Maybe It’s Not Food Allergy, It’s Oral Allergy Syndrome

Mouth tingly after eating broccoli? Upset stomach after eating peanuts? While it’s natural to jump to a common conclusion – like food allergy – it may be a little more complex, but a little less scary, than that.

Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS) may be to blame, and it’s caused by environmental allergies. This syndrome seems to be not commonly known, so read on to learn about the difference between food allergy and OAS.

Food Allergy

Food allergies occur because the body interprets a normally harmless food as harmful and responds by releasing a bunch of histamine into the blood stream to fight back. Symptoms can range from:

• Headache and congestion
• Upset stomach
• Hives and eczema
• Fatigue
• Mouth and throat itching

There is also a risk of a severe reaction called anaphylaxis, where the body goes into shock after exposure, and it can be life threatening.

Food allergies can develop at any age, and reactions can change from exposure to exposure, so avoiding the problem allergen is very important. To add a layer of safety for food allergies, patients can also treat the cause with allergy drop treatment following The La Crosse Method™ Protocol.

Through allergy drops, a patient is exposed to tiny amounts of their problem food allergens. Over time, the amount is slowly increased so that they body is exposed to enough of the allergen to help build tolerance, but not too much as to cause reactions. After treatment, many are able to reintroduce the food back into their diet or have a level of safety in case of accidental exposure.

Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS)

OAS occurs when someone who is allergic to environmental allergens react to proteins in fruits, vegetables, legumes, and other foods. This happens because the proteins on the surface of these foods can be similar to the proteins in pollen, and when ingested, the body can have an allergic response. The common symptoms of OAS are:

• Mouth and throat itching
• Lip swelling and tingling
• Congestion

This page shows the different environmental allergens along with the foods that may cause symptoms. For example, those with an allergy to ragweed may react to zucchini, cucumber, and banana. Those who are allergic to grass may get an itchy mouth after apple, carrot, or celery.

There are a few ways to avoid symptoms from these fresh fruits. Some find that peeling and/or baking the fresh fruits and vegetables can alter the proteins on the surface enough to not cause reactions. Taking antihistamines regularly can also be helpful for not only your environmental allergy symptoms, but OAS, too.

Treating the cause of environmental allergies with allergy drops can also reduce symptoms. It works just like with food allergy treatment, and by getting to the root of the issue, OAS (and other related conditions) can also be positively impacted.

Find a clinician near you that treats allergy with allergy drops to start feeling better and enjoying more foods.