Do I Have a Tree Nut Allergy?
Tree nut allergies are among the most confusing types of food allergies for Atlanta patients. The first stage of a tree nut allergy treatment plan is to avoid the allergen. But should you remove a single type of tree nut from your diet or consider avoiding every type of nut? Understanding how tree nut allergies work and what your next steps should be will help you make informed decisions about your allergy.
Can I Be Allergic to Just One Type of Tree Nut?
Allergy sufferers could be allergic to a single type of tree nut, a small number of nuts that share similar proteins or a wide range of nuts. Unfortunately, many people assume that an allergic reaction to one type of tree nut means all nuts are off-limits, but this is often far from the case.
Nuts play an important role in your dietary intake and are also common ingredients in many recipes. Removing all nuts from your diet is usually unnecessary, but your allergy doctor can offer detailed advice after conducting allergy testing.
What Are the Main Types of Tree Nuts?
You can be allergic to many different tree nuts, including almonds, Brazil nuts, pecans, cashews, hazelnuts, walnuts and pistachios. However, most people won’t experience allergic reactions to all of these nuts and will only react to single proteins identified in specific varieties.
Co-sensitivities are most likely to be found in cashews and pistachios from the Anacardiaceae family and walnuts and pecans from the Juglandaceae family. Thankfully, desensitization treatment used for one of these tree nuts usually corresponds to the related nut.
Are Tree Nut Allergies and Peanut Allergies the Same?
It is also worth noting that tree nut and peanut allergies are not the same. Peanuts are legumes and don’t share the same protein structure as tree nuts. It is, however, possible to have an allergy to peanuts and various types of tree nuts. To add further confusion, nuts can also share similar proteins to pollen – a condition called oral allergy syndrome (OAS). An individual may believe they have a tree nut allergy, but contact with pollen might be the cause of the reaction.
Should I Get Tested for a Tree Nut Allergy?
The number of different tree nuts, the possibility of having OAS and the potential for cross-contamination when nuts are processed at the same factory all highlight the importance of food allergy testing. A food allergist will determine precisely what allergens are responsible for your allergy reactions. With this knowledge, you can find a suitable treatment plan that shouldn’t interfere with a healthy diet.
Get Treatment for a Food Allergy
If you believe you may have a tree nut allergy, it is important to get tested by a professional allergy doctor. We provide allergy testing and treatment services from our food allergy treatment centers in Alpharetta, Atlanta, Canton, Cumming, Druid Hills, Duluth and Johns Creek. For assistance, call (678) 668-4688 or request an appointment online.
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