January 3rd, 2008
Oral Allergy Syndrome - When Hayfever Starts Dictating Your Menu
During the spring and summer, some of the fruits and vegetables that you’ve been missing all winter long appear in carefully stacked mountains at the local grocer. Did you know that hose sweet, soft peaches that you smothered in vanilla ice cream may surprise you with the effects they have on your hayfever? After eating certain fruits, vegetables, nuts or spices, you may have noticed:
- A tingling sensation in the lips or tongue
- Itching in the tongue, mouth and throat
- Burning sensation in the lips, tongue mouth and throat
- Watery, itchy eyes
- Sneezing and runny nose
- Swelling or rash on lips, tongue and mouth
Oral Allergy Syndrome is not the same as a true food allergy– it is your existing pollen allergies reacting to proteins in particular fresh foods.