Are Food Allergies Forever? Peanut, Tree Nut & Sesame Reactions Broken Down

Are peanut, tree nut, or sesame allergies really forever? And is it actually possible to train your body to stop reacting?

On this episode of My Allergist Dad, Drew and his real-life allergist father, Dr. Z, break down everything you actually need to know about food allergies, reactions, anxiety, and desensitization treatments. They start with a timely question about wildfire smoke, asthma, and whether air pollution can trigger allergic reactions, then dive deep into a listener-submitted topic: how to lessen or eliminate allergic reactions to peanuts, tree nuts, and sesame.

You’ll learn:
The difference between true food allergy vs. cross-reactive pollen allergies
Why peanut oil usually doesn’t trigger peanut allergies
How sublingual immunotherapy (drops under the tongue) works
The real difference between oral desensitization vs. sublingual therapy
How stress, sleep, diet, and lifestyle can raise or lower your allergy threshold
Why controlling allergies may actually help you fight off more infections
The difference between a localized allergic reaction and full anaphylaxis
And why your immune system is way more connected to your daily life than you think

Along the way, Drew learns about micro-dosing allergens, shared birch tree proteins, peanut RH proteins, eosinophilic esophagitis, and why your body sometimes reacts even when your brain knows you're probably safe.

If you or someone you love deals with food allergies, asthma, or constant environmental reactions, this episode breaks it all down in a way that’s actually understandable — and even a little funny.

🎙️ Got a question for Dr. Z? Submit it for a future episode and you might hear it answered on air.