Nuts are prominent for their exceptional health benefits. A study showed stunting reports that consumption of 15 grams of nuts regularly helped lower mortality rate. (1) But, besides these uses, nuts can trigger allergic reaction in few people
Nuts include tree nuts and peanuts. In this article I’ll discuss about brazil nut allergy which belongs to tree nuts. Allergic reaction triggers when your immune system release antibodies to fight specific substances, which release histamine leading to various allergic symptoms including sneezing, itching, burning and swelling.
About 50 million Americans experience allergies, in which nut allergy is most common. Only 9 percent of children with tree nut allergy outgrow and the rest of them live with this allergy.
If your immune system is sensitive to brazil nuts, then there is a great chance that you’ll be allergic to other type of nuts. So you must not just avoid specified food, but stay away from other items that has similar proteins.
Brazil Nut Allergy Symptoms
Oil extracted from brazil nut is used extensively in cookies, soaps and hair conditioners. Proteins in brazil nut when enters your body, the immune system mistakenly attacks them by releasing antibodies and histamines. IgE antibodies stimulate allergic symptoms to thwart the foreign substances.
Symptoms include:
- Runny nose
- Watery and itchy eyes
- Sneezing
- Lip, mouth and throat swelling
- Tingling mouth
- Difficulty in breathing
- Constipation
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Digestive issues
- Asthma
- Lower blood pressure
- Skin rashes
- Eczema
Also read: Symptoms of Mushroom Allergy
Severe symptom includes severe asthma and sudden drop in blood pressure. These situations may lead to anaphylaxis – life threatening situation.
Prevention is better than treatment.
You must avoid consuming brazil nuts and other nuts which has similar proteins. Closely watch the ingredients list of store bought items. As mentioned most soaps and conditioners include brazil nut oil.
Make sure children with this allergy are educated about the irritants. It’s very difficult to stop them without explaining about the harmful effect of these items.
Skin reaction often includes itching, swelling, redness and hives. Anti-histamines can give you instant relief. Most food allergens cause digestive problems as they make their way directly to stomach. Nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhea can be experienced.
Due to swelling airways close completely leading to difficulty in breathing. Experts say that this condition can cause anaphylaxis.
According to experts person can develop all the signs or anyone among them. When you experience any of the above mentioned sign or any other irregular symptoms reach allergist or doctor for diagnosis. Make sure that you take anti-histamines prescribed by physician. Anti-histamines reduce histamines and symptoms of brazil nut allergy can be reduced.
It’s not important that you must eat to trigger allergy, even by touching or breaking brazil nut the allergic reaction triggers.