Pediatric Allergy, Immunology and Chest Diseases Specialist and President of the Food Allergy Association Prof. Dr. Ahmet Akçay said, “If you experience symptoms such as hives, abdominal cramps and vomiting after eating sugar, you may have a sugar allergy. If you have a food allergy, avoid consuming sugar and chocolate, which are the most served during the holiday. If you consume it, you may experience severe allergic conditions. These reactions are called anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis; It causes symptoms such as shortness of breath, swelling of the mouth and tongue, wheezing, and hives. Anaphylaxis can be life-threatening if not treated promptly.” said.
Consult an Allergy Doctor Before Your Symptoms Are Severe
If you suspect that you have a food allergy, you should definitely talk to an allergist before your symptoms become severe. Anaphylaxis, which is seen in cases where the allergy is severe, can produce a life-threatening reaction. Some of the symptoms of anaphylaxis may include shortness of breath, swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, wheezing. You may experience bloating, gas, nausea or vomiting, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea after eating sugar. Food allergies and food intolerances should not be confused with each other. A food allergy is an immune system response. Intolerance is a condition related to the digestive system; It happens when your body has trouble digesting certain foods.
If You Are Allergic To Sugar, You Should Avoid All Foods Containing Sugar
Here are some:
- Soft drinks and fruit juices,
- Jams, jellies, syrups,
- Sweets such as candy, ice cream, cake, cookies and candy bars,
- Cereals, crackers, granola bars and bread,
- peanut butter,
- You should not consume other sweeteners containing sugar.
How Do We Know We Have a Chocolate Allergy?
Chocolate is actually a mixture. Its main ingredient is cocoa powder, which is a processed version of the cocoa bean. This powder is then mixed with sugar, oil, and emulsifiers such as soy lecithin. Various chocolates are obtained with dairy products. People who are allergic to chocolate may not be able to understand what causes a reaction because there is more than one component in chocolate. There are many possibilities that affect this. If you are allergic to soy, your body may also react to chocolate. For this reason, if you have a chocolate allergy, we recommend that you look at the content before consuming chocolate.
The Main Allergen in Chocolate Is Cocoa
The first possibility in a chocolate allergy is to cocoa. If the body is allergic to cocoa, the immune system reacts when cocoa enters the body. Shortness of breath, hives, wheezing, swollen tongue, lips or throat, nausea or vomiting, abdominal cramps are among the most common symptoms. If these symptoms are not treated promptly, life-threatening anaphylaxis can occur.
Let's Pay Attention to the Caffeine in Chocolate
It is also possible for a person who has a reaction to chocolate to be sensitive to caffeine. There is about 100 milligrams of caffeine in 43 grams of chocolate. Underlining the importance of caffeine intake, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Akçay, “For people who are very sensitive to caffeine, even 43 mg of caffeine is enough to show symptoms. If you have symptoms such as nervous or irritable behavior, anxiety, increased heart rate, digestive problems such as diarrhea, nausea or stomach pain, dizziness, headache, trouble sleeping, irritability, you may have a caffeine sensitivity (intolerance). Although caffeine allergy is rare, it can cause skin reactions such as hives and rashes in some people. People who are sensitive to caffeine may also experience these symptoms when drinking coffee, tea, or energy drinks.” said.
If You Are Allergic To Nuts, Pay Attention To The Content Of The Chocolate You Eat
Some people who are allergic to chocolate may have a reaction to other ingredients in chocolate. Other ingredients found in chocolate, such as tree nuts, peanuts, and soy, are common food allergy triggers. Someone who is not allergic to chocolate but is severely allergic to peanuts or tree nuts may also react to plain chocolate made in the same facility as chocolate containing these ingredients, because there is a high risk of contamination.
You Are Not Allergic To Chocolate, But If You Have A Soy And Wheat Allergy, Your Body May React When You Eat Chocolate
If you have a soy allergy, you need to be careful when consuming chocolate because someone with a soy allergy typically has an allergic reaction to the protein in the soy itself. Less commonly, a person may also react to traces of soy protein in a soy-derived ingredient found in chocolate, such as soy lecithin.
How Can You Avoid An Allergic Reaction To Chocolate?
prof. Dr. Ahmet Akçay said, “Everyone with a food allergy should be attentive and careful to educate themselves about what is in the food they eat. It is absolutely necessary to read the ingredient labels of foods in markets and cafes. In restaurants, people with food allergies should make sure their food does not contain potential allergens. It's also helpful to ask friends and family not to eat allergy-triggering foods near you. Anyone with a cocoa allergy should not consume chocolate-containing candies, as well as beverages such as milkshakes or hot cocoa. It can be used to sweeten beverages such as chocolate, coffee, soft drinks or alcohol, and is also used as a sweetener in some medicines. People who are allergic to chocolate can understand whether the food they will consume contains chocolate by reading the food label. He emphasized the importance of reading food labels.
Is Carob the "New" Chocolate?
The most common substitute for chocolate is a legume called carob. Carob is processed to form a cocoa-like powder. Carob, which is generally used as a chocolate alternative in baked desserts and beverages, does not contain caffeine. This may be a good choice for those with caffeine sensitivity. You can make room for sweets with carob on your table during the holiday.
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