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Nut allergy
Last reviewed: 12.07.2025
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Nut allergy is a subtype of food allergy that is considered the most common.
An allergic reaction can occur to any type of nuts: walnuts, Brazil nuts, pine nuts, etc. Some people think that peanuts are also nuts.
But if you look closely at the structure of the peanut and its "pod", which in its structure resembles peas or beans, it follows that the peanut belongs to the legume family, not the nut family. But, nevertheless, if a person has an allergy to peanuts, then it is possible that such a process can also spread to nuts.
If a person notices that he has an allergy to nuts, what should he do?
- Consult a doctor.
- Avoid eating foods that may trigger an allergic reaction.
Causes of Nut Allergies
The eternal question "why"? In common parlance: the nut protein is perceived by the body as a dangerous foreign element, and accordingly, a protective immune reaction occurs, resulting in an allergy to nuts.
As for the defensive reaction, it is expressed differently in each person, which will be discussed in the section on symptoms.
Diagnosis, treatment and prevention are of great importance in this regard, and we will talk about this a little later.
In addition to all of the above, the allergy may apply to all types of nuts, or it may apply only to one specific type.
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Symptoms of Nut Allergy
Like any food allergy, nut allergy has a number of symptoms, which may include:
Allergy symptoms may be more complex, including Quincke's edema and anaphylactic shock. Such symptoms should never be treated independently. Only medical assistance can resolve this situation.
Exacerbations of chronic dermatological diseases, such as eczema, psoriasis, neurodermatitis, etc., cannot be ruled out.
In any case, symptoms do not just appear out of nowhere, which means that consultation with a doctor (immunologist, dermatologist, allergist) is mandatory.
Allergy to pine nuts
As a rule, pine nuts can create a burden on the gastrointestinal tract as a result of improper storage. Such consequences include a distinctive feature: a bitter taste. And such signs do not mean that a person is allergic to nuts. The rules for storing such nuts require not to peel the kernels from the shell. Unfortunately, in our countries this rule is not always observed.
An allergic reaction is possible if a person has a tendency to food allergies, namely to nuts.
Symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and precautions are the same as for allergies to other or all nuts in general.
Allergy to nutmeg
Nut allergies have nothing to do with nutmeg, as nutmeg is not a nut, but a spice extracted from a seed. It is logical that there cannot be an allergic reaction to nutmegs. It is quite possible that the allergy is related to another food product, and the person takes it for an allergy to this type of spice.
Although, among some doctors there is an opinion about the existence of danger regarding the influence of nutmeg on the body. But practically this version is not proven.
If you suspect an allergy to nutmeg, you should take tests to determine the presence of a food allergy. If there is one, then after diagnosis, the patient is convinced that the problem is not in nutmeg at all, but in another food product.
Brazil nut allergy
Allergic reactions to nuts differ in types, forms, symptoms. For example, an allergy to Brazil nuts occurs because the fruits themselves contain a variety of nutrients: iron; zinc; calcium; potassium; manganese; phosphates; betaine; choline; copper; magnesium; phosphorus; selenium; thiamine; riboflavin; niacin; omega 3.6; amino acids; flavonoids; protein; fiber; vitamins B 6, C, D, E - the human body's reaction to which can be allergic.
In addition, the Brazil nut has the properties of reducing the level of cholesterol in the blood. It also has a positive effect on the human body in that it is able to normalize the sugar content in the blood; for the purpose of prevention of cancer of the intestines, lungs, breast, prostate gland. But! It is also not recommended to get carried away with the use of Brazil nuts, since a high concentration of nutrients can provoke the so-called overdose, which can act as an allergy. The daily norm is: 2 nuts.
Allergy to nuts, namely Brazil nuts, can be caused by:
- high concentrations of radium, which is a harmful radioactive component,
- the presence of aflotoskins in the fruit shell, the consumption of which in large quantities can cause a number of serious diseases. Therefore, before eating the nut, it is necessary to peel it from the skin - a thin shell.
Brazil nuts should not be consumed by people who already have allergies to nuts, mangoes.
The symptoms of allergy to Brazil nuts are the same as for other types, i.e.: hives, burning, itching, shortness of breath, sneezing, vomiting, etc.
It is almost impossible to completely eradicate the disease. Therapy is purely symptomatic.
Diagnosis of Nut Allergy
Allergy to nuts is determined during the first visit to the doctor based on the patient's complaints. The doctor, interviewing the patient, establishes the duration and nature of the symptoms of a possible allergy.
The allergist's task is to identify the type of reaction to a given food product. And for this, it is necessary to conduct a skin analysis. In this case, a small scratch is made on the skin, where a small amount of liquid nut extract is dripped. Allergens of a different origin are dripped onto other cuts on areas of the skin. This procedure is carried out to identify an allergic reaction and the product to which it appears. The area of the cut where skin changes are formed is the response to the allergy test.
Nut allergies are also tested using a blood test that is mixed with some of the possible allergen.
Who to contact?
Treatment for Nut Allergies
Nut allergy itself is not curable. The treatment process only eliminates the symptoms, which are easier to prevent than to treat. And to do this, you should avoid eating nuts and products made from nuts (nut butter, nut cakes, etc.).
In case of severe allergic reactions, you should always carry some anti-allergy medications with you:
- "Epinephrine" - an injection helps with anaphylaxis, which can be administered independently. This drug is issued in pharmacies by prescription.
- Antihistamines: "Alergoftal" - eye drops (prescribed for allergic conjunctivitis), "Loratadine", "Alerpriv", "Suprastin", "Agistam" - antipruritic, antiallergic tablets for the treatment of various allergic reactions: skin, related to the respiratory system.
We have described standard medications for treating the symptoms caused by nut allergies. However, you should only buy medications that your doctor recommends.
More information of the treatment
Preventing Nut Allergies
It is almost impossible to prevent allergic reactions to nuts, as most often this is a hereditary disease or occurs due to the characteristics of the body. But as for the symptoms that are caused by an allergy to nuts, they can be avoided. To do this, you need to exclude foods containing the allergen from your diet.
Let's look at the list of prohibited foods:
- peanuts and peanut butter,
- nuts in general,
- Asian food products such as pad thai, satay,
- nut-based sauces, such as pesto,
- marzipan,
- confectionery products with nuts or their components,
- bakery products even without nuts. Here it is necessary to know exactly what is included in the product,
- cereals, muesli, nougat, praline,
- vegetarian food based on nuts or soy,
- salad dressings and ready-made salads,
- ice cream (any kind).
Other precautions:
- It is almost impossible to avoid contact with the causative agent of an allergic reaction throughout life, since friends, acquaintances, family members will sooner or later force you to come into contact with the allergen in one way or another. Therefore, it is very important to control your personal dishes and utensils for cooking, and to keep the kitchen clean. Why is this necessary? There is cross-contact, that is, not the direct entry of the allergen into the body, but the product that came into contact with it. Let's say one person cut a nut cake with a knife, and a person with an allergy, with the same knife, without first washing it, for example, cut sausage. From which we can see contact of the knife with the cake → contact of the sausage with the knife, where, accordingly, contact occurred between the sausage and the nut cake,
- exclude products of unknown origin,
- Carefully read the contents description on the product packaging. Hydrolyzed vegetable proteins are contraindicated.
- A diet for allergies is indicated.
If you follow all the safety precautions, no nut allergy will be a problem.