New cereal may be cause of huge allergic reaction

Q. For the past three months, I have eaten only organic cereals or had only fruit for breakfast. After two days of eating a new cereal, I became violent, moody and so depressed that I could hardly pick myself up off the floor. The cereal is the only new food I can recall. Could this have caused this reaction? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

S.C., Sacramento, Calif.

A. The first thing to do is stop consuming any suspect item(s) if there is any suspicion that the problem is food related. If the problem abates, you may think you have your answer, but that is not necessarily the case: It could simply be that the problem was of short duration.

I recommend you contact a specialist in allergies and immunology. Seeking assistance makes sense, as it is never a good idea to experiment on oneself, especially when missteps might evoke the type of drastic reactions you describe. In concert with this health professional, you can decide whether to rechallenge with the suspect food or look elsewhere for clues.

Uncovering food allergies is a bit of a detective game, and a knowledgeable approach is key. I have heard from many people who have written foods and ingredients off their menus based on faulty logic. You can read more about food allergies at the Web site for the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology (tinyurl.com/2ocvyk). Also check out the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network at www.foodallergy.org.

Q. Is it true that black pepper is very bad for you and that it is not eliminated by the body and collects in the kidneys?

L.A., via e-mail

A. There are compounds in black pepper (piper nigrum) that might pose a problem if crushed peppercorns were a big part of your diet, but there is no evidence that black pepper is bad for you when it is used as a seasoning. The idea that something in black pepper collects in the kidneys does not jibe with any information I have ever seen.