Bananas are the most widely purchased fruit in America – it’s one of our favorite snacks. It’s not surprising really, with bananas rich in potassium, high in fiber and full of natural sugars that slowly release energy throughout the day. Not to mention, they come in their own convenient packaging for easy snacking on the go.
All that said, if you’re sensitive to bananas, the negatives can far outnumber the positives. If you have a sensitivity to bananas or an allergy, you’ll experience uncomfortable and unpleasant symptoms whenever you eat (or even touch) them.
Banana sensitivity and allergy symptoms can differ in every person. Some people experience several reactions, while others have just one or two in varying degrees of severity. To help highlight some of the common signs, here’s our guide to identifying them and what to do next.
What Is A Banana Allergy?
Though very rare (it’s estimated around 0.1 to 1.2% of the population have a banana allergy), the symptoms can be extreme and very uncomfortable. The allergy is believed to be triggered by the protein chitinase; often people who have banana sensitivity or allergies also experience reactions to fruits like kiwi and avocado, which also contain chitinase. It’s not just found in food either – the rubber tree is also high in the protein, which means about 45% of those with allergies to latex are also prone to banana sensitivity.
What Are The Symptoms Of Banana Allergy?
Symptoms and reactions show up differently in different people. The level of severity and amount of symptoms often varies. Some people might also be allergic to the peel, and can get rashes, hives or itchy skin after touching it.
Some of the most common allergy symptoms that occur after eating bananas include:
- – Itchy mouth and throat
- – Hives
- – Stomach cramps
- – Diarrhea
- – Vomiting
- – Fever
- – Rash
- – Shortness of breath
- – Anaphylactic shock (in severe cases)
What Is A Banana Sensitivity?
Those with a sensitivity to bananas need to actually eat the fruit before experiencing any reaction. This reaction and its symptoms may also take a while to appear – sometimes up to a few days. As a result, it’s not uncommon for people to misdiagnose their sensitivity, assuming that their discomfort is related to something else, or a more recently eaten food.
A food sensitivity happens when proteins are misidentified by your body as foreign. When this happens, sometimes your gut allows small amounts of food particles to enter the bloodstream, which triggers your immune system to send out IgG antibodies. This, in turn, creates the response which manifests as your intolerance symptoms, either within the digestive system or on your skin.
What Are The Symptoms Of Banana Sensitivity?
As with a banana allergy, symptoms and reactions can differ. However, some of the most common symptoms are:
- – Bloating
- – Stomach pain
- – Stomach cramps
- – Excessive gas
- – Diarrhea
- – Headaches
- – Rashes
Banana Allergy and Sensitivity Treatment
The first thing to do if you suspect you may be sensitive to bananas or chitinase is to make sure that’s the right diagnosis. It’s important to see a doctor as a first port of call to eliminate any other more serious conditions or underlying illnesses. If you think you might have an allergy it’s especially important to seek medical treatment and make an appointment to consult with an allergist, since food allergies can be extremely dangerous and even fatal. You can also try a Home-to-laboratory Allergy Test kit to help determine whether or not you have an IgE reaction to bananas.
If you’ve ruled out anything else and are still suffering from symptoms, it might be a good idea to take a food sensitivity test to get to the bottom of your issues.
Food sensitivities don’t always last forever. With the right dietary management and treatment, you may be able to start eating bananas later on down the line. So, you might not necessarily need to say goodbye to banana bread just yet! yorktest’s nutritional experts are on hand to provide advice and support after you get your test results, so you can manage your diet more effectively moving forward.
A yorktest sensitivity test can help you take back control of your life. 8 out of every 10 customers who completed the test have seen an improvement in quality of life.
