Anyone have Oral Allergy Syndrome?

liog

Defined from the Children's Hospital of Philly:

"Oral allergy syndrome is due to a cross-reactivity between plant proteins from pollen and fruits or vegetables. When a child or adult with pollen allergy eats a fresh fruit or vegetable, the immune system sees the similarity and causes an allergic reaction. Interestingly, many patients with oral allergy syndrome can eat the same fruits or vegetables when they are cooked. The cooking process changes the protein enough that the immune system does not recognize the food as being the same as the pollen anymore."

I have had OAS since I was about 12, maybe earlier. I remember that the first reaction I had was to oranges and through my teen years I eventually reacted to every raw fruit and vegetable I have tried to eat. It seems the more ripe a fruit or veggie, the worse the reaction. For me it is swollen throat, tongue, lips, hives, and my voice deepens - I guess it does something to my vocal cords.

Just wondering if anyone else here has this and looking for new ideas/recipes for well-cooked veggies, and any healthy ideas on fruits besides canned or baking a pie.

SueInAz

Wow, I'd never heard of that allergy before.

Try grilling fruits. Pineapples, especially, are delicious when grilled. Baked apples and pears, sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar are also great. Try cobblers instead of pies. Much easier, IMO.

PaleoPath4Lyfe

Defined from the Children's Hospital of Philly:

"Oral allergy syndrome is due to a cross-reactivity between plant proteins from pollen and fruits or vegetables. When a child or adult with pollen allergy eats a fresh fruit or vegetable, the immune system sees the similarity and causes an allergic reaction. Interestingly, many patients with oral allergy syndrome can eat the same fruits or vegetables when they are cooked. The cooking process changes the protein enough that the immune system does not recognize the food as being the same as the pollen anymore."

I have had OAS since I was about 12, maybe earlier. I remember that the first reaction I had was to oranges and through my teen years I eventually reacted to every raw fruit and vegetable I have tried to eat. It seems the more ripe a fruit or veggie, the worse the reaction. For me it is swollen throat, tongue, lips, hives, and my voice deepens - I guess it does something to my vocal cords.

Just wondering if anyone else here has this and looking for new ideas/recipes for well-cooked veggies, and any healthy ideas on fruits besides canned or baking a pie.

I used to not, but apparently I have gotten an onset of allergies to kiwi, pineapple, bananas and mangoes recently. Bummer because these are some of my favorite fruits.

csmith444

Yes, I have something similar. My doctor told me that a fruit or vegetable that cross-pollinates with something I am allergic to could trigger a reaction. It is hit or miss with the reaction. I have a better chance of reacting in the summer when the pollen is higher. I tend to eat the trigger foods in the winter when the pollen is down. Good Luck!

TamsinEllis

Defined from the Children's Hospital of Philly:

"Oral allergy syndrome is due to a cross-reactivity between plant proteins from pollen and fruits or vegetables. When a child or adult with pollen allergy eats a fresh fruit or vegetable, the immune system sees the similarity and causes an allergic reaction. Interestingly, many patients with oral allergy syndrome can eat the same fruits or vegetables when they are cooked. The cooking process changes the protein enough that the immune system does not recognize the food as being the same as the pollen anymore."

I have had OAS since I was about 12, maybe earlier. I remember that the first reaction I had was to oranges and through my teen years I eventually reacted to every raw fruit and vegetable I have tried to eat. It seems the more ripe a fruit or veggie, the worse the reaction. For me it is swollen throat, tongue, lips, hives, and my voice deepens - I guess it does something to my vocal cords.

Just wondering if anyone else here has this and looking for new ideas/recipes for well-cooked veggies, and any healthy ideas on fruits besides canned or baking a pie.

I can't be much help since I don't have this but when I used to not eat meat I loved lasagne made with pumpkin instead of meat, so you could make yourself a lasagne (with meat of course if you eat it) but chuck in pumpkin, mushrooms, onions and peppers. Other then that the only thing that comes to mind is my friend, I don't think she has OAS but she is highly allergic to most fruits and veggies (if she accidently eats them she needs a shot from her epi-pen and has to go hospital for observation it's very bad she will die if she eats them) but she can eat carrots, and she gets bored of carrots, so sometimes she'll boil them then whilst they are still slightly crunchy drain them, and mix in melted butter with different herbs, or she'll finish cooking them in honey, neither are particularly healthy ideas per say, but I'm sure there's a few ways of adapting those so they are healthy, plus it's more interesting then plain boiled carrots

tiarapants

I have it with strawberries and bananas - a fact I have to keep reminding my DH, even though we've been together over 23 years!

Saxmis

Yes, I have this too. I thought it was just strawberries, but it turns out I'm allergic to most fruits. I had a particuarlly bad reaction when my throat got really swollen after a cherry and I went to my GP, she confirmed the allergy.

One of my symptoms is a bitter taste in my mouth, so all the raw fruits and veggies I've been avoiding for years because I didn't like the taste was purely just an allergic reaction.

I haven't really got many suggestions as to how to cook them. I really struggle with having too many carbs in my diet so pies etc. are out of my allowance and doing baked fruit etc. with syrup terrifies me true.

Going to keep an eye on this thread to see if there are any other suggestions

liog

It's good to know I'm not alone in this, but I'm sorry that you all have some of the same experiences. Has anyone suggested allergy shots to any of you? I had an allergist suggest it, but I was nursing my son at the time and didn't feel it was the right time to try it. I'm not sure it would be worth it.

TamsinEllis

Another idea (can't believe this slipped my mind earlier since I love it) is to make stuffed peppers/courgettes. You can add other veg in there and use rice/lentils/quinoa (sp?) to fill it up. Nice satisfying meal made with well cooked veg