"Allergic" to melon?

[kimbalaya]

For the past 12 years or so, I have been unable to eat much cantaloupe or honeydew. Every year, I give it a try again when it comes into season, but as always, just one bite and my mouth, tongue and throat are ::itching:: like mad! :mad: It's so frustrating, as I love cantaloupe! (Honeydew is ok, just not my favorite).

Last summer I noticed that watermelon was starting to cause the same itching, and I am sorry but I am not giving up watermelon! I manage to get by with a low dose of OTC generic claritin, if the itching gets too bad. I tried the claritin when I read that this kind of reaction to these types of melons could be attributed to a ragweed allergy (which runs in my family but I don't suffer from it as we don't live where there's any ragweed). The itching reaction to melon also runs in my family - my Grandma gets bi-weekly allergy shots and doesn't have a problem with melon anymore, which seems to support the ragweed theory.

I'd rather not take medications, of course, just to eat one of my favorite melons. Do you think this is something I'll always deal with, or do you think that once I've gone to a more raw diet, it'll fade away?

[juliebove]

You may have OAS, oral allergy syndrome. The Dr. thinks I have it to almonds and pistachios. It's something where these foods (particularly in the raw form) get mistaken for pollen in the body, triggering an allergic reaction. She said some people can eat the offending foods with no problems during the winter when the pollen count is low.

[Vaclare79]

I have the same problem with melons & bananas..

[Rawkinlocs]

I truly believe that it can go away. My daughter used to have a reaction to citrus fruit and nuts...hubby was breaking out in hives when he ate strawberries and (if memory serves me correctly) pineapple.

BUT...this is what I want you to keep in mind, MOST allergies to foods...especially fresh, natural foods...are a result of other things...other underlying causes such as a toxic system or the normal channels of elimination not functioning at top level.

Now, my husband didn't start getting hives all of a sudden one day after eating some strawberries. Something else triggered it and then he noticed that certain foods he'd eat would cause an outbreak. Same with my daughter and her skin rashes.

So, what you want to do is:

1. Stop taking the claritin if possible. If you continue taking it you are just keeping the 'drugs' in your system and possibly weakening your immune system more and more. Your body needs to be able to start fighting this on it's own. The more you eat raw and the cleaner you get, you are going to keep retracing because of the 'drugs' still being present in your system.

2. Stop eating the offending foods...for now. I know you don't want to give up watermelon, but I'd suggest doing so for at least 1-3 months or so just to give your body time to cleanse and heal/recover.

3. If you are eating any cooked foods at all that you feel may be a contributing factor, especially dairy products, get that out of your diet as much and as soon as possible.

If you do the above, you more than likely will find that after a while you can slowly and gradually re-introduce melons into your diet and possibly be free from the itchies! This was what happened with my hubby and daughter. We eliminated the offending foods, cleaned up their diets and after a while, re-introduced those foods and they have been able to consume them since with no problems whatsoever!

Also, please realize that most dis-eases and conditions don't necessarily "run in the family" but it's the DIETs that "run in the family" that cause the same types of illnesses/reactions. For example, in my family, diabetes and high blood pressure "run in the family" but that is mainly because, Great-grandma, Grandma, Mama, and Aunties are eating the same types of foods, cooking the same types of meals and therefore, are experiencing the same types of illnesses. But that cycle can be broken simply by deviating from the dietary habits of the family!

[Coconutcutie]

I truly believe that it can go away. My daughter used to have a reaction to citrus fruit and nuts...hubby was breaking out in hives when he ate strawberries and (if memory serves me correctly) pineapple.

BUT...this is what I want you to keep in mind, MOST allergies to foods...especially fresh, natural foods...are a result of other things...other underlying causes such as a toxic system or the normal channels of elimination not functioning at top level.

Now, my husband didn't start getting hives all of a sudden one day after eating some strawberries. Something else triggered it and then he noticed that certain foods he'd eat would cause an outbreak. Same with my daughter and her skin rashes.

So, what you want to do is:

1. Stop taking the claritin if possible. If you continue taking it you are just keeping the 'drugs' in your system and possibly weakening your immune system more and more. Your body needs to be able to start fighting this on it's own. The more you eat raw and the cleaner you get, you are going to keep retracing because of the 'drugs' still being present in your system.

2. Stop eating the offending foods...for now. I know you don't want to give up watermelon, but I'd suggest doing so for at least 1-3 months or so just to give your body time to cleanse and heal/recover.

3. If you are eating any cooked foods at all that you feel may be a contributing factor, especially dairy products, get that out of your diet as much and as soon as possible.

If you do the above, you more than likely will find that after a while you can slowly and gradually re-introduce melons into your diet and possibly be free from the itchies! This was what happened with my hubby and daughter. We eliminated the offending foods, cleaned up their diets and after a while, re-introduced those foods and they have been able to consume them since with no problems whatsoever!

Also, please realize that most dis-eases and conditions don't necessarily "run in the family" but it's the DIETs that "run in the family" that cause the same types of illnesses/reactions. For example, in my family, diabetes and high blood pressure "run in the family" but that is mainly because, Great-grandma, Grandma, Mama, and Aunties are eating the same types of foods, cooking the same types of meals and therefore, are experiencing the same types of illnesses. But that cycle can be broken simply by deviating from the dietary habits of the family!

I totally agree with this. I have many food allergies, but they seem to come and go and are fairly unpredictable. I think most of them are caused by underlying parasite and liver issues which I am currently addressing. I hope to be totally allergy-free someday in the near future