Food Myths

• There are a number of bizarre food allergies which can appear
• Some food allergies only occur when a certain exposure to two different compounds happens, such as eating an apple near a birch tree
• Water is one of the most bizarre food allergies, because our body is made up of ninety six percent of this substance

1. Apples Eaten Near A Birch Tree

Many food allergies occur when the specific food is consumed, but Grace Morley has a rare and bizarre food allergy. She is not allergic to either apples or birch trees on their own, but if she eats an apple near where a birch tree is growing she will go into shock and could die within minutes. When these two are combined Grace responds by going into severe shock.

2. Every Food But Bananas And Tomatoes

Life for three year old Elyse Hood is misery. This little girl is allergic to every food possible with the exception of bananas and tomatoes. Any other food will cause her to break out in hives and open sores. She stays in her home, where doctors keep her bandaged and sedated for comfort, and eats a diet which only includes bananas and tomatoes.

3. Red Kidney Bean Odors

Eighteen year old Kate Bailey has a very bizarre food allergy, the odor of red kidney beans cooking, and this allergy is extremely severe. She collapsed and started to go into shock when a dinner of boil in the bag chili was being boiled, and the vapors from the beans wee inhaled. Because she has a number of other food allergies, the teen had a medical pen to give herself epinephrine to counteract the allergy effects.

4. Water

An allergy to water is very rare and unusual, but this does not console Michaela Dutton, who has been diagnosed with this condition called aquagenic urticaria. Drinking water causes blisters on her lips and in her mouth, and if water touches her skin welts and blisters appear almost instantly.

5. Shaving Cream

Most people assume that food allergies are only triggered by foods which are eaten, but this is not true. One small girl was exhibiting allergy symptoms every time she kissed or hugged her father. Doctors finally pinpointed the shaving cream he used, which contained nut oil, and when the girl inhaled the oil she would show signs of the allergy. Switching shaving cream eliminated the problem.

6. Chocolate

Chocolate allergies are very rare and almost unheard of, because normally it is the milk or nuts which cause a problem. This was not the case with Gabriele, the five year old son of Stefania Paciocco. He developed allergies from chocolate chips which were dairy and nut free, and doctors finally determined that in this rare case chocolate is the culprit.

7. Cold or Room Temperature Fruits and Vegetables

For some people it is not just the food but the temperature that the food is at as well. Some fruits and vegetables contain proteins which can cause an immune response at cooler temperatures, but if these same foods are cooked to deactivate these proteins then they do not cause symptoms.

8. Fruits and Vegetable Seeds

In some rare cases, a bizarre food allergy is present only when the seeds of the fruit or vegetable is eaten, but if these seeds are removed the allergy does not exhibit. Remove the seeds and use caution, because other allergies may develop.

9. Fish Essence

In a bizarre food allergy, people who are allergic to fish may rarely experience allergy symptoms even if they have not consumed this food if they have been exposed to the odors and essences of the fish. This bizarre allergy is extremely rare, and has been documented by diners suffering allergy symptoms because of fish served a distance away in the dining room.

10. Sweet Potato

Although rare and unusual, some infants and small children may develop an allergy to sweet potatoes. This is normally one of the first solid foods started, and most babies love the taste and have no problems. In rare cases thouh, this vegetable has been shown to cause projectile vomiting and hives in younger children and infants.

Posted on Wednesday, May 6th, 2009 at 1:32 pm | Food Myths