Thank you for this. I had an anaphylactic reaction in my 30's after eating a salad and going for a 3 mile run. Subsequent experiences and consultations with allergists has led to a diagnosis of exercise-induced anaphylaxis which occurs when I eat celery and exercise (even a walk) afterward. In the 35 years since, I have had only one reaction that hasn't been linked to that. Expert physicians are super important in diagnosis and prevention.
What about an allergy that appears later in life but seems mild? I’m 39 , and within the last year randomly started feeling like my lips get itchy after eating apples or there would be a bump. Sometimes my ears felt a little itchy too. Should I keep eating apples in small quantities ? When I eat them in small amounts or chopped up or cooked nothing happens. Or should I not eat them anymore ?? I love apples ! 😣
Great Q! First off, I am a PhD and not an MD so am not giving medical advice other than please see your doctor. What you're experiencing does happen - developing allergies later in life. We make new red and white blood cells every day all day long (through a process called 'hematopoiesis') and some of your new B cells (those that make antibody) might have specificity for something in apples and were given signals when exposed through eating that this was harmful and not harmless. Again, please see your doctor to talk about safe ways to eat apples :)
Hmm, no because I never peel my apples ! But .. it doesn’t ALWAYS happen . Well, truth be told I haven’t eaten a whole apple in several months now because I was given the impression that an allergic reaction could suddenly and unpredictably be more severe the next time. And also I was eating yellow apples from a tree by my grandparents’ farm and don’t recall anything happening.
The apples from the store that I always buy are red - or redish. Honey crisp -and cosmic crisp which I recently discovered and are amazing .
So maybe it could be something in the skin . In red skin? Is that a thing?
Should I start doing some experiments with Benadryl on hand? 😆😃
I’m no doctor here and my remark is more anecdotal. My dad would be able to eat certain fruits (apples, peaches) if he peeled them. Not sure if it makes a difference with tolerating them or not.
Oh very interesting . I definitely would have the oral allergy reaction that appeared 5 to 15 minutes after eating , and then would go away usually within 15 or 20 minutes .
It said this birch pollen/ apple allergen connection happens only in Northern Europe- I’m in North America .. but we definitely have birch trees 😆
Well it was really interesting. And that would explain why cooked apple and apple juice would be different. I don’t like that the general advice seemed to be to avoid eating apples , though … 😣😠😆
Thank you for this. I had an anaphylactic reaction in my 30's after eating a salad and going for a 3 mile run. Subsequent experiences and consultations with allergists has led to a diagnosis of exercise-induced anaphylaxis which occurs when I eat celery and exercise (even a walk) afterward. In the 35 years since, I have had only one reaction that hasn't been linked to that. Expert physicians are super important in diagnosis and prevention.
Comprehensive, well written, and much appreciated.
What about an allergy that appears later in life but seems mild? I’m 39 , and within the last year randomly started feeling like my lips get itchy after eating apples or there would be a bump. Sometimes my ears felt a little itchy too. Should I keep eating apples in small quantities ? When I eat them in small amounts or chopped up or cooked nothing happens. Or should I not eat them anymore ?? I love apples ! 😣
Great Q! First off, I am a PhD and not an MD so am not giving medical advice other than please see your doctor. What you're experiencing does happen - developing allergies later in life. We make new red and white blood cells every day all day long (through a process called 'hematopoiesis') and some of your new B cells (those that make antibody) might have specificity for something in apples and were given signals when exposed through eating that this was harmful and not harmless. Again, please see your doctor to talk about safe ways to eat apples :)
Have you noticed a difference if the apples are peeled or not?
Hmm, no because I never peel my apples ! But .. it doesn’t ALWAYS happen . Well, truth be told I haven’t eaten a whole apple in several months now because I was given the impression that an allergic reaction could suddenly and unpredictably be more severe the next time. And also I was eating yellow apples from a tree by my grandparents’ farm and don’t recall anything happening.
The apples from the store that I always buy are red - or redish. Honey crisp -and cosmic crisp which I recently discovered and are amazing .
So maybe it could be something in the skin . In red skin? Is that a thing?
Should I start doing some experiments with Benadryl on hand? 😆😃
I’m no doctor here and my remark is more anecdotal. My dad would be able to eat certain fruits (apples, peaches) if he peeled them. Not sure if it makes a difference with tolerating them or not.
Found an article that might be helpful to you! http://research.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/informall/allergenic-food/index.aspx?FoodId=2
Oh very interesting . I definitely would have the oral allergy reaction that appeared 5 to 15 minutes after eating , and then would go away usually within 15 or 20 minutes .
It said this birch pollen/ apple allergen connection happens only in Northern Europe- I’m in North America .. but we definitely have birch trees 😆
Well it was really interesting. And that would explain why cooked apple and apple juice would be different. I don’t like that the general advice seemed to be to avoid eating apples , though … 😣😠😆
That’s interesting that it doesn’t happen when they’re cooked.