During the spring and summer, some of the fruits and vegetables that you’ve been missing all winter long appear in carefully stacked mountains at the local grocer. Those sweet, soft peaches that you smothered in vanilla ice cream may surprise you with the effects they have on your allergies if you have hayfever. After eating certain fruits, vegetables, nuts or spices, you may have noticed:
- A tingling sensation in the lips or tongue
- Itching in the tongue, mouth and throat
- Burning sensation in the lips, tongue mouth and throat
- Watery, itchy eyes
- Sneezing and runny nose
- Swelling or rash on lips, tongue and mouth
If you suffer from Oral Allergy Syndrome, berries are often suggested as a substitute for other allergy-triggering fruits.
If you have experienced these symptoms, you might think that you have a food allergy—but if you already have been diagnosed with hay fever, it is most likely that you have Oral Allergy Syndrome. This oral allergic reaction is caused by hay fever as opposed to allergies to a specific food. Most people with hay fever will notice this oral reaction in early spring and late summer, when pollen is released in increased amounts.
What caused your body to respond to foods like apples, peaches, carrots and hazelnuts in this manner? This type of allergic reaction is not caused by pesticides, chemicals or wax on the fruit, but from the fruit itself. Proteins that are present in inhaled pollen are very similar to the proteins in certain produce—so similar that our bodies actually mistake one for the other and trigger the allergic cascade.
Who is affected?
Individuals who suffer with allergies to certain plants and trees, including: alder trees, birch trees, grass, mugwort weeds and ragweed.
Foods that commonly cause cross-allergic reactions:
- If you have a sensitivity to alder pollen: almonds
apples
celery
cherries
hazel nuts
peaches
pears
parsley - If you have a sensitivity to birch pollen:
almonds
apples
apricots
carrots
celery
cherries
coriander
fennel
kiwi
nectarines
parsley
parsnips
peaches
pears
peppers
plums
potatoes
prunes
Potential: hazel nuts, and walnuts - If youhave a sensitivity to mugwort pollen:
carrots
celery
coriander
fennel
parsley
peppers
sunflower - If you have a sensitivity to ragweed pollen:
banana
cantaloupe
cucumber
honey dew
watermelon
zucchini
Potential: Dandelions or chamomile tea
The same intolerance that your body has for inhaled pollens, may also be applied to these lists of foods.
Is there a way to treat Oral Allergy Syndrome?
- Peeling fruits and vegetables often eliminates the allergic reaction
- Canned, cooked or processed foods usually do not cause reactions—only fresh foods trigger allergies
- Fruit that is freshly picked or still partially unripe is less likely to cause reactions
- Stop eating food if you notice a tingling sensation around or in your mouth
- Be aware that you may develop allergic tendencies towards other items on the lists over time—always be on the alert when eating foods on these lists
- Microwaving food briefly to a temperature of 176-194 F degrees may allow you to eat it
- Nuts on the lists should be completely avoided—no matter whether they are cooked or not
- Immunotherapy (i.e. allergy shots) usually will greatly improve or even eliminate Oral Allergy Syndrome
For a list of oral allergy alternative foods, check out wikipedia’s free encyclopedia entry for Oral Allergy Syndrome (so that your vanilla ice cream won’t be too lonesome should you cut peaches out of your diet.)
