‘Five a day’ rule adds to misery of hay fever
STICKING to the healthy “five a day” advice could be piling on more spring agony for millions of Britons hit by hay fever.
Research has found that fruit and vegetables can put sufferers at risk of oral allergy syndrome. This is a problem for the people allergic to birch pollen who make up one in four of UK’s 16 million hay fever sufferers.
Proteins in certain foods are similar to proteins in the pollen and the body is tricked into initially thinking it is birch pollen.
Half those allergic to birch will also suffer after eating apples, pears, cherries, apricots, plums, peaches, kiwis, potatoes, carrots, celery, hazelnuts, almonds, walnuts, peanuts and soya beans.
Some people allergic to grass pollen may also be affected by tomatoes, melon, wheat, barley and rye, oats and soya beans. According to research by Allergy UK as part of National Allergy Week which starts today, oral allergy syndrome was unusual 15 years ago but is now common.
A survey of 2,000 people with hay fever, which can cause a runny nose, sneezing and sore eyes, revealed that 72 per cent suffer for more than two months.
A food that shares similar proteins as the pollen can cause an allergic reaction, such as an itchy mouth, swelling or tingling of lips and tongue
However, the “cross reaction” with “healthy foods”, could mean they suffer all year round – and their symptoms could be worse.
Lindsey McManus, of Allergy UK, said: “A food that shares similar proteins as the pollen can cause an allergic reaction, such as an itchy mouth, swelling or tingling of lips and tongue.”
But a quarter of sufferers (24 per cent) did not even realise that foods could trigger a reaction.
The top five allergens are pollen, food, house dust mite, pets and medication.