How to realize you have a protein allergy. 6 symptoms to look out for

Protein is the main building material for muscles and is contained in every cell of the human body. It may seem impossible to be allergic to this substance, because we ourselves are made of it. But it does happen.

doctor of allergology and immunology at the CITILAB Medical Center, Candidate of Medical Sciences.

He tells how to recognize a protein allergy.

It’s not easy for someone who watches his diet to get the necessary amount of protein from food. By the way, the ten record-breaking products were described in the previous article – read it at the link.

Even more protein is needed by athletes who are building muscle mass. This is why they often turn to sports supplements and concentrated protein blends or shakes.

Before doing so, it is important to consult a doctor, as excessive protein consumption increases the load on the liver and kidneys and can disrupt their work, as well as provoke allergies. Therefore, those who have already manifested one of the types of allergies should be especially attentive. So, in order.

Proteins (or proteins) are different, and almost every allergen is also a protein. When they say “birch allergy”, they mean allergy to birch pollen protein, and “apple allergy” is an allergic reaction to some protein in an apple. There is no such thing as a protein allergy in general, there is an allergic reaction to specific substances.

Causes and symptoms of protein allergy

Allergies can occur to the protein on the basis of which the sports protein is developed, as well as to additives, flavorings and related components. Among the symptoms of a food allergic reaction are:

• Digestive disturbances;
• bloating;
• diarrhea;
• skin rashes;
• itching;
• Quincke’s edema.

For any such reaction, you should see a doctor and take a food allergen test. This is the only way to identify a specific substance to eliminate it from your diet.

Many protein mixtures are made from milk. The main allergen in this product is casein. It can cause serious reactions, up to anaphylactic shock. In general, this allergen is contained in any milk (cow’s milk, goat’s milk, sheep’s milk, etc.).

There are also other proteins in milk that can cause allergies. But they often lose their allergenic properties during heat treatment, so we are less likely to have serious reactions to them.

If the protein mix contains milk sugar, diarrhea, nausea and bloating may be the result of lactase deficiency (or lactose intolerance).

Lactase is an enzyme that breaks down the protein lactose, helping it to be digested.

The vast majority of infants have adequate amounts of this enzyme, but as many people age, their production decreases. This is an evolutionary mechanism: nature has ensured that the valuable resource – milk – goes to the youngest, to those who need it most.

Adults started drinking cow’s and goat’s milk not so long ago (in evolutionary terms), and the body has not had time to fully adjust.

To find out if you have lactose intolerance, you need to take a special test.

Who else can not eat protein

In addition to allergies, there is a rare disease in which it is absolutely impossible to consume neither animal nor vegetable protein – phenylketonuria. In this case, it is a genetic disorder that requires a strict diet under the supervision of a doctor. The problem is diagnosed immediately at birth, the test for phenylketonuria is included in the first screening of infants (blood test from the heel).

Also, people with individual intolerance to protein or individual components (additives, flavorings and related components), kidney problems and intestinal dysbacteriosis should not take protein.

Before using any nutritional supplements, it is worth consulting a doctor.

What happens if you eat a lot of protein every day, told together with experts in the article at the link.