Am I Allergic to Fruits and Vegetables?
May 22, 2018 4:14 pm
Some uncooked fruits, fresh vegetables and spices can cause unpleasant symptoms of itching of the mouth and throat, swelling of the lips and in rare occasions more severe whole-body reactions with vomiting, diarrhea, throat and chest tightness and breathing difficulties. Symptoms affect both children and adults, but are most common in young adults. This type of food reaction is call Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS) or pollen-food allergy syndrome and in fact it is the most common food allergy in adults. OAS occurs in people with asthma and hay fever and sometimes may be the first sign indicating presence of seasonal allergies. OAS is due to a cross reactivity between plant proteins from pollen and fruits or vegetables. The immune system recognizes the similarity and causes an allergic reaction. Symptoms typically appear within minutes of eating the offending food. The allergens that cause OAS are destroyed by stomach acid therefore reactions typically stop shortly after the food is swallowed. Symptoms are often worse during the spring an fall pollen seasons but usually persist year round. Here are some examples of foods that may cause Oral Allergy Syndrome:
If you are allergic to :
Birch Tree Pollen: You may have a reaction when eating fresh apples, fruits that belong to the plum family such as peaches, apricots, cherries, pears and almonds as well as hazelnuts, carrots, celery, parsley and some spices such as caraway and fennel.
Ragweed Pollen: You may experience symptoms after eating melons, cucumber, zucchini, kiwi, and bananas. You may also react with skin rashes/hives when coming in contact with the flesh of raw pumpkin.
Grass Pollen: This allergy may be associated with reactions to melons, tomatoes, oranges, swiss chard or peanuts. It can also result in itching of the hands when peeling raw potatoes
Mugwort Pollen: May cross react with apples, carrots, celery, kiwi and some spices such as caraway seeds, parsley, coriander, anise and fennel seeds.
Cooking and canning often breaks down and alters protein so the immune system does not recognize them and food may be eaten safely without any discomfort. sometimes peeling of the fruit may help with symptoms (as much of the allergen is present in the skin). Microwaving the fruit or vegetable for at least 10 seconds may destroy enough of the allergen that food can be tolerated, however this does not work for everyone or for all of the foods.
Skin testing needs to be done sometimes with fresh fruit and raw vegetables to make the proper diagnosis.
In most cases OAS symptoms, especially when they affect the mouth and throat are mild, resolve quickly and do not need treatment. More severe symptoms may require that the affected person may need to carry an epinephrine auto injector (Epi-Pen or Auvi-Q).
In Europe, allergists are using immunotherapy to treat OAS.
If you suspect that you may have oral allergy syndrome, you should discuss it with your allergist. This is especially important if symptoms are moderately severe and for reactions to nuts, as other forms of nut allergy can be very serious.
Written by Mariola B. Kubicka, M.D.
5/18/2018