Food allergies can significantly impact the quality of your life. At best, they can make you a bit uncomfortable, and at worst, they can threaten your life. While mild allergies may not have a significant impact on your overall quality of life, severe allergies can make it difficult to eat at restaurants and can even cause anxiety for those who have them.
Many common allergic reactions can happen to anyone with a food allergy, but there are also many unusual allergic reactions you can experience after eating common foods. Even if you don’t have any allergies that you know of, food allergies can develop at any time—even in adulthood!
To create this list of unusual food allergies, we referenced various reputable sources including Medical News Today, the FDA, and the NHS for some of the most common and least common food allergy reactions people may experience. The symptoms range from mild to severe but don’t ever take an allergic reaction lightly. If you or someone you know is experiencing one of these symptoms, be sure to get the proper medical treatment right away. (Click to learn about the foods that could potentially make you sick or kill you.)
1. Itchy Eyes
Woman Eye Fatigue And Pain. Tired Working On PC
During certain times of year, those with pollen allergies know to look out for sneezing, runny nose, and itchy eyes. But did you know itchy eyes can also be a sign of a food allergy? If you’re allergic to a certain type of food, your body has an immune response that leads to the allergic reaction.
Even when it comes to common food allergies, itchy eyes can be a symptom that you’ve consumed something your body is rejecting that it has recognized as a threat.
2. Headaches
Headaches are another rare allergy symptom you might think is due to a sinus infection, seasonal allergies, or even dehydration. However, when your body is experiencing an allergic reaction to food, it can trigger a severe headache or migraine.
A headache related to a food allergy will likely feel different than another type of headache. With an allergic reaction, you may experience pressure or pain near your sinuses, similar to when you have a sinus infection.
3. Pink Eye
Pink eye is a diagnosis that no one wants to hear but surprisingly, it can be an unusual reaction to a food allergy. Also known as conjunctivitis, pink eye can occur during an allergic reaction to common food or drinks like coffee.
Most of the time adults or children experience conjunctivitis, it’s the result of a virus or bacteria that gets in the eye. However, pink eye can also be caused by an immune response in response to an allergy.
4. Tingly Skin
Another rare allergy symptom you might experience in response to a food allergy is tingly skin. Unless you experience other symptoms right away, the cause of your tingly skin will likely be hard to detect right away.
This symptom is most common with reactions to fruits, vegetables, or even spices. The tingling can happen on your skin and also spread to your mouth or tongue.
5. Squeaky Voice
Food allergies are one of the biggest concerns for parents of young children and it’s important to know what to look out for. One unusual allergic reaction to common foods is a squeaky voice.
This symptom is especially common in children during a severe allergic reaction. Whether they’re reacting to one of the top food allergies or one of the least common allergies, the immune response during an allergic reaction can lead to a change in their voice. This symptom may also appear as a hoarse-sounding voice or slurred speech.
6. Passing Out
There are many occasions when you might expect to feel lightheaded or like you’re about to pass out–but you might not expect this reaction when you’re sitting at the dinner table. Lightheadedness, dizziness, or even losing consciousness can be an unusual allergic reaction, especially if you’re experiencing a severe allergy.
This kind of allergic reaction, also known as an anaphylactic reaction, is most common with some of the top food allergies, such as dairy, eggs, or peanuts. However, if you have a severe enough allergy, you can experience it after eating any food you’re allergic to.
7. Trouble Breathing
When your nose starts to get a bit stuffy, your first thought may be that you’re coming down with something. But trouble breathing, whether it comes in the form of minor stuffiness or wheezing, is a symptom of a food allergy.
Even though wheezing is a known allergic reaction, it’s not as common as other symptoms. This is especially because it’s a sign of a severe allergy and doesn’t usually happen to those with minor allergies or food intolerances.
8. Eczema
If you start to break out in hives after eating a meal, it may seem obvious that you’re experiencing an allergic reaction to something. However, when you experience something more subtle like eczema, an allergy can be harder to detect.
While hives and itching are some of the most common food allergic reactions, eczema can be a possible reaction as well. You’re more likely to see eczema as a symptom of a food allergy if you or your child is already prone to eczema. Eczema isn’t caused by a food allergy but a food allergy can lead to an eczema flare-up.
9. Bloating
Bloating is a common issue in adults, even for those who aren’t allergic to anything. Although bloating can be a sign that you ate too much, severe bloating could be a sign of a food allergy. This is especially true for those who already experience digestive issues, such as irritable bowel syndrome.
Those who do have digestive issues often have worsened symptoms after eating a food they’re allergic to. Bloating is one of the unusual allergic reactions, but it’s also common for you to experience nausea, pain, or stomach cramps.
10. Sleepiness
Some allergic reactions are difficult to detect because they can impact your whole body. You may expect to experience stomach cramps or vomiting if you accidentally eat something you’re allergic to, but allergic reactions aren’t limited to just your digestive system.
Especially in children, one unusual allergic reaction can be sleepiness. When children are experiencing this symptom, they often fall asleep right away and are difficult to wake up. One study showed this symptom was most common for children who are allergic to hazelnuts and other tree nuts.
11. Increased Risk of Heart Disease
An increase in your risk of heart disease isn’t an immediate allergic reaction, but when it comes to food allergies in adults, it has become a major concern. This is especially true for some of the most common allergies, such as dairy or peanuts, as well as red meat allergies.
The current studies on this risk examine the impact of IgE antibodies produced by your immune system in response to a food allergy. Even though this response is meant to protect your body, there may be a link between the frequent creation of these antibodies and your risk of heart disease. (In similar news, daily marijuana consumption tied to higher heart disease risk, according to a recent study.)