July 20, 2006

Cross reactive allergens Forget about these if you are allergic to these.

My tongue and mouth went all tingly and strange after the kiwifruit and yoghurt I had for dinner. I was amazed to discover that kiwifruit is a significant food allergen capable of causing severe reactions. So much so that new testing methods have been developed to detect traces of it. Kiwifruit and latex allergies are also linked to hayfever - especially that of birch tree pollen. Among other health benefits, kiwifruit contains arginine, a well-known vasodilator and recommended as a treatment for impotence. However you might want to investigate the non-latex condom brands, if kiwifruit leaves an odd taste in your mouth.

posted by gomichild 18 years ago
  • Ooohhh. Latex. I was all like "WTF?" and then like "OMG!1!" but now i c ur --> Me <3 teh kiwifr00t btw also 2.
  • I'm pretty sure that the same goes for people with mango and latex allergies.
  • gomichild great & very interesting post! I haven't had a chance yet to look at all of the links but I want to let monkeys know that if you have a latex sensitivity and you use non-latex condoms, just BE CAREFUL. they are considerably more prone to breakage under ahem..."vigorous" conditions.
  • They sell play sheets and body bags on the same site? That's just...strange.
  • Well that's redundant!
  • Shellfish and iodine are another pair of common allergens. On the ambulance, we actually ask about bad shellfish reactions before using iodine, since many patients aren't aware of thier iodine(or shellfish)allergies until they have a reaction that could potentially be life threatening.
  • I rarely eat kiwifruit because just thinking about eating a kiwifruit makes my mouth sort of shrivel up and tingle (don't tag that) -- I love them super-sour but the way my mouth feels while eating them is rather unpleasant. I don't think I'm allergic, but rather I have some pavlovian thing going on. Also, kiwifruit nectar is tasty and great for constipation. Not for me, for the kids.
  • Kiwifruit, like papya and pineapple, is rich in enzymes that dissolve proteins into their consituent bits, which is why if you put them in a marinade you can only leave the meat in for an hour or two. (Overnight and you have meat mush). Possibly that contributes to any unpleasant acidic sensations in your mouth.
  • My daughter is seriously allergic to pineapple. Busts out in burn-scar-looking hives and all that.
  • OK, Trac, since you asked nicely, I won't tag that. However... MonkeyFilter: tasty and great for constipation!
  • I've always been a bit wary of the food allergy thing - but it felt like my mouth had been scoured with steel wool after eating it. (;_;)
  • Oh, this one has to be preserved for posteriority: Monkefilter: some pavlovian thing going on
  • Monkeyfilter: Meat Mush
  • I have the iodine/shellfish thingy. Also, am too stupid to understand the first link. If you're allergic to latex, you may or may not be allergic to any/all of those things? Ack!