Can You Be Allergic To Pumpkin Seeds But Not Pumpkin?
very rare :
- Toss pumpkin seeds on top of salads.
- Add pumpkin seeds, dried fruit and other nuts to your homemade granola.
- Brush your seeds with olive oil, add garlic powder, cumin and bake until toasted.
- Make pumpkin seed butter which is much like peanut butter. Blend raw, whole, pumpkin seeds in a food processor until blended smooth.
Some Tips:
- Toss pumpkin seeds on top of salads.
- Add pumpkin seeds, dried fruit and other nuts to your homemade granola.
- Brush your seeds with olive oil, add garlic powder, cumin and bake until toasted.
- Make pumpkin seed butter which is much like peanut butter. Blend raw, whole, pumpkin seeds in a food processor until blended smooth.
Incorporate foods that are non-citrus such as apples, bananas, and pears. You can have banana shake, muffins, or bread. ACV can also help eliminate acidity for a short period of time. Honey, pumpkin, sprouted seeds, radish, potatoes, beetroot, and green tea help alleviate acid reflux effectively.
Pumpkin seeds are commonly used to treat parasites as they contain tetracyclic triterpenes which can help remove parasites from the body. Apart from that, pumpkin seeds contain cucurbitins that can paralyze worms and make it difficult for them to hide within the intestinal walls. This facilitates their removal from the body during a bowel movement.
Whole pumpkin seeds are an excellent source of insoluble fiber, the kind that promotes digestive efficiency and bowel regularity. Pumpkin seeds also contain calcium and iron. Despite these important benefits, whole seeds can be tough, stringy and difficult to chew thoroughly, which may lead to indigestion.
How to avoid pumpkin seeds?
Once an allergist confirms that you have pumpkin seed allergy, the best way to avoid symptoms is by avoiding the seeds altogether. Do not use pumpkin seeds in cooking and avoid them when eating out. However, this may be difficult because the seeds are relatively small and are used as an ingredient in different dishes. Obtain a list of ingredients at restaurants to prevent pumpkin-seed-laden dishes. If you experience a severe reaction from eating pumpkin seeds, seek emergency help. At the hospital, a nurse will inject you with an epinephrine, or adrenaline, shot to help keep the reaction at bay.
Pumpkin seeds have increased in popularity and are used in salads, appetizers and breads as well as toppings on main courses. Pumpkin seeds are also ground up and combined with water to create fishing bait. The U.S. National Library of Medicine reports that fishermen who are regularly exposed to bait derived from pumpkin seeds are more likely …
Allergies are sometimes tested through your blood, but the most common form of allergy testing is through skin pricks. An allergist will take liquid extracts of an allergen and prick your skin. An allergic reaction is evident if a red bump appears where the skin was pricked.
According to InmmunoCAP, severe cases of pumpkin seed allergy may even cause allergic asthma. During an asthma attack, you experience breathing difficulties such as wheezing, shortness of breath and coughing. Advertisement.
Pumpkin seeds are not considered to be a highly allergenic food such as sesame or other seeds. In fact, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, allergies to pumpkin seeds are rare. Still, you may develop an allergy to pumpkin seeds if you are particularly sensitive to pumpkin.
Do not use pumpkin seeds in cooking and avoid them when eating out. However, this may be difficult because the seeds are relatively small and are used as an ingredient in different dishes.
What is the Difference Food Allergies vs Food Intolerance?
Before we dive into pumpkins specifically, let’s discuss what food allergies and food intolerance are. Food allergies are the result of the body’s immune system reacting to food proteins— also known as allergens. These food proteins are harmless, but the allergy occurs because the immune system has become particularly sensitive to them.
Yes, you can be allergic to pumpkins! However, it is quite rare so most likely you don’t have to worry about saying goodbye to your pumpkin spice latte anytime soon. There have only been a few case reports of an allergic reaction to ingesting pumpkin flesh.
It’s certainly possible to be food intolerant to pumpkins! People can be intolerant to certain foods for a number of reasons. Symptoms of a pumpkin intolerance may include upset stomach, bloating, gas, or nausea.
Yes, you can be allergic to pumpkin seeds. There are very few reported cases of a pumpkin seed allergy, but in one reported instance, touching pumpkin seeds resulted in itchy eyes and sneezing. Fortunately, like the allergy to pumpkin flesh, allergies to pumpkin seeds is also very uncommon.
Allergic reactions to pumpkin or pumpkin seeds can be caused by either ingesting the pumpkin or seeds, or in some cases just touching the pumpkin flesh or seeds. As an allergy to pumpkin is just a form of food allergy, the symptoms of pumpkin allergies would be similar to other food allergy symptoms, like a food allergy to nuts.
The first way to tell whether you have a pumpkin allergy is to pay attention to your symptoms. For instance, if you ate food containing pumpkin and proceeded to experience allergy symptoms such as shortness of breath, hives, or itchy skin, that may be indicative of a pumpkin allergy.
Pumpkins belong to a plant family called Cucurbitaceae which also encompass melons, squash, and other gourds. It is possible to be allergic to these other gourds as well, especially if one is already allergic to pumpkins in the first place.
How to prevent allergic reaction to pumpkin?
The best way to prevent an allergic reaction to pumpkin is to avoid any food that contains it. The Federal Food and Drug Act requires all ingredients to be listed on labels of canned and packaged processed foods. Avoid commercial baking mixes that may contain pumpkin seed powder or extracts.
Causes. If you have an allergy to pumpkin, consuming other members of the squash family including zucchini, muskmelon and cucumber may also trigger an allergic reaction. Individuals allergic to pumpkin are usually allergic to pumpkin seeds. Touching the pulp or seeds can cause dermatitis or hives in sensitive individuals.
The fruits can weigh from 1 lb. to 1,000 lbs., the largest pumpkin on record weighing 1,468 lbs. Pumpkins are members of the Cucurbitaceae family, which also includes zucchini, cucumber, gourd and squash.
Identification. Pumpkins are members of the Cucurbitaceae family, which also includes zucchini, cucumber, gourd and squash. The diverse group of annuals and perennials bears rounded ribbed, edible fruit, which varies in size, shape, patterns and colors from white or green to yellow to orange.
It over-responds and releases antibodies, known as immunoglobulin E, or IgE, to protect the body. These antibodies react with the allergen triggering the release of histamines that may affect the skin and membranes in the eyes, nose, respiratory tract and intestine.
Within minutes of ingestion, pumpkin can induce various allergic symptoms in some individuals. Symptoms can be mild, such as itching, dermatitis and nasal congestion, or more serious, such as asthma and difficulty breathing, swelling of the face and lips or shortness of breath.
Pumpkins have been cultivated in North America for more than 5,000 years and are consumed the world over. But for some people, eating pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving or carving Jack-o-Lanterns at Halloween can trigger allergic responses that, in rare case, could be life-threatening.