Nowadays, food allergies are increasingly common on a variety of foods. Allergy to milk, gluten, chocolate, as well as to many vegetables and fruits. And if an allergic reaction to vegetables is rare, then fruits, especially with a high degree of allergenicity, often cause unpleasant symptoms.
Medicine has long been studying the factors that cause the body's sensitivity to certain products. Alas, these factors are still not fully understood. But doctors are sure that the basis of an allergic reaction is a genetic predisposition.
Causes of Food Allergies
So what fruits cause allergies? An allergic reaction manifests itself in the following cases.
- The body does not like some component of the chemical composition of a fruit or vegetable — specific fruit acid, carbohydrates, or even vitamins.
- Today it is known that fruits that cause allergies most often have a red or orange color. Probably, the body reacts to a pigment that stains the fetus in red. It happens that with this type of allergy you can not only fruits of these shades, but also harmless for most tomatoes or carrots. It happens that when cleaning the peel, an allergic person can safely use the product inside.
- There is a reaction to stone fruits - it can be apricots, peaches, plums, etc.
- People suffering from hay fever (seasonal allergy to pollination) are more prone to negative reactions to fruits, because pollination is the beginning of the ripening of the fetus. So, allergy sufferers who suffer from allergies during the ripening period of apples do not tolerate apples themselves.
- A negative body reaction to fruits grown in other countries is also not uncommon. That is why when visiting tropical countries, you need to eat local fruits with extreme caution. There are several causes of allergies in this case - either the body did not like the composition of the tropical fruit, or the chemical treatment it underwent.
- The so-called pseudo-allergic reaction manifests itself when the product is elementary overeaten. In this case, in small quantities from now on it is allowed to eat. The main thing is not to overeat.
- In addition, there is also a version that an allergic reaction is a sign of infection with helminths, destroying which, you can eliminate food intolerance.
Food Allergy in Toddlers
During breastfeeding, any fruit that a nursing mother consumes can cause an allergy in the baby. The risk increases if one of the parents suffers from this type of ailment. But usually it is the fruits of red and orange. Also, chemical additives often cause a reaction, so you should choose fruits with extreme caution.
A child is allergic to citrus fruits, red fruits, and even apples. The reaction usually occurs on the red pigment or on the ascorbic acid that they contain. But since apples themselves are a very useful product, try giving the child yellow or green varieties (they are hypoallergenic) or bake them, cook compotes from them - heat treatment reduces the allergenicity of fruits.
Bananas are another fruit that babies begin to feed at an early age. Despite their popularity, bananas should be given to the child very carefully. They not only relate to fruits that cause allergies in children, but are also difficult for the intestines, especially for such a small one.
Attention! It has long been known that bananas are treated with chemicals, so it is recommended to wash them before use.
Allergenic fruits
The diet of growing children and adults is much wider than toddlers. This section contains berries, vegetables and fruits, the most common causes of food allergies. The following products can cause allergic reactions in both children and adults:
- Yellow and orange fruits - peaches, apricots, all types of citrus fruits (especially lemon), which also irritate the mucous membrane of the stomach, pears.
- Purple fruits and berries - plums, black grapes, currants, blackberries, blueberries, aronia.
- Red fruits and berries, as mentioned above, are watermelon, cranberries, pomegranates, cherries, etc. According to the degree of allergenicity, strawberries and strawberries are the leaders. Compotes and juices based on them are also allergens.
- Dried fruits - dates, figs, raisins, dried apricots.
- Fruits that are uncharacteristic of our area - pineapples, mangoes, persimmons, papaya, kiwi, melon, which the body may not respond adequately to.
Attention! It has been proven that more allergic reactions cause overripe fruits - they not only have more fruit acids, they can already be affected by molds.
Food Allergy: Symptoms
Immediately after using the product, swelling, itching and redness of the mucous membranes of the mouth, and later other parts of the body, may occur, since, getting into the general bloodstream, the allergen begins to irritate nerve endings. Allergy is manifested by rashes, and sometimes rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and digestive disorders. The most dangerous allergic reaction is Quincke's edema.
As medical practice shows, often an allergy to fruits is manifested either by skin diseases (the main symptom is a rash on the epidermis, redness and itching), or dyspeptic disorders.
Vegetables and food allergies
Allergies to fruits and vegetables are usually selective. In case of an allergic reaction, doctors advise eating boiled vegetables more often than raw vegetables. For example, raw carrots can easily cause allergies, and boiled - only in exceptional cases.
Potato is another favorite vegetable of all, which sometimes causes allergies due to its high starch content. That is why before cooking it is advised to soak it in water for several hours. During this time, starch almost all goes into the water. In case of intolerance to potatoes, doctors recommend replacing it with sweet potato (sweet potato) or banana puree. In fact, if you are allergic to some vegetables, it will not be difficult for you to replace them with others that are equally useful.
The most allergenic vegetables include: tomatoes, carrots, pumpkin, sorrel, celery, eggplant, red pepper, beets, radishes, horseradish, sauerkraut. Pickled cucumbers and other vegetables in jars are also included.
Interesting fact! Allergies are significantly less affected by people who limit their use of alcohol and sugar.
Hypoallergenic vegetables and fruits
What fruits can I eat with allergies? The human body is so unique that negative reactions are found even on the most innocuous gifts of nature.
But hypoallergenic products most often include apples of green and yellow varieties, pears. The main thing is to ensure that they are not imported. In general, buying large, beautiful fruits that are ideal in appearance is not worth it, since they are most likely crammed with chemicals.
Of the hypoallergenic berries - white varieties of cherries and plums, white and red currants, blueberries, gooseberries.
Of the least allergenic vegetables, zucchini, cucumbers, parsley, potatoes, young green peas, light pumpkin, and all kinds of cabbage are distinguished.
Dried fruits with a low level of allergenicity - prunes (even if allergic to plums, it can be safe), dried apples and pears.
Food Allergy Treatment
If allergy symptoms begin to occur, identify and rule out the allergen. It is usually quite simple to do this, but in a pinch there are laboratories where you can donate blood to detect antibodies to a huge range of products. Alas, it is impossible to cure food allergies. If there is a genetic predisposition to it, you will have to permanently, completely or partially, exclude the allergen from the diet, and if it is acquired (for example, a consequence of an intestinal infection), then it will go away with age.
Doctors usually prescribe two types of drugs - enterosorbents and antihistamines.
Enterosorbents cleanse the body and remove toxic substances. It can be like ordinary activated carbon, which still remains popular due to its cheapness and effectiveness, as well as more advanced products - Smecta, Enterosgel, Polysorb, Atoxil, etc.
Enterosgel in the form of paste is especially popular.
Antihistamines (antiallergic) drugs - Suprastin (allowed from the first year of life), Tavegil, Diazolin, Fenistil, Loratadin. Usually, long-term administration of drugs is not required, because the main thing is to remove the allergen from the diet on time.
Ointments are used to treat external manifestations of allergies in children. They soothe the skin, eliminate rashes and itching.
Folk methods
Several effective recipes that alternative medicine offers to allergy sufferers.
Mummy is a truly universal remedy. It is also used for allergic reactions. 0.5 g of natural mummy should be dissolved in 0.5 l of boiled water. Take 100 ml of the solution in the morning, on an empty stomach for 20 days. If the allergic reaction is very strong, drink 50 ml of mummy in the morning, and half before lunch. For children under 12 years old, the mummy is contraindicated.
Rosehip infusion is prepared as follows - 100 g of berries are washed and pour 1 liter of boiling water. Insist in a thermos for 12 hours. Take, including children, 100 ml half an hour before meals.
Chamomile is indicated for external use in the form of baths and lotions. It relieves itching and inflammation on the skin, has antibacterial properties.
Finally
Fruit allergy is quite common these days. But usually children "outgrow" her at puberty and in adulthood either forget about her altogether, or she bothers them much less often.