Many people have food allergies in addition to seasonal allergies, which can make going without a daily dose of antihistamine a real trial. However, did you know some foods could actually make your allergies worse? Here is a list of some foods which could worsen your allergy symptoms.
Produce with Pollen-Like Proteins
Some people are afflicted with something called oral-allergy syndrome (OAS), and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America estimates up to 1/3 of pollen allergy patients could be affected. OAS causes people to have problems eating certain fruits and vegetables that contain a type of protein on their surface. Apples, cantaloupe, and tomatoes all have this protein when they aren’t cooked; however, each pollen allergy has its own set of trigger foods. If your body is allergic to a type of pollen, related food proteins will be mistaken for that pollen if ingested. Eating these raw foods can cause an itchy throat and mouth and could cause a cough as well. About 2% of people with OAS have symptoms that can cause anaphylactic shock, so be cautious with what you eat.
Alcohol
If you’ve ever gotten a stuffy nose after drinking a glass of red wine, you may be having a slight allergic reaction to the alcohol. This happens especially with red wine. Some people are incredibly sensitive to the sulfites in the wine, and this can make their allergies worse. Sulfites are compounds that can occur naturally in beer and wine.
Spices and Seeds
Some spices, herbs, and seeds can exacerbate your seasonal allergies. For example, coriander, parsley, anise, fennel, caraway, mustard, cumin, and dill can all cause unpleasant itchiness in the mouth and throat when pollen counts are high.
Legumes and Nuts
Peanuts and soybeans can trigger OAS. However, if you’re experiencing an adverse reaction to peanuts, it’s best to consult an allergist for evaluation, testing, and management. Peanut allergies can be deadly, so make sure any sensitivity to the food is only mild.
Remember, if you cook, bake, or microwave the OAS-triggering foods, this will help break down the food proteins responsible for your allergic reaction. In addition, peeling off the skin of your fruits, such as on apples and pears, can help reduce exposure to these proteins and decrease the allergic reaction.
If you need help dealing with aggravated allergies, don’t hesitate to talk to one of our skilled Plantation sinus & allergy specialists. At the Florida Sinus & Snoring Specialists, Inc., we can offer you highly effective and individualized treatment plans tailored specifically to meet your medical needs. Treatments we provide include allergy testing, allergy diagnosis, and allergy injections. Our specialists have treated a wide variety of sinus and allergy problems, so you can be confident you will receive a high standard of care at our center. Our staff is proud to provide qualified and compassionate care to residents in South Florida and to people throughout the United States. Let us see what we can do for you.
Contact us at (954) 883-9449 or fill out our online form to book an appointment with our specialists today! We look forward to helping improve your quality of living.
