Allergies Health Center
This article is from the WebMD Feature Archive
Foods That May Worsen Pollen Allergies
What do yet get when you cross a cantaloupe with a ragweed plant, or an apple with a birch tree? An itchy mouth.
For many people with hay fever, eating cantaloupe can cause itching or hives in their mouths. Eating uncooked apples may do the same to people with birch pollen allergy.
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They have oral allergy syndrome. So do up to a third of pollen allergy patients, notes the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology (AAAAI).
Most cases are mild. But some can be an early warning sign of a serious or even life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis.
Oral Allergy Syndrome: What Happens
You can blame oral allergy syndrome on the immune system trying a little too hard to protect the body.
In hay fever (seasonal allergies), the immune system treats certain inhaled pollen proteins as foreign invaders. It prompts sneezing, runny nose, watery or itchy eyes, and other unpleasant symptoms to flush the intruder out of the body.
In oral allergy syndrome, the immune system treats proteins similar to those in pollen that are sometimes found in fruits or vegetables the same way. It's as if it says, “Close enough!” and attacks it. That's called cross-reactivity.
Foods to Watch Out For
Here are foods that may have proteins that cross-react with pollen proteins:
Ragweed Allergy: “Ragweed, in theory, cross-reacts with bananas and melons, so people with ragweed allergies may react to honeydew, cantaloupe, and watermelons, or tomatoes,” says Warren V. Filley MD, from the Oklahoma Allergy & Asthma Clinic in Oklahoma City.
Zucchini, sunflower seeds, dandelions, chamomile tea, and echinacea also go on that list, notes the AAAAI's web site.
Birch Pollen Allergy: People with birch pollen allergies may react to kiwi, apples, pears, peaches, kiwi, plums, coriander, fennel, parsley, celery, cherries, carrots, hazelnuts, and almonds.
Grass Allergy: People with grass allergy may react to "peaches, celery, tomatoes, melons, and oranges," the AAAAI states.
Latex Rubber Allergy: Like pollen allergy, people allergic to latex rubber may react to "bananas, avocados, kiwi, chestnut, and papaya," the AAAAI states.
