Alergies, Asthma and Food (allergens, swelling, symptoms, reactions)

[linicx]

I just read an article on the MSNBC website discussing the relationship between allergic reactions to pollen and what we eat. Apparently in some individuals the same protein in pollen is also present in some foods. The oral protein acts the same way as nature's pollen. The body does not know it is outside sniffing ragweed in the fresh air. The one thing the article does stree is that the reation from the oral protein is rarely dangerous. Here is a list of three comman pollen producing plants and their food counterpart. It is important to note that peeling, pittng and cooking may or may not make any difference, but generally cooking helps because it changes the chemical compostion of the offending food. And to some sufferers, even peeling a raw potato can cause a nasty reaction.

Symptoms of itching or swelling in the lips, mouth or throat can occur within minutes of eating a food containing a protein similar to pollen. These are some of the most common seasonal allergens and their cross-reactive foods:

Ragweed
Bananas, melons (watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew), zucchini, cucumber, dandelions, sunflower seeds, chamomile tea

Birch
Apples, pears, peaches, apricots, cherries, plums, nectarines, kiwi, carrots, celery, potatoes, peppers, parsley, coriander, hazelnuts, almonds, walnuts

Grass
Peaches, celery, melons, tomatoes, oranges

Source: The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia