Asparagus allergy occurs when this spring vegetable from the same family as onions and garlic are consumed raw. Two proteins, namely Aspa o 1.01 and Aspa o 1.02, are found to be the allergens (chemicals that cause allergy) of asparagus. This article tries to gain further insight into the symptoms and treatment of the allergy caused by this vegetable.
Allergens in Asparagus Allergy
Below are the allergens or irritants in asparagus and their symptoms:
| Allergic Component | Symptoms | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-4(H)-pyran-4-one (DDMP) | Itchy mouth, Swelling of lips, Watery eyes, Runny nose | A compound found in asparagus that causes oral allergy symptoms, more for people who also have allergies to other plants. |
| Lignin | Skin rash, Itching | Lignin, a complex organic molecule found in asparagus, causes skin reactions. |
| Pollen-like proteins | Sneezing, Itchy eyes, Nasal congestion | People with pollen allergies might have cross-reactivity with proteins in asparagus. |
Asparagus Allergy Symptoms
There are two ways by which the body develops signs of this allergy. They are allergic to contact dermatitis and IgE-mediated allergy.
In the former case, the patient’s skin directly interacts with the vegetable. It is the most commonly reported means of acquiring the signs of this allergy.
IgE-mediated allergy is known to be reported significantly less. IgE is a chemical protein that helps the body’s natural protection system (the Immune system) identify and kill bacteria and viruses.
When IgE mistakenly targets the nutrients of this vegetable as harmful, it initiates some undesirable reactions in the body known as IgE-mediated allergy of asparagus.
Research studies done on this vegetable in the universities of Pamplona and Madrid in Spain have found the following symptoms of this asparagus allergy:
- Severe respiratory problems like asthma
- Anaphylaxis – a severe allergic reaction affecting the whole body
- Swelling and irritation in the internal areas of the nose
- Occupational asthma caused by exposure of asparagus due to work
- Oral allergy syndrome – group of allergic reactions affecting the mouth
Diagnosis of Asparagus Allergy:
Skin prick and patch tests are two diagnostic techniques that determine the signs of this allergy. In both these tests, the allergen is made to come in contact with the patient’s skin, and the response is studied in a small, controlled manner to confirm the allergy.
In the former test, the allergen is introduced to the skin by pricking it with a needle containing the allergen. A patch containing the allergen is applied to the skin in the latter test.
Asparagus Allergy Treatment:
No allergy is reported when the vegetable is consumed after cooking it. It is because the allergens cannot survive the intense heat.
In most cases, skin contact or inhalation of the allergens is found to cause the condition. So, the best way to get rid of this allergy is to stay away from asparagus when it is confirmed that the body is sensitive to it.
Asparagus Allergy FAQ
Can asparagus make you sick?
While Asparagus is generally considered safe to eat, a few people may be allergic to it. If you have an allergy to Asparagus, avoid eating it or drinking the juice from it. Additionally, suppose you experience any symptoms such as hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of your face and lips after eating Asparagus. If that is the case, you should immediately go to the emergency room for assessment. While rare cases of severe side effects from consuming Asparagus occasionally occur, they are usually mild and self-limiting. Some other effects might also occur when the Asparagus is eaten raw or improperly cooked. Common complaints include cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting. If you experience these symptoms after eating Asparagus, it is essential to seek medical attention.
How much asparagus is too much?
Asparagus can be eaten in moderation. The amount of Asparagus you eat should depend on your appetite and overall health goals. If you are eating Asparagus for the first time, then aim to consume around 2-3 spears per day. People who eat Asparagus regularly should limit their intake to 6 spears per week or less.
What does asparagus do to your body?
The primary benefit of Asparagus is its nutritional content. It’s high in fiber and vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin B9(folate), polyphenols, flavonoids(quercetin, isorhamnetin, and kaempferol), and glutathione. Additionally, it contains potassium which can help regulate blood pressure levels and prevent heart disease or stroke.
Ultimately, Asparagus is a versatile vegetable that can be enjoyed for its health benefits alone or with other vegetables for an excellent meal experience.
16 Comments
I have love asparagus, I eat it raw or cooked. When I was 60 years of age, I found that when I eat it now I vomit until it is out of my stomach. Last night I had canned soup with asparagus as the fourth ingredient and was reminded of my intolerance. No blotches or swelling. Strange.
I experience the same reaction. For 54years, no problem then the allergy developed. Mystery to me.
I have an allergy to asparagus. I have had three severe reactions involving, rashes, swelling, vomiting, diaherra, breathing problems. In all three cases, the asparagus I ate was young but not raw. Once it was steamed, once cookd and the third frozenaand then cooked. I don’t understand why so many articles I read, including this one continues to state no cases of allergic reaction have been reported from consuming cooked asparagus. I have read of many individuals reacting to cooked asparagus, including one person who ended up in emergency with a feirce reaction like my own to asparugus that was cooked into a soup.
I bought chicken breast wrapped in asparagus by mistake.
My wife spotted this and so we removed the asparagus and washed the chicken breasts THOROUGHLY before cooking them.
6 hours later I was in A & E having convulsions, grey lips, swollen face and red rashes on my neck and body.
Cooking the asparagus DOES NOT HELP AT ALL in my experience 🙁
My allergy is also to the cooked asparagus. The reaction is very much like one with a peanut allergy reaction.
I never thought I would like asparagus, I am 44 and never even tried it. just the other day I bought some to try it.
it was fantastic, I ate some raw as I cooked the rest I had bought, I made it with olive oil and baby potabella mushrooms.
I liked it so much I bought some more. when I was cooking this my mother in law came in and said she had a present for me, a new shirt. she wanted see how it would look on me and so I put it on.
when i started breaking out i thought it was the shirt. i though i should have washed it before I put it on and that something from the textile mill was breaking me out.
NOT SO… lol the next bunch of aspearagus I made I much more of it raw, it was a great tender batch and I was really likeing it. Now I have deep red patches under both arms, mmy throat hearly swole shut, I can barely swallow water. I am breaking out everywhere a person would normally sweat heavily and I smell .. I smell terrible, Like I am toxic and and the nasty is comming out of my pores. This is aweful.
The only other food I have ever known that was allergic is zucchini ( I do not eat any squash to be sure now but I know i am specifically allergic to zucchuini )
My right lung appears to be seriously inflammed, it’s very painful to breath and I keep choking on fluid that builds up in my right lung.
I wonder how long this will last, I have the chills and periodic feavers. It doesn’t seem to be getting worse and I have not eaten any aspearagus in two days now. This hurts so bad my hair hurts to be touched.
is there any antidote?
I have had severe reactions to cooked asparagus that has resulted in a body rash and swollen eyes/face. The only medication that has cleared this up has been to take a high dosage of the steroid ‘Prednisone’ along with a double dose of the antihistamine ‘Loratadine’. Even with this strong combination it still takes 5 days to clear up 🙁
We have asparagus in the garden and it has just come up. Thursday I ate a few stalks raw and then very quickly afterwards I became very dizzy and a while later vomited. The dizziness persisted for several days. Saturday I cooked asparagus and pasta and after eating the same thing happened. The MD has diagnosed the dizziness as labyrinthitis but I wonder if it is related to the asparagus. I also had an attack Easter Sunday. I will be 60 in October!!!
I developed an allergy later in life after eating canned asparagus. Anaphylactic reaction in the throat and lungs. I have also reacted to steamed and grilled so cooking it makes no difference for me. I react severely. Recently I ate a piece of steak off my husbands plate that contained asparagus in the veggie mix. I had a moderate reaction from one bite of food that must have touched the asparagus.
I too have had a very bad reaction to eating asparagus. I am in my late 60s and only recently decided to cook a bunch. it was so enjoyable that I ended up eating about 10 stalks. The result was awful, with dizziness, and a feeling of horrid illness inside. No vomiting or nausea but just felt deeply ill like I was poisoned. It lasted three miserable days. The article here is a bit irksome as this sort of allergy doesn’t seem to be recognised, and yet may be more common than one would think.
I would like to thank everyone for telling their experiences. I turned 66 and cooked myself up a big bunch of slender asparagus and by 3:00AM my skin was on fire, itchy and by morning I had skin rashes. I had this once before and it took days to go away. I am not prone to allergies, so I did not connect the dots. This time I connected the dots and with the help of all those who took time to write up their stories with asparagus, I will suffer through this for the last time. No more asparagus for me. I thank everyone for sharing.
It is comforting yet sad to hear that I am not the only one suffering suddenly from a late in life asparagus allergy. I am 43, and had my first reaction a year ago. It’s not every single time I eat it, but, it happens 9x outta 10. I’m beginning to feel that the excruciatingly itchy eyes, ears and throat are not worth the gamble.
I think my 3 year old had an allergic reaction to cooked asparagus tonight. He has other food allergies so I know the symptoms and am very careful to avoid exposure to known allergens. After blanching some asparagus we both snacked on a bunch of asparagus stalks. 45 minutes later, after he played outside for a little while, his eyes were puffy, nose was stuffy/running and he kept coughing (almost like post nasal drip). He also complained of being really tired (but it was also approaching bedtime so I’m not sure if this was a true symptom). He has some outdoor allergies but has never reacted to anything outside like this. The only thing new was the asparagus (he always refused to eat it in the past), but all the info I’ve come across says cooking destroys the allergy inducing component! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences with cooked asparagus. I’ll definitely be calling out allergist tomorrow.
when I was 30 I ate cooked asparagus 1 time and got extremely weak with nausea and vomiting.. I have avoided it for 30 years .. I tried it again and got the same thing ….. very weak ,heavy all over and vomited till I had dry heaves
I am 66 years old and I had a horrible reaction to cooked asparagus. I coughed all night and felt like I was burning up
I love cooked asparagus, cold with mayonnaise. The reactions I have are itchy eyes and hives. The only thing that works for me is Benadryl.