By Cheryl Koch, M.S., R.D. Provided by: Johns Hopkins University

Eat Right, Stay Fit

The Food-Latex Allergy Connection By Cheryl Koch, M.S., R.D. - Posted Fri, Sep 29, 2006, 12:33 pm PDT

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  • 1. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Fri, Sep 29, 2006, 1:35 pm PDT

    I am allergic to latex. My dentist is kind enough to use latex free gloves. Boxes of hair color also contain latex gloves. Bandaids are another problem. For a long time the only latex free bandaids I could buy were "Garfield", Disney" and other cartoon characters meant for children. "Allergic to Latex" is on my medical bracelet.

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  • 2. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Fri, Sep 29, 2006, 1:59 pm PDT

    I never heard of such a thing before: having to avoid certain foods if you're allergic to latex. I wonder if people who suffer from chemical sensitivities need to avoid certain foods as well. This is an interesting article.

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  • 3. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Fri, Sep 29, 2006, 1:59 pm PDT

    I never heard of such a thing before: having to avoid certain foods if you're allergic to latex. I wonder if people who suffer from chemical sensitivities need to avoid certain foods as well. This is an interesting article.

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  • 4. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Fri, Sep 29, 2006, 8:01 pm PDT

    I developed a latex allergy after working with food service. I also became intolerant to chocolate, tomatoes, anything citrus, MSG and some wheat products. Talk about unfortunate, not to mention difficult to diagnose. My allergist had no idea what was going on since I didn't react normally to allergy tests. I've been on zyrtec (usually 5 mg every other day unless I need more) for a copule of years now, and that seems to help the symptoms. I am able to eat pretty much whatever I want with mild-extreme itchyness depending on how much I've had, but it's let up quite a bit since I've found out and been keeping on top of it. The latex allergy is still going strong, though, even though I left the job that started the allergies over two years ago and have not been around latex gloves very often since then. If I am around the dust, I have problems breathing, become dizzy, and cough/have throat problems for several hours. Some latex things that really upset my allergy are: balloons, latex dust, food that's been handled with latex gloves, condoms, and, of course, band-aids (although they make non-latex ones, even the drugstores have the generics now).

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  • 5. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sat, Sep 30, 2006, 5:31 am PDT

    i thought this is something to help you get skinny! whats up with this?¿?

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  • 6. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sat, Sep 30, 2006, 8:11 am PDT

    While a friend was in the hospital I learned about this. The nurse said the most important food linked to latex alergies is watermelon. I am surprised it was not mentioned.

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  • 7. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sat, Sep 30, 2006, 8:56 am PDT

    My mom is allergic to latex and she is also allergic to eveything that was listed.

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  • 8. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sat, Sep 30, 2006, 9:29 am PDT

    I am allergic to bananas, kiwi, honeydew, watermelon, avacado,cantalope,and i cannot touch them either with my bare hands...yet i can eat strawberries, and citrus doesnt bother me..whats up with that ? Yet, I can wear latex gloves...

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  • 9. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sat, Sep 30, 2006, 9:37 am PDT

    I am glad to see some research on this. I am also allergic to latex, but found out because of avocados. As long as I avoid them, and have all professional use non latex gloves, I am able to avoid all reactions.

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  • 10. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sat, Sep 30, 2006, 9:39 am PDT

    I am glad to see some research on this. I am also allergic to latex, but found out because of avocados. As long as I avoid them, and have all professional use non latex gloves, I am able to avoid all reactions.

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  • 11. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sat, Sep 30, 2006, 9:43 am PDT

    Wow, so... eating tomatoes triggers a reaction similar to latex allergies. Well I'm not sure I agree. I'm allergic to latex, but I eat tomatoes, bananas, and kiwi all the time. I've never had a reaction. Just tastes nummy. :)

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  • 12. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sat, Sep 30, 2006, 9:44 am PDT

    Wow, so... eating tomatoes triggers a reaction similar to latex allergies. Well I'm not sure I agree. I'm allergic to latex, but I eat tomatoes, bananas, and kiwi all the time. I've never had a reaction. Just tastes nummy. :)

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  • 13. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sat, Sep 30, 2006, 9:44 am PDT

    Wow, so... eating tomatoes triggers a reaction similar to latex allergies. Well I'm not sure I agree. I'm allergic to latex, but I eat tomatoes, bananas, and kiwi all the time. I've never had a reaction. Just tastes nummy. :)

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  • 14. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sat, Sep 30, 2006, 11:14 am PDT

    One thing you need to remember most people are not allergic the first time they come into contact with something. Your body builds antibodies to the specific item. So you might not have sever reactions at first. But allergies can and often do progress. Often to a deadly reaction. It is important if your reactions progress quickly to a particular trigger, talk to your doctor about an Epi-pen. In the case of sever reactions you sometimes have only minutes to react. I am not a physician, just a parent of a child who has sever reactions to insect stings. Have learned the hard way that it could be the next sting that takes him from me.

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  • 15. Posted by A Yahoo! Health User on Sat, Sep 30, 2006, 11:14 am PDT

    One thing you need to remember most people are not allergic the first time they come into contact with something. Your body builds antibodies to the specific item. So you might not have sever reactions at first. But allergies can and often do progress. Often to a deadly reaction. It is important if your reactions progress quickly to a particular trigger, talk to your doctor about an Epi-pen. In the case of sever reactions you sometimes have only minutes to react. I am not a physician, just a parent of a child who has sever reactions to insect stings. Have learned the hard way that it could be the next sting that takes him from me.

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