Summer delights us with a wide variety of fruits and berries, rich in vitamins and minerals, which are beneficial for a growing body. But are all of them equally safe for children with allergies?
First of all, it’s better to consume seasonal fruits and berries. If they are grown in artificial conditions, they may contain significant amounts of chemical additives. It is also important to remember that strawberries and wild strawberries, for example, are histamine liberators, meaning they can stimulate the release of histamine. Consuming large quantities of these berries, especially for young children with an immature enzyme system, can lead to allergic skin rashes, hives, or even angioedema.
Summer is also the period of intense flowering of grasses and trees. Children with allergic rhinitis or conjunctivitis between June and August may be more sensitive to grasses and meadow plants, while from August to September, they may react to weeds such as ragweed and wormwood.
It is important to know that fruit and pollen allergens are proteins with similar structures. Therefore, children allergic to tree pollen may experience a burning sensation in the mouth or develop allergic skin rashes accompanied by itching when consuming fresh fruits and vegetables (such as apples, peaches, strawberries, celery, carrots).
Children allergic to grass and meadow pollen may react to almost all types of plant-based foods in their raw form. Cross-reactivity between ragweed and wormwood pollen and stone fruits (such as plums, peaches, apricots, and cherries) is also common.
Interestingly, during the pollen season, children with pollen allergies react to fresh fruits and vegetables, but outside the flowering period, these symptoms usually disappear. However, reactions can sometimes occur throughout the year.
One of the peculiarities of fruit allergens is their ability to change properties during cooking. Heat alters the protein structure, reducing their allergenicity. However, processes like pasteurization, sterilization, and deep freezing have little effect on the allergenicity of fruits and berries. On the other hand, as fruits and vegetables ripen, their allergenicity increases sharply due to the formation of "decay proteins." Overripe fruits have extremely high levels of these proteins.
Thus, it is recommended for children to consume seasonal fruits. Young children with immature enzyme systems should limit the intake of fruits high in histamine liberators. It is also important to consider potential cross-reactions and, if necessary, use heat treatment for fruits and berries.
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