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Fresh Fruits and Vegetables too can cause allergy!!

by Gayatri on Sep 4 2006 3:13 PM

According to the experts at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI), a person who gets an itchy mouth, after eating fresh fruits or vegetables, during this part of the year, is suffering from Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS).

Allergens like ragweed, which begins to bloom in mid-August, cause OAS or pollen-food syndrome.

"The pollen released from ragweed is the airborne allergen most responsible for the onslaught of allergy symptoms at this time of year. In addition to sneezing and itchy, watery eyes, and symptoms of OAS, ragweed allergies can take a heavy toll on the allergy sufferer's quality of life," Dr. Suzanne S. Teuber, chair of the AAAAI's Adverse Reactions to Foods Committee, said in a prepared statement.

A "cross-reactivity reaction" between allergy antibodies intended for target pollen proteins and similar proteins found in other parts of plants results in OAS symptoms. These symptoms include itchy mouth and throat with slight swelling at once after eating fresh fruits or vegetables.

OAS symptoms can occur in people, allergic to ragweed, when they eat bananas, cucumbers, melon, zucchini, sunflower seeds, chamomile tea or echinacea. Similarly, people allergic to birch tree can develop OAS symptoms when they consume peaches, apples, pears, cherries, carrots, hazelnuts, kiwis, and almonds. This was reported by the AAAAI.

According to it, cooking foods normally, removes an OAS reaction.

Source-Medindia
GYT


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