Have you ever thought that the delicious tomatoes could be a reason of allergy? After all, they are supposed to be healthy, they cure so many diseases.
Whether it’s about the tomato sauces you love to top your pasta or just love eating them, tomatoes are a healthy fruit and a rich source of vitamins A and C.
They contain beneficial nutrients and antioxidants, including lycopene, lutein, folic acid and beta-carotene.
Then how could they be the reason for any sort of allergy? Well, there are so many good properties of tomatoes but despite it, it is difficult for some people to tolerate the higher acid levels of tomatoes and their derivatives.
If a person is allergic to tomatoes, and he/she comes in contact with the tomato, histamines are released into exposed areas such as nose, skin, digestive and respiratory tracts, and this causes an allergic reaction.
In this article, we will tell you all about the Tomato allergy.
Table of Contents
What Causes Tomato Allergy?
Tomato allergy is very similar to any other food allergy. Tomato allergy also happens because of malfunctioning of the immune system.
When some people consume tomato, the protein in the tomato becomes an attack for the body. So, to save the body from an unusual attack, the immune system produces an antibody.
The protein of fruit and antibody try to demolish each other and this produces few other chemicals. Histamine is produced in an excessive manner.
This chemical harms the soft tissues of the skin. And then, it creates all the symptoms of allergy.
Allergy vs. Tomato Intolerance:
Food Allergy is simply the response of the body’s immune system, while intolerance is identified by intestinal distress and gastric discomfort. Tomatoes contain a high degree of a natural chemical known as salicylate which is a derivative of salicylic acid.
Some people just can’t tolerate any amount of salicylate in their diet. They start vomiting as soon as they consume tomato. Diarrhea and stomach cramp are the other symptoms of tomato intolerance.
Tomato intolerance takes time to show its effect, it may take a day to show its severe effects. There are some cases of life-threatening allergic reactions, known as anaphylactic shock, it requires immediate medical attention.
Symptoms of Tomato Allergy:
There are so many symptoms of tomato allergy. A few of them have been discussed here. Tomatoes may create unpleasant reactions ranging from mild to severe.
- Immediate swelling of mouth and lips.
- The appearance of mouth sores or tingling
- Itching in throat
- Difficulty in breathing and throat closing
- Rashes, inflammation on the skin or other parts of your body which have come in contact with tomato
- Increase in tears, sweat and saliva
- Tingling lips
- Itching Arms
- Headaches
- Red, itchy skin on the arms and legs
- Vomiting or Cramps
- Diarrhea
- Cystitis
- Gastro-Intestinal problems
- Blisters on the hands and fingers
- Rhinitis
- Oral allergy syndrome
- Coughing
- Chest Tightening
How To Prevent Tomato Allergy?
Avoid having any contact with them. Here, we have enlisted some tomato products which you should avoid having .
Fresh Tomato: Avoid eating tomatoes in any form, especially fresh tomatoes or natural dried tomatoes.
Cooked Tomato: Some people are only allergic to fresh tomatoes, but other can be allergic to cooked one. If you are allergic to cooked tomatoes then you should avoid having pasta sauces, pureed tomato, chilli etc.
Nightshade allergy Family:
Nightshade family includes the following plants:
- Tomatoes
- Peppers
- Potatoes
- Tobacco
You should consult your doctor before having these plants.
How To Know If You Are Allergic To Tomato?
Whenever you feel that you are suffering from food or tomato allergy, you should immediately consult your doctor and conduct some tests, in order to diagnose the exact food allergy.
Sometimes the symptoms of other food allergies and tomato allergy are similar, so this is hard to predict without tests, that whether it is some other food allergy or tomato allergy.
A blood test or prick test is the common tests which, a doctor would do. The purpose of these tests is to detect IGE immunoglobulin in the body.
Treatments For Tomato Allergy:
Self-treatment is the best treatment for tomato allergy. If you are allergic to tomatoes then, you should avoid having tomatoes and you should not add tomatoes to any of your recipes.
Don’t even come close to tomatoes or any dish which is included tomatoes. You can also try tomato-free sauces, which is easily available in the stores. If you are looking for some vitamin supplements then, you should first consult your doctor.
You can also use anti-inflammatory medicines such as ibuprofen. Some tropical creams also help in reducing swelling and itching. Histamine which is present in Benadryl is also used to treat mild tomato allergy.
Tomato Allergy Recipes:
Tomato is the base of any food, without tomatoes, we can’t even imagine our dishes, especially pasta and pizza. It becomes so difficult for a person who is allergic to tomatoes and also loves the dishes like pizza and pasta.
But don’t worry; here we have enlisted some easy and yummy recipes. With a little preparation, an allergy sufferer can find ways to deal with the tomatoes. So, here we go.
Japanese Style Tomato- Free Pasta Sauce:
Ingredients:
- 3 cups water
- 3 large beets, diced
- 1 pound carrots, cut into large pieces
- 3 stalks celery
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 tablespoon red some miso
- 4 cloves garlic
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon oregano
- Half tablespoon basil
- 2 tablespoon arrowroot
Cooking Instructions:
In a pan, add water, vegetables, bay leaves. Cover and boil for 15-20 minutes. Puree vegetables, using leftover broth as needed. Sauté garlic and add the sauce along with basil, oregano, olive oil and arrowroot. Simmer for 15-20 minutes. Then you can enjoy the sauce.
Alfredo Sauce:
Ingredients:
- 10 fluid ounces whipping cream
- 3 tablespoon butter
- 1 egg yolk
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup grated Romano cheese
- 1 pinches ground nutmeg
- Salt to taste
Cooking instructions:
Melt butter in a saucepan. Add whipping cream. Stir in Parmesan and Romano cheese, nutmeg and salt. After mixing of all of them add egg yolk. For 3-5 minutes simmer it over low heat. Then you can grate more cheese for the topping. Enjoy your sauce.
Though Tomato Allergy is not so common in people, but if you notice any symptom of tomato allergy, then you should consult your doctor immediately, and you should start avoiding tomatoes.
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