We recently discussed grass pollen allergies and some ways to help counteract your symptoms from seasonal allergic rhinitis, but did you know that what you eat could also be adding to your misery? While pollination from trees, grass, and flowers often incites hay fever in many, there is also a connection between your diet and pollen allergies. It’s true, because of cross-reactivity, certain foods can trigger pollen allergies when ingested or handled. Also known as oral allergy syndrome, food-pollen allergies are when the proteins of the pollen you are sensitive to, resembles the proteins of certain vegetables, fruits, and nuts. When this happens, your body can not differentiate between the food protein and the pollen, and an allergic reaction occurs. However, the type of allergens (weed, grass or tree) you are sensitive to may dictate which foods you receive a reaction from.
Symptoms associated with oral allergy symptom typically appear within a half an hour. For those who experience food-pollen allergies, when you handle or eat an offending food the following symptoms may occur:
• Watery, itchy eyes
• Tingling or itching in the throat
• Swollen, burning, or itchy lips
• A runny nose
• Sneezing
• Scratchiness on the roof of the mouth
• Itchy skin
• Skin rash
While this is not a one-size-fits-all guide, avoiding these foods could help you get relief from your allergy symptoms. If you are pollen-sensitive, gain control by learning which foods you may be vulnerable to.
Allergic to Grass Pollens? Avoid:
• Figs
• Tomatoes
• Peas
• Melons (Watermelon, Cantaloupe, And Honeydew)
• Oranges
• Peanuts
• Tomatoes
• Pears
• Cherries
• Swiss Chard
• Peaches
• Celery
• Kiwi
• White Potato
• Wheat
Allergic to Weed Pollens? Avoid:
• Hibiscus
• Melons
• Dandelions
• Cantaloupe
• Chamomile
• Artichoke
• Cucumber
• Echinacea
• Bananas
• Peas
• Zucchini
• Sunflower Seeds
Allergic to Mugwort Pollens? Avoid:
• Garlic
• Apples
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Mustard
• Parsley
• Bell Peppers
• Carrots
• Celery
• Onion
• Black Pepper
• Aniseed
• Fennel
• Coriander
• Caraway
Allergic to Tree Pollens? Avoid:
• Cherries
• Apples
• Plums
• Kiwis
• Soybeans
• Parsley
• Carrots
• Peanuts
• Almonds
• Hazelnuts
• Fennel
• Aniseed
• Caraway
• Coriander
Frequently Asked Questions
Oral allergy syndrome is a condition where the proteins in certain fruits, vegetables, and nuts resemble the proteins found in pollen. When a person sensitive to certain pollens ingests these foods, their immune system confuses the food proteins for pollen, causing allergic reactions. This cross-reactivity typically results in symptoms appearing shortly after eating or handling the triggering foods.
Symptoms of food-pollen allergies usually appear within 30 minutes of consuming or handling trigger foods. Common signs include watery, itchy eyes; tingling or itching in the throat; swollen or burning lips; runny nose; sneezing; itchiness or scratchiness in the mouth; as well as skin rashes or itchiness.
If you have a grass pollen allergy, you should avoid foods such as figs, tomatoes, peas, melons (including watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew), oranges, peanuts, pears, cherries, Swiss chard, peaches, celery, kiwi, white potatoes, and wheat, as these can trigger cross-reactive allergic reactions.
People allergic to weed pollens should avoid hibiscus, melons like cantaloupe, dandelions, chamomile, artichoke, cucumber, echinacea, bananas, peas, zucchini, and sunflower seeds because these foods have cross-reactive proteins that may trigger allergy symptoms.
For those with mugwort pollen allergies, it is best to avoid garlic, apples, broccoli, cauliflower, mustard, parsley, bell peppers, carrots, celery, onion, black pepper, aniseed, fennel, coriander, and caraway. These foods contain proteins that may cause allergic reactions due to cross-reactivity.
Individuals with tree pollen allergies should avoid cherries, apples, plums, kiwis, soybeans, parsley, carrots, peanuts, almonds, hazelnuts, fennel, aniseed, caraway, and coriander to prevent allergic reactions caused by cross-reactivity between these foods and tree pollen proteins.
Symptoms associated with food-pollen allergies typically manifest within 30 minutes after eating or handling an offending food. Prompt recognition of these early symptoms can help prevent more severe allergic reactions.