Popcorn & the Digestive Tract

Can microwave popcorn irritate the colon/rectum causing minimal bleeding when defecating?  How do you know if you are allergic to nuts and corn?  I was eating almonds ( a lot) for a few days and then had a bag of popcorn on a relatively empty stomache (ate only one small meal that day.  

[Bridget A. Hewitt, RN]

HI and thanks for using the forum.

I don't know if popcorn itself can irritate the colon/rectum, but it can cause constipation which could lead to some minor bleeding during defecating because of hard stools.  An allergic reaction to food usually occurs within 2 hours of eating the substance.  Typically, symptoms include tingling in the mouth, swelling of the face and/or tongue, difficulty swallowing, difficulty breathing, and hives.  Some people have an intolerance to certain foods, meaning they are not necessarily allergic to it, but it causes them some distress when they eat it such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pains.  

My feeling would be that you are not allergic to either, but that you should try eating them in moderation sinced they seemed to have bothered your stomach a bit.  

One other thought is that some people have a condition called diverticulosis which can be aggravated by nuts, seed and snacks like popcorn.  Diverticulosis is a condition involving the large intestine where there are multiple "pouches" that bulge out from the large intestine. Certain foods (like nuts, seeds, popcorn) can get caught in these pouches and cause them to become inflamed (this is called diverticulitis).  People with this condition are recommended to follow a special diet to avoid foods that trigger diverticulitis.  If you are concerned that you may have something wrong, then I would recommend seeing your doctor and discussing your symptoms with him/her.   If this is a one time symptom, then you could wait and see how you feel in a few days.  OF course, if you have any persistent bleeding or pain, then you should go see your doctor.  Good luck.

Bridget