A raw food diet comprises primarily uncooked, plant-based foods such as fruits, vegetables, seeds and nuts. Raw food proponents maintain that eating raw foods increases the amount of nutrients you get from food. Many people also report advantages such as better digestion, weight loss and increased energy, according to Go Ask Alice!, Columbia University's Health Q-and-A website. However, some people may also experience adverse symptoms with a raw food diet, such as itching.
Food Allergies
Itching resulting from eating raw foods indicates a food allergy, or oral allergy syndrome. It occurs when your immune system reacts abnormally to certain foods. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, food allergies are increasing, affecting 3.9 percent of children under 18 years old and 2 percent of adults. Children 3 years and younger are also most likely to suffer from food allergies. The condition can also begin during the teen years even after you've eaten the foods for years without any symptoms.
Risk Factors
You're more likely to have allergies to raw foods if you have a family history of allergies or asthma. Also, food allergies are most often preceded by hay fever. Allergies to certain environmental allergens can also predispose you to a food allergy. For instance, an allergy to birch pollen may increase your risk of an allergy to apples, cherries, carrots or almonds. Grass allergies are linked to tomato allergy, and ragweed allergies are related to melon, banana and cucumber allergies.
How to Prevent Itching on a Raw Food Diet
The easiest way to prevent this symptom is to avoid the foods that trigger it. To avoid nutrient deficiencies, swap the food for one that contains the main nutrient you'll be missing out on. For instance, if you're missing out on vitamin A because you're allergic to carrots, try other foods rich in this nutrient such as spinach, kale or apricots. Also, food allergies are often avoided if you cook the food slightly. Also, cooking food can help to prevent itching and other symptoms brought on by a food allergy. A raw food diet does allow you to cook foods to no higher than 118 degrees F, or about 48 degrees C.
Precaution
In some cases, a food allergy can cause additional symptoms such as nausea, swollen lips and abdominal pain. It may also cause hives and even anaphylaxis, which is characterized by constriction and tightening of your airway, a swollen throat, breathing difficulty and dizziness. Anaphylaxis can be fatal and requires immediate medical attention. Your doctor will likely recommend that you carry an epinephrine auto-injector, in case you come into contact with the offending food in the future.
References
- Health Services at Columbia: Go Ask Alice!: Ooh, Baby, I Like It Raw (Or, Is a Raw Diet Healthy?)
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Healthy Youth! -- Food Allergies
- Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network: Oral Allergy Syndrome
- Office of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin A and Carotenoids
- MayoClinic.com: Food Allergy
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