Mirror photo by Gary M. Baranec Registered dietitian Dona Baughman reviews a brochure with Hillary Heiss, 17, of Altoona, who is allergic to eggs and peanuts.

Don’t take food allergies into your own hands. Take them to a medical doctor. That’s the bottom line if you think you might be allergic to a particular food, according to the International Food Information Council, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization that provides science-based food safety and nutrition information to health and nutrition professionals. An allergist or dietitian can best help food-allergic individuals manage dietary issues with little sacrifice to nutrition or eating pleasure. ‘‘If you think you might be allergic to something, keep a log of what that food is, what the symptoms are and how long they took to appear,” said Dona Baughman, clinical nutrition manager at Altoona Regional Health System, Altoona Campus. “And if it happens more than once, it’s time to be checked by a doctor who will determine whether or not you’re allergic, and if so, how you should be treated.