If you have pollen allergies, there is a 70% chance that you also suffer from what is called oral allergy syndrome, or sometimes pollen-food allergy syndrome.
Oral allergy syndrome, or OAS, is sometimes confused with food allergies because the consumption of certain foods can cause your lips, tongue, and mouth to itch.
Symptoms of OAS usually only last a short period of time, and do not worsen as true food allergy symptoms due; anaphylaxis is rare with OAS.
Here are some foods you may wish to avoid if you suffer from typical pollen allergies.
- If you are allergic to tree pollens, you may be sensitive to the apple family (apples and pears), plum family (apricots, cherries, nectarines, peaches, plums and prunes), kiwis, the parsley family (anise, caraway, carrot, celery, coriander, cumin, and dill), the potato family (green peppers, potatoes, and tomatoes), legumes (beans, peanuts and peas), almonds, hazelnuts, sunflowers and walnut
- If you are allergic to ragweed, you may be sensitive to bananas, cantaloupe, chamomile tea, cucumber, honeydew, watermelon, zucchini, and other members of the melon family.
- If you are allergic to grass, you may be sensitive to kiwi, melons, oranges, peaches, peanuts, tomatoes, and watermelons.
Some people who suffer from OAS are able to eat cooked versions of the offending foods and experience reactions only to the raw form.
