Apparently (and sadly), this isn’t the one manner our our bodies will be harm by pollen, although. Even in case you don’t have any allergy symptoms to meals, what you eat may truly set off your pollen allergy.
We’re speaking about pollen meals allergy syndrome, aka having an allergic response to a meals that incorporates proteins just like these in allergenic timber and weeds. And it impacts 50 p.c of individuals with seasonal allergy symptoms, although many don’t understand it. That’s an enormous quantity!
“It’s a case of mistaken identification,” allergy specialist Atoosa Kourosh, MD, beforehand defined to Nicely+Good. “The proteins within the cell partitions of pollen are so comparable biochemically to these within the cell partitions of sure meals that the physique errors the meals for an allergen. For these with the allergy, consuming the meals is like consuming a mouthful of pollen.”
The sorts of pollen you’re allergic to play a job in your “drawback meals,” so to talk. In accordance with the American School of Allergy, Bronchial asthma, and Immunology, the commonest pollen/meals connections are:
Birch pollen: apple, almond, carrot, celery, cherry, hazelnut, kiwi, peach, pear, and plum
Grass pollen: celery, melons, oranges, peaches, and tomato
Ragweed pollen: banana, cucumber, melons, sunflower seeds, and zucchini
But when so many individuals don’t know they’ve this syndrome, how are you supposed to seek out out if it could possibly be affecting you? And in case you do have it, does that imply you may by no means eat these fruits and veggies once more?
Indicators you might have pollen meals allergy syndrome
In accordance with Purvi Parikh, MD, allergist and spokesperson with the Allergy & Bronchial asthma Community, the primary symptom to search for is an “itchy mouth or throat with numerous fruits or greens, and even some nuts.” Nevertheless, it’s potential that you may eat these meals with out issues so long as they’re cooked or heated (extra on that, beneath). So the tomatoes in marinara sauce, as an illustration, probably gained’t set off this response, however snacking on uncooked cherry tomatoes would possibly.
“Many individuals don’t notice there’s a connection and assume it’s a real meals allergy,” Dr. Parikh says. That is significantly true since this typically does not develop till adolescence or maturity—and even later in life. (Simply one more reason why being aware of how your physique feels whereas consuming advantages you in additional methods than one—simply saying!)
The right way to handle pollen meals allergy syndrome
Worrying you might have that is legitimate, and Dr. Parikh shares some pretty excellent news that will reduce your considerations.
First, heating or cooking these meals can lower the possibility of signs since warmth breaks down the proteins which might be inflicting the allergic response, she explains. (Hey, I might argue that baked apples style higher anyway!) Dr. Parikh additionally notes that meals with solely the flavoring—corresponding to a melon-flavored piece of sweet—don’t sometimes trigger points.
In case you do expertise an itchy mouth or throat, Dr. Parikh encourages you to remain calm. If that’s your solely symptom, an antihistamine can in all probability resolve the difficulty and provide help to really feel higher, she says.
Indicators of an precise meals allergy (which is totally different from a meals sensitivity), alternatively, warrant rapid medical consideration. In accordance with Dr. Parikh, these signs embody pores and skin rashes, stomach cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, dizziness, wheezing, chest tightness, and swelling of the lips and tongue.
On the finish of the day, whereas pollen and pollen meals allergy syndrome can disrupt your life in irritating methods, do not forget that you are still in management. With drugs and just a little cooking, you have to be simply high quality.