The Immune Edit

Why do health myths spread so easily and why do they often appeal to thoughtful, intelligent people? In this episode of The Immune Edit , Dr. Doug Jones explores the psychology behind misinformation, why fear and uncertainty change the way our brains process information, and how the search for certainty can make us vulnerable to oversimplified answers. He discusses why trust in medicine has eroded...

Social media has turned food into either a miracle cure or the villain—and patients are caught in the middle. In this episode, Dr. Doug Jones welcomes registered dietitian Raquel Durbin back to the podcast for a practical conversation about nutrition, fiber, gut health, and why there is no such thing as the "perfect" diet. Together they discuss: Why fiber is one of the most overlooked to...

After trust breaks down, what happens next? In this episode of Immune Edit, Dr. Doug Jones explores why misinformation spreads so easily in health and chronic illness communities and why intelligence alone doesn't protect us from it. When people feel dismissed, frightened, or stuck in uncertainty, the search for answers becomes deeply personal. That's when confidence can start looking like...

What does "freedom" actually mean when you're living with food allergies? In this episode of Immune Edit, Dr. Doug Jones welcomes back licensed psychologist and food allergy advocate Dr. Amanda Whitehouse for a thoughtful conversation about food allergy treatment, patient empowerment, and the emotional realities families face when navigating difficult medical decisions. Fresh off the...

Have you ever felt like you're stuck on a medical merry-go-round? You've seen multiple specialists. You've had countless tests. You've spent hours researching symptoms online. Yet you still feel like nobody has fully explained what's happening to your body. In this foundational episode of The Immune Edit, Dr. Doug Jones explores why so many people with chronic symptoms, immune-related conditions,...

When headlines announced the discontinuation of Palforzia, the first FDA-approved peanut allergy treatment, many families understandably wondered: Does this mean food allergy treatment isn't working? In this episode of The Immune Edit, Dr. Doug Jones explains why the answer is a resounding no. Dr. Jones shares his perspective on why Palforzia struggled commercially, the challenges of fitting h...

In a world full of “what your doctor won’t tell you” headlines, it’s easy to feel like you’re missing something—or worse, being misled. But are doctors really hiding information? In this episode, Dr. Doug Jones sits down with pediatric allergist Dr. Manisha Relan to unpack one of the biggest myths in modern healthcare: the idea that physicians are gatekeeping answers. Together, they break down how...

Food reactions are more confusing than ever and social media isn’t helping. In this episode, Dr. Doug Jones sits down with registered dietitian, Raquel Durbin, to break down the difference between food allergies, intolerances, and sensitivities, and why so many people are stuck in a cycle of fear and over-restriction. They dive into: • Why “everything makes me react” is becoming more common• The p...

Think you know what to expect when flying with a food allergy? Think again. Airline labeling laws, emergency kit contents, and pre-boarding rights are not what most passengers assume — and the gaps in protection are bigger than you'd think. Dr. Doug sits down with Lianne Mandelbaum, founder of No Nut Traveler and airline correspondent for Allergic Living, to break down what every food allergy fami...

Your kid has a food allergy — and you've been told to "just avoid it." But what if there are other options nobody told you about? In this episode, Dr. Doug Jones is joined by Dr. Tom Chacko and Dr. Farah Khan for an unfiltered roundtable on the food allergy treatments available right now: oral immunotherapy (OIT), sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT), and omalizumab (Xolair). They break d...

What if the hardest part of living with food allergies isn't the food — it's what's happening in your mind and body? In this episode, Dr. Doug sits down with Dr. Amanda Whitehouse, a psychologist and food allergy mom of 15 years, to talk about something most people in the food allergy world don't fully address: the mental and emotional toll. Amanda shares her own journey navigating...

Your kid won't eat, seems anxious around food, or keeps getting food stuck. You've done allergy testing—it's normal. But something's clearly wrong. It might not be a typical food allergy at all. It might be eosinophilic esophagitis, and it's way more common than most doctors realize. In this episode, Dr. Doug Jones breaks down EOE—think of it as asthma, but in your esophagus. U...

What happens when a licensed peanut allergy treatment gets pulled from the market — not because it didn't work, but because nobody could afford it? Dr. Adam Fox, Professor of Pediatric Allergy at King's College London, joins Dr. Doug Jones to unpack that exact scenario and what it means for families on both sides of the Atlantic. This episode gets into the real-world consequences of how he...

Integrative medicine and functional medicine get used like they're the same thing — but they're not. And the difference matters more than you think. In this episode, Dr. Doug Jones sits down with Dr. Gary Soffer, a pediatric allergist and immunologist at Yale School of Medicine who also holds a fellowship in integrative medicine — and who started his career scouting bands for Atlantic Reco...

Dr. Doug Jones explains FPIES (Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome), a non-IgE allergy with delayed, severe symptoms often mistaken for a GI bug. Discover why it defies typical rules, common triggers like rice and milk, diagnosis challenges, management (diet, emergency prep, emotional support), and emerging microbiome/neuroimmune links. Key edits: No hives doesn't mean no allergy Norma...

Dr. Doug Jones interviews Dr. Olga Kagan on her journey from post-9/11 health programs to founding the Food Allergy Nursing Association. They cover educating nurses across continents, challenges like access to care, innovative roles like Certified Allergy Nurse Educator, and fighting misinformation. Topics include:Global nursing outreach via online series Nurse-led research and best practices Hope...

Dr. Doug Jones talks with Dr. Manisha Relan, pediatric allergist and co-author of the AAP book on solid food introduction. They discuss staying calm while informed, compassion as the foundation, challenges in private practice (insurance, burnout, access to care), early allergen introduction, oral immunotherapy, common mistakes, and practical edits for families. Need care? Visit GAIN — Global Aller...

Dr. Doug Jones breaks down the first documented fatal case of Alpha-Gal Syndrome — a delayed anaphylaxis triggered by lone star tick bites. Learn what Alpha-Gal is, why reactions happen 3–8 hours after eating red meat, why it's spreading rapidly, common myths, diagnosis, treatment, and critical awareness steps. Topics include: Delayed anaphylaxis vs. classic food allergies Co-factors that wors...

Dr. Doug Jones sits down with Dr. Zachary Rubin — pediatric allergist, TikTok/Instagram star with over 4 million followers, and author of the upcoming book "All About Allergies."They discuss Dr. Rubin's journey into allergy/immunology, the surprising origin of his viral hula-hooping content, how he combats widespread misinformation about food allergies and COVID, rebuilding public tr...

Tackle the emotional side of food allergies on The Immune Edit Podcast! Dr. Doug Jones, with Dr. Farah Khan and Dr. Tom Chacko, explores how misinformation amplifies anxiety, daily decisions add stress, and empowerment through education, resources, and mindset shifts can help families thrive. Supportive guidance for managing the mental load of allergies. Need personalized care? Visit Dr. Doug'...

Explore food allergy treatment options in Episode 25 (Part 2) of The Immune Edit Podcast! Dr. Doug Jones, with Dr. Farah Khan and Dr. Tom Chacko, discusses avoidance strategies, Xolair, oral immunotherapy (OIT), sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT), and more. Learn pros, cons, and how to achieve food freedom while managing allergies effectively. Subscribe on Spotify for expert insights on immune health...

What are “hidden food allergies,” and do they actually exist? In Part 1 of this three-part series, Dr. Doug Jones is joined by allergists Dr. Farah Khan and Dr. Tom Chacko to break down the food allergy journey—from the first reaction to an accurate diagnosis. The conversation tackles common myths, social media misinformation, and the overuse of non-validated food tests. You’ll learn: When food al...

“Science” gets used to sell everything these days—tests, supplements, fear, certainty. But real science is simple at its core: it’s a method for asking questions and testing answers against evidence. In this episode, Dr. Doug Jones breaks down the scientific method (observation → hypothesis → testing → analysis → replication → revision) and gives you practical red flags for spotting pseudoscience...

Two years ago, Dr. Doug Jones’ life was saved by something he didn’t even know he had: an anomalous coronary artery—a built-in backup plan that kept him alive when his LAD (“widowmaker”) artery was blocked. Even as a doctor doing “all the right things,” his symptoms were misread, early tests looked normal, and in hindsight he’d had two silent heart attacks. In this episode, Dr. Doug shares what th...

The holidays can feel like a potluck hosted by people who swear the secret ingredient is love… when it’s really crushed walnuts. If you or your child has food allergies (or chronic illness), this season can magnify stress, fear, and the emotional load of managing the unknown. In this episode, Dr. Doug Jones shares practical, real-world strategies to help you navigate holiday meals and gatherings w...