Who Is Likely To Have A Raw Carrot Allergy?

Raw carrots cause allergic reactions in some people. Although being allergic to raw carrots is not very common, it is possible to have an allergic reaction to this food. Sometimes a person with a raw carrot allergy is also allergic to birch tree pollen since they have a similar protein that is found in their pollen.

Symptoms of A Raw Carrot Allergy

According to the Mayo Clinic, allergies to raw vegetables such as carrots are usually classified as oral allergy syndrome. This same allergic reaction can cause tingling of the mouth when you eat raw fruits, including apples. You may also have swelling of your lips and mouth and trouble breathing. Other symptoms may include sneezing, wheezing, or watery, itchy eyes.

Who Is Likely To Have A Raw Carrot Allergy?

Certain groups of people are more prone to developing a raw carrot allergy. They usually have a seasonal allergy such as hay fever. People with asthma or eczema develop oral allergy syndrome more often than those who are not affected by these disorders. Oral allergy syndrome is often passed from generation to generation, so if your parents suffered from it, your chances of having a carrot allergy are increased.

Treatment for Carrot Allergy

Although the tingling and other symptoms that can result from eating raw carrots seem frightening at first, they are usually not serious. The symptoms
usually pass in a short time since this allergic reaction is different from a true food allergy. According to the Mayo Clinic, it is very rare for a person to have anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction from a carrot or vegetable allergy.

The Real Cause of a Carrot Allergy

Many people suffer from hay fever and seasonal allergies, especially in the spring when pollen counts from birch trees are in bloom. When a person with these allergies eats a raw carrot, their immune system may think that the protein in a carrot is really birch pollen. In turn, the body has an allergic reaction. This response is not a true food allergy but is oral allergy syndrome that passes away quickly.

Other Foods That Cause Similar Reactions

Your body may be tricked into believing that potatoes, coriander, kiwi, hazelnuts, apples, celery, walnuts, almonds, or cherries are actually birch pollen. You may place one of these foods into your mouth and almost immediately experience tingling of your mouth and throat. Your lips and throat may also feel scratchy or itchy. The reaction can also occur from peaches, peppers, fennel, plums, or pears.

Dealing with Oral Allergy Syndrome

One of the ways of dealing with oral allergy syndrome and the reaction that it causes when you eat raw fruits or vegetables is to avoid these foods. You may miss out of valuable nutrients that your body can benefit from, so it is often better to eat these foods after they have been cooked. Cooking changes the protein in the foods so that they do not cause an allergic reaction in most people. Taking non-drowsy Benadryl or another antihistamine is another solution to oral allergy syndrome.

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