In some cases it’s a reintroduction of a food I haven’t had in many years. I’ve done that recently with coconut and woo hoo, it's a keeper!
***
Trying new foods side note: I always try something new with a safe person present; not on a Sunday when hospital rooms don't have their A-teams on or on a Saturday night which are typically busy with Saturday night shenanigans. I try a tiny bit once. Then if no reaction the next day or so I will try a little more. Slow and steady with this one. I only do this process with foods that I am 99% certain will NOT cause an allergic reaction i.e. foods I've had before without reaction but not in many years, like coconut.
For anything else: a food challenge at your allergists office is the only way to go.
Coconut is neither coco nor nut (discuss). Seriously, coconut is a drupe.
From wikipedia: In botany, a drupe is a fruit in which an outer fleshy part (exocarp, or skin; and mesocarp, or flesh) surrounds a shell (the pit or stone) of hardened endocarp with a seed inside. These fruits develop from a single carpel, and mostly from flowers with superior ovaries. The definitive characteristic of a drupe is that the hard, lignified stone (or pit) is derived from the ovary wall of the flower.
Some flowering plants that produce drupes are coffee, jujube, mango, olive, most palms (including date, coconut and oil palms), pistachio and all members of the genus Prunus, including the almond (in which the mesocarp is somewhat leathery), apricot, cherry, damson, nectarine, peach, and plum.
So, NOT a tree-nut genetically speaking. However, few "nuts" in the tree-nut allergy world are actually nuts, many are in fact drupes or seeds. (The FDA has categorized coconut as a tree-nut--look at section 25 here).
Since, historically I have NOT been allergic to coconut, I thought it was time I re-tried some.
I’m always looking to add foods to my diet, to expand it. I try to add a new thing a week. I know, wild and crazy but it’s vital not to feel restricted even when one is, well, restricted. More importantly, the world of food is huge and there are lots of safe foods out there for this Allergic Girl to try [in a very safe way of course--see below].
Sometimes it’s a new company, like Home Free Treats, I’m going to try them soon and I'm looking forward!
Or a new dish at a safe Allergic Girl approved restaurant: I tried the braised pork at Shorty’s .32 on Monday, sweet and sour, a simple preparation, with only a few ingredients. All was OK for this AG.
In some cases it’s a reintroduction of a food I haven’t had in many years. I’ve done that recently with coconut and woo hoo, it's a keeper!
***
Trying new foods side note: I always try something new with a safe person present; not on a Sunday when hospital rooms don't have their A-teams on or on a Saturday night which are typically busy with Saturday night shenanigans. I try a tiny bit once. Then if no reaction the next day or so I will try a little more. Slow and steady with this one. I only do this process with foods that I am 99% certain will NOT cause an allergic reaction i.e. foods I've had before without reaction but not in many years, like coconut.
For anything else: a food challenge at your allergists office is the only way to go.
Comments
You would think I would have realized that long ago -- I'm allergic to nuts and react strongly to the histadone in certain fishes and old cheese, two classes of antibiotics, & codeine. My 15 yo is allergic to tree nuts, mangoes, fish/shellfish, basil, oregano & beef.
Thanks again.
~morgan
ps...love the blog...thanx for your understanding of people with many food allergies. =)
Joanne
www.foodallergyassistant.com
foodallergyassistant.blogspot.com