What You Should and Shouldn’t Eat If Allergic to Birch Pollen
If you have hay fever, the very notion of spring, which usually evokes images of blossoms and clear sky, is tainted by constant sneezing, coughing and feeling unwell. If you are allergic to birch, you should avoid certain foods, as some of them can lead to a very dangerous reaction. Conversely, there are foods that can help prevent histamine from being released in your blood stream.


Foods to avoid
- Veggies and grains. In this category, tomatoes, carrots (especially if they are uncooked), fennel, green bell peppers, and raw potatoes are common as triggers. However, some people may also be affected when eating wheat, parsnips, chicory, celery and buckwheat. Many patients find they can consume these foods if they are cooked, so if your mouth itches and swells after eating tomatoes, try frying them to destroy some of the protein that causes the symptoms.
- Fruits and berries. Among the fruits and berries to avoid are apples, apricots, strawberries, cherries, and some others. Apples are worth a special note: while many websites claim apples should not be avoided by those allergic to birch pollen as they contain quercetin, in fact, many such patients experience severe symptoms when eating apples.
- Legumes, nuts, etc. Peanuts can cause serious symptoms, and so can lentils, almonds, sunflower seeds, dill, parsley, etc.
Foods to eat
Just as there are foods that can trigger cross-reactions and exacerbate your symptoms, there are foods rich in quercetin, which helps reduce histamine levels and combat inflammation, and vitamin C, which is reportedly beneficial, as far as inflammation reduction is concerned.- Onion. This vegetable is rich in quercetin. It is recommended to eat fresh onions, as those that have been stored for a week or more contain less quercetin.
- Salmon, trout and other fish rich in omega-3, which contributes to inflammation reduction.
- Broccoli. It is rich in vitamin C, with one cup hitting the mark of 80 mg.
- Turmeric. The chemicals in it help prevent release of histamine, thus alleviating allergy symptoms.
References:
Effect of tomato variety, cultivation, climate and processing on Sola l 4, an allergen from Solanum lycopersicum – Journals.plos.org/plosone