Corn Allergy Symptoms – You may be allergic to corn and not even know it

Corn Allergy Symptoms – You may be allergic to corn and not even know it

Corn allergy can often go undetected in the United States due to its high prevalence in processed foods. Corn is also found in some form in almost every fast food item. Additionally, corn allergy symptoms vary greatly from person to person. While some only need to smell popcorn to have a severe reaction, others are a little more tolerant and have a less severe reaction, which is difficult to associate with corn.

The best way to determine if you are allergic to corn is to have an allergy test performed by a qualified allergist. Aside from that, keeping a food diary can be very helpful in checking and reviewing which foods have been deemed objectionable. But what symptoms are associated with a corn allergy?

Those who suffer from corn allergy in its severe form could experience anaphylactic shock. Most people with this severe allergy to corn know what they are allergic to. However, many experience symptoms throughout their lives, ranging from obesity to inflammation to sinus congestion.

Inflammation is one of the most common symptoms. A person allergic to corn may not even notice that they are swollen because they are used to it. If you wake up tired, have trouble getting down on your knees, think you have arthritis, notice ankle swelling, or an overall achy body, you may actually be allergic to corn. If not corn, you may be suffering from another allergy and it would be wise to see an allergist to know for sure.

Most patients with corn allergies experience fatigue, and it usually gets worse with age. They feel better before they eat than after. They usually have trouble getting through the day, and by late afternoon they were almost there. Many people with corn allergies have been diagnosed with other illnesses. The exhaustion is sometimes so terrible that a person with a corn allergy can only sleep late after coming into contact with corn.

Abdominal discomfort is extremely common in people with corn allergies. Some have been misdiagnosed with IBS, irritable bowel syndrome, or other intestinal diseases. Your doctor may have told you that you need more fiber. After eating, your stomach becomes very bloated. You may experience excessive belching or gas. In extreme times, you may have been to the emergency room with vomiting or experienced what some doctors call "blow-outs," where you struggle with alternating constipation and sudden diarrhea.

Chronic sinus problems are a telltale sign that you may have a food allergy. My own son suffered from shine, tired eyes, stuffy and runny nose, and postnasal drip for years. All of these symptoms were associated with corn. As a young child, he had trouble breathing and even had sleep apnea.

Pre-diabetes and insulin resistance symptoms may actually be corn allergies. A few times, after almost passing out after eating, I had wondered if I was becoming diabetic. I had all the symptoms of a pre-diabetic, someone who was insulin resistant. I even took medication for hypothyroidism. Of all the symptoms, these were by far the scariest. I felt dizzy, foggy, and cold most of the time. I couldn't garden or exercise because I was worried I would start to shake. Something was clearly wrong.

When we cut out high fructose corn syrup, cornstarch, monosodium glutamate, and dextrose and finally switched to sea salt, our corn allergy symptoms disappeared. My son and I both experienced a kind of rebirth. My son's nose is clear and his shimmers are gone. I planted two trees without fainting. My ankle swelling has almost disappeared and we have both lost a significant amount of weight without dieting. It's just a miracle that we figured out the connection between corn and our symptoms. Now we are on the road to recovery and the quality of life is absolutely a thousand percent better.

Inspired by Kimberly Arslan