Did you know? If you suffer from the pollen that swirls around in spring, it is quite possible that you will be even more sensitive to discomfort as soon as you bite into a fruit. The reason? Cross allergy induced between pollen and certain foods. Explanations.
Why do we say cross allergy?
Cross allergies correspond to a reaction of the immune system to substances that it confuses. They are explained by the presence, in plants, of so-called defense proteins, such as PR-10. These molecules are produced when plants are subjected to environmental stress: pollution, climatic variations, attacks by microorganisms, etc.
But bingo! These same proteins are then found in the fruits and vegetables that we eat. In an allergic person, the immune system, already sensitized to pollen, then recognizes these proteins as dangerous.
As Dr Sébastien Lefèvre, head of the allergology department at CHR Metz-Thionville, points out in a previous article,
“the protein similarity between these foods and pollen fools the immune system”.
So it’s effervescence: the body can react as if it were exposed to pollen again. This confusion then triggers an allergic reaction, most often localized in the mouth. And this reaction occurs in approximately 50 to 70% of cases of pollen allergy.
Foods to avoid depending on your allergy
Not all cross allergies are the same. They directly depend on the type of pollen to which you are sensitive. To date, here are the main known associations:
Birch allergy (spring)
- Apple ;
- Pear ;
- Peach, apricot, plum;
- Hazelnut, almond;
- Celery.
Grass allergy (spring-summer)
- Melon;
- Watermelon ;
- Raw tomato;
- Kiwi;
- Raw potato.
Ragweed allergy (late summer)
- Banana ;
- Melon, watermelon;
- Zucchini ;
- Cucumber.
Other tree pollens
- Alder: apple, pear, celery;
- Olivier: peach, olive;
- Oak: nuts.
Symptoms: What to expect if you eat one of these fruits?
The manifestations of cross allergies are most often rapid and appear a few minutes after consumption of the food. They generally remain localized to the oral sphere.
Affected people describe tingling in the lips, palate or throat, sometimes accompanied by itching or a slight sensation of swelling. In some cases, respiratory symptoms can also intensify, especially during the pollen season.
Dr Lefèvre recalls that “this phenomenon is called oral allergy syndrome” and that it is most often benign. However, even if this remains rare, more severe reactions can occur, which justifies remaining vigilant and consulting in case of doubt.
Can we continue to eat fruit?
Fortunately, there is no need to completely eliminate fruits and vegetables from your diet. Most of the time, it is possible to continue to consume them by adapting their preparation.
As Dr. Lefèvre explains, “symptoms appear especially when foods are eaten raw”. The proteins responsible for cross-allergies being heat-sensitive, they are destroyed by heat.
Thus, a food that causes a reaction when raw can become perfectly tolerated once cooked. Applesauce, fruit pie or cooked vegetables will therefore generally be much better tolerated.
Advice from our expert to live better with
However, when it comes to cross allergies, there is no universal solution. The approach must be personalized and progressive. The expert emphasizes the importance of learning about your own reactions rather than systematically eliminating all risky foods.
- Keep a food diary can be very useful in identifying the foods actually responsible for the symptoms;
- Favor cooked foods and being attentive to some less obvious forms, such as plant-based drinks, is also useful.
- Gradually reintroduce certain foods
is sometimes considered. It consists of starting with cooked forms, then very gradually reintroducing raw foods in order to develop a form of tolerance. - Finally, desensitization to pollen can be proposed in certain cases, but its results remain variable. “It improves cross allergies in a third of cases, but can also be ineffective or even make them worse. underlines the specialist.