Beets are considered one of the most healthy vegetables. But it happens that some people are allergic to beets. What to do in this situation? What are the symptoms of this ailment? And in general, can beets with allergies? You can find answers to all these questions in this article.
About the benefits of beets
This vegetable helps to strengthen the walls of not only blood vessels, but also capillaries. In addition, it has healing and anti-inflammatory properties. Beetroot also helps in removing radionuclides and toxins from the human body.
This vegetable is also known for its diuretic and choleretic properties. It is it that experts recommend for eating with anemia. This root crop prevents the development of malignant neoplasms.
Beets are eaten both raw and pickled, stewed.
The daily diet of a person with this vegetable provides his body with all the necessary trace elements and vitamins.
But, unfortunately, it happens that a reaction to it is revealed, namely an allergy to beets. What are the symptoms of this ailment? The answer to this question can be found in the next section of the article.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction to a vegetable
To begin with, you should monitor the body's reaction to the consumption of beets. If an allergy to beets occurs in adults, it should be excluded from your diet.
So, the signs of the disease are the appearance of a rash or redness of the skin, tearing and loose stools. Beet allergy symptoms such as angioedema and anaphylactic shock are very rare. As a rule, the most common are a rash on the cheeks, as well as an upset bowel.
How is the disease manifested in children?
Could there be an allergy to beets in babies? Of course.
If a nursing mother ate this vegetable, then with individual intolerance to this product, newborns appear with redness on their cheeks. In this situation, you should temporarily abandon the vegetable. And after a certain amount of time has passed, try to enter it again into your diet. Other symptoms of beet allergy have been described above.
Breast root can only be given after 8 months. It is allowed, in the absence of an allergy to beets in a child, to give the baby a couple of drops of the juice of this vegetable, diluted with water. This is used to eliminate constipation.
Advice for ailment
It should be remembered that complementary foods should be administered carefully.
As was said, beets can be given after 8 months. And if the family has allergies, then only after they reach 18 months.
Before reaching 3 years old, the child should be given only boiled beets. A fresh beetroot juice must be diluted with water.
Before use, the root crop should be carefully treated. Remember that a large number of nitrates, which cause individual intolerance, are found in the peel.
Also, for starters, a vegetable can be diluted with similar products. And then, in the absence of reaction, try to introduce it into the diet yourself.
How to find out beets causes allergies or not? This is pretty easy to do. After all, it is the baby’s mother who monitors the reaction of her child to a particular product. A blood test or a skin test will help confirm or deny.
If your child is allergic to beets, you will have to exclude from the diet not only this vegetable, but also all those products that have a dye of this root crop.
What are the causes of an allergic reaction?
One of the factors that is the fault of this disease is a hereditary predisposition.
Other causes of beet allergy are hormonal problems, metabolism and poor nutrition.
In addition, it should be remembered that excessive consumption of sweets, as well as alcohol abuse and smoking can lead to the development of this ailment.
Beet allergy can occur in a baby who is in the womb.
Symptoms of this disease in a child before the age of 1 year appear against the background of the fact that his digestive system is still poorly developed at this moment. As soon as it "ripens", problems of this kind should disappear.
It was discussed above how an allergy to beets in infants is manifested, but there was no talk of reasons. So, sometimes the fault of this reaction is the parents. Because it is they who misplace the lure. They give vegetables in large quantities, although the required norm is 25 grams. And the root crop in the child’s diet should be present only twice a week and not more often.
As a rule, the cause of individual intolerance to this product in adults is oxalic acid or an excess of vitamin C.
How is the diagnosis carried out?
This stage is necessary before the treatment itself. It is the diagnosis that will determine what is the allergen.
Not always this vegetable is the cause of individual intolerance to the human body. It may also be another product that is very similar in composition to beets.
To determine the cause of an allergic reaction, laboratory tests are performed. These include elimination tests. Also, the doctor can send for a biochemical blood test. In this case, the blood is tested for antibodies.
There is another diagnostic method. To do this, an incision is made in the forearm, and an allergen is placed. After there is a check of the reaction of the body to it.
About treatment for an allergic reaction
If a child or an adult has an individual intolerance to this product, then it is necessary to consult a specialist. Only he can prescribe the only true treatment.
The vegetable itself is excluded from the diet, as well as citruses, dairy products and nuts. The latter, in turn, can also cause an allergic reaction. As a rule, a specialist prescribes a diet.
After the doctor prescribes antihistamines. They help to block the production of histamine and eliminate the manifestation of reactions.
And in order to improve the functioning of the stomach and remove all toxins, it is necessary to take enterosorbents.
If there is a rash or redness on the skin, the specialist prescribes ointments or creams that help eliminate the symptoms.
How to replace the root crop?
Is beetroot possible for allergies? As a rule, this question is often asked to a specialist. Of course not. But why replace it? After all, it contains a huge amount of trace elements, as well as vitamins.
This root vegetable has fiber, zinc, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, calcium and potassium. In addition, beets contain acids such as oxalic, malic, citric, folic, tartaric, and lactic.
All these beneficial substances are also found in carrots. It is he who can become a substitute for beets. Carrots can be eaten both raw and boiled.
A bit about preventative measures
Having made sure that it is the beets that cause allergies, one may ask: "How to prevent yourself from this?".
To do this, you must follow a few simple rules.
So, it is necessary to introduce the lure of the vegetable only from 8 months. It is not necessary to give the vegetable separately, it is best to mix it with porridge. Portions, in the absence of reaction, should be gradually increased.
If any of your relatives has an individual intolerance to this product, then you need to introduce it into the child’s diet much later.
Children under three years old should not be given fresh vegetables. Only boiled beets should be consumed.
After the child eats the root crop, you should carefully monitor it for several days so as not to overlook the appearance of allergies.
In no case should small children be given fresh beet juice. This is explained by the fact that it causes irritation. It is recommended to dilute it with carrot juice.
Before cooking, be sure to carefully process the vegetable.
If you adhere to all the above tips, then the risk of an allergic reaction to beets will be much lower.
conclusions
If a child or an adult is found to be hypersensitive to beets or any other product, they should immediately contact a specialist. The doctor will help determine the allergen, and also prescribe the right treatment.
In addition, remember: when a symptom such as Quincke's edema or anaphylactic shock appears, you can not self-medicate. In this case, you need to urgently seek emergency help, and give an antihistamine.
Parents must remember that there is no allergy to beets in your child, you should introduce complementary foods with this root crop gradually. And then the risk of individual intolerance will be the least.