Fresh tomato allergy/intolerance (skin, doctor, symptoms, hives)

[rubytue]

I'm curious if other have this problem. I love all sorts of processed tomato products - pasta sauce, salsa, ketchup, canned tomatoes, chili, etc. But whenever I eat anything close to a fresh tomato, I have severe belly issues. Doesn't matter if the tomato is cooked or not, if it hasn't been totally processed (i.e. canned, pasturized, etc), I am miserable. For years, I've thought I was crazy, as this doesn't make sense. My husband was convinced I just didn't like the flavor of fresh tomatoes. But, after enjoying some fried green tomatoes from our garden last night, and another miserable episode afterward, I did some research with Dr. Google. I found this (or similar on several sites):

Though scientists don't know the exact reason, many people with an allergy to tomatoes only experience symptoms when in contact with the raw fruit. Some patients can eat processed products such as ketchup or tomato paste with no discernible reaction.

One site suggested it was a specific protein on tomatoes that is destroyed at high heat.

Wow! Its so nice to know I'm not totally crazy I'm debating if I should go to the doctor and determine if this is an actually allergy or just intolerance. I don't want to have a minor allergy that could one day turn into anaphylatic shock or something. Anyone else out there like this?

[pitt_transplant]

Me with raw onions.

They even make my fingers itchy.
I dont really eat them. I bite into one and it burns. Feels like a chemical burn.

I am totally fine when they are cooked though.

I found the enzyme reason too. I also found allergy reasons for others. One blamed there are certain mites or bug poos and fungus that can make a person react like that. I also question pesticides used.

Tomatoes are from the nighshade family and were originally avoided because they thought they were poison.

[Niners fan]

I have an issue with onions and peppers but it took me years to figure it out. My health and stamina have noticeably improved over the past few months since I have been avoiding them. You can desensitize by using homeopathy, particularly with a 6x an 30x potency. However, unlike homeopathic onion which is easily found in a health food store as allium cepa, I am not sure if tomato is readily available.

Allergies are usually caused by proteins so the suggestion that a certain protein is destroyed or altered during cooking would make sense if you are okay with cooked tomatoes.

[nay624]

anaphylactic shock has 3 phases....hives...difficulty breathing....respitory arrest(death)
the more you are introduced th the culprit...the more and more severe the reaction...

belly aches not anaphylactic...not "true" allergy. sensitivity, or reaction.

[DebbyBruck]

Niners fan is correct. Homeopathy addresses allergies, intolerance to different foods, all symptoms are gathered and then a holistic approach to healing is addressed. Debby, CHOM

[Cattknap]

I have a reaction to tomatoes also - handling raw tomatoes without washing my hands immeidately afterward will cause itching and skin irritation. Eating foods with a high concentration of tomatoes causes me stomach problems - things like spagetti sauce or tomato based soups and stews. I just make sure that I wash my hands immediately after slicing tomatoes and I eat foods in moderation when they contain high concentrations of tomatoes - just common sense has helped me minimize the problem.

Also sometimes we don't care for foods that we have a sensitivity to - nature's way of giving us a head's up on foods to avoid or eat in moderation.

[litlux]

If you really like the taste of fresh tomatoes, you might prepare them the French way. When slicing or dicing, remove all the seeds and gloppy gelatinous material, leaving just the firm flesh. That removes most of the acidic content, and leaves just the sweet flesh.

Whether this works or not, I think it is good that you know what the problem is so that you can work around it. But I think I would lose my reason for living if I couldn't enjoy a good fresh tomato. And I do NOT mean those horrid supermarket monstrosities or even the watery "on the vine" they sell at ridiculous prices. I am a big fan of the Ugli tomatoes, they at least have flavor and ripen like a human food, not a frankenfood.

[Cattknap]

"frankenfood", LOLOL - so true

[subsound]

Allergies are one of the weirdest things, I know a few people with the onion/garlic allergy...I had a soy allergy for like 2 years (god knows what happened there, glad it went away)...my wife is allergic to every non food item in existence but does well in wet climates to dry. I would try getting rid of the acid gel lit suggested, I know it sometimes causes problems even if you aren't allergic (I know it can give me tummy troubles)...otherwise not sure what they have that others in the same family (peppers, potatoes) don't.

[jojocox]

OMG! I can't believe I have found someone who reacts to tomatoes the same way I do. I am exactly the same, can't eat a raw tomato or a fresh tomato if it's cooked but can eat processed tomatoes no problem. Bologanise, pizzas whatever. People think I'm weird, you would think it would be all tomatoes or not at all. But I'm with you there all the way!