Wheat pollen allergy

[Jeffy66]

I know from a test done a while back that I'm allergic to wheat pollen, does this mean that I'm likely to be allergic to wheat as in food? Or are they normally unrelated? I feel **** most of the time despite healthy eating and excersize and have chronic sinus issues all year round.

[FurballsMom]

I'm not a doctor, but I have experience with gluten intolerance.  It *****, but there are worse things in life.  Plus, there are plenty of other foods that one can eat, even if it doesn't seem like it in a Western culture and diet.  Gluten intolerance is actually quite common in people.  While growing up no one in my family wised up to the fact that my siblings and I had health issues due to gluten intolerance.  Now, though, we know better.

Yes, gluten intolerance can cause you to have chronic sinus issues.  It can cause emotional issues such as depression and irritability.  It can cause hyperactivity in children.  It can cause adults to feel fatigued.  It can cause ADD in children and adults.

For some people the gluten intolerance is specifically to wheat.  For many others it isn't wheat alone that causes the gluten intolerance.  You must keep in mind that there are several grains that are close cousins to the wheat that is used commercially, too.  Spelt and kamut are actually types of wheat.  They're just not the hybrid form of wheat that is used commercially.  Then, too, don't forget that orzo is a type of pasta that is about the same size and shape as grains of rice.  Many people really confuse the issue when it comes to couscous--again, it is pasta and not a grain.  Unless your pasta says that it is made with rice, it is made with wheat.  It is usually semolina flour or sometimes durham flour.  These are types of wheat flour.

Some of us who are gluten intolerant can't eat corn either, even though it doesn't contain gluten.  It is quite common to have issues with corn and wheat both.

I mention gluten, because many with wheat allergy or sensitivity are also allergic or sensitive to other grains that contain this protein called gluten.  Gluten is the sticky protein that gives bread dough its elasticity.  Many people don't test positive for wheat or gluten allergy in the allergist's office but will still have a bad reaction.  This is what is referred to as food sensitivity.  The substance must still be avoided to keep from being sick or miserable all the time.  Many of us simply don't digest this type of protein very well.

Wheat is a type of grass that humans eat the seeds of.  So, it stands to reason that you may have issues with other grains, which also are grasses.  The ones I imagine you would most likely have problems with would be the ones with the protein in them called gluten.  The ones you're most likely to encounter that contain gluten are:  barley, rye, kamut, spelt, triticale, teff and oats.  This is addition to the known allergen, wheat.

If you find that gluten is the problem and not just the wheat itself, then you are automatically lactose intolerant.  The two problems go hand-in-hand.  And, yes, eating the stuff can cause the chronic sinus issues.

[Dr_Subir]

Wheat pollen allergy has nothing to do with gluten allergy. They might co-exist.