Maize Allergy
This is another uncommon food allergy. It is an allergic reaction that occurs when you consume raw or cooked maize or food with maize products. Among some people, allergic reactions to maize can be triggered even with maize products that are not necessarily edible e.g. medical products such as certain drugs.
Signs And Symptoms Of Maize Allergy
- Rashes
- Reddening of the skin
- Sneezing
- Nasal congestion
- Nausea and vomiting
- Abdominal discomfort
- Diarrhoea
- Itching
- Wheezing
- Headaches
How You Can Manage A Maize Allergy
If you have a maize allergy, you should inform your doctor about your symptoms. For example, you might identify that you constantly have similar symptoms after you consume maize or food ingredients that contain maize in them. Then, you can notify your doctor, and you will be requested to start on the elimination diet to determine foods you should avoid. Foods that will cause you to present with allergic symptoms after they are reintroduced to your diet, will be omitted from your diet. You may also need to have a food diary to account for when symptoms appear and the main foods that trigger those symptoms.
Alternatively , you may be required to undertake a food challenge test whereby as opposed to omitting maize and maize products like in the elimination diet trial, you will need to consume maize and its products to identify whether they are the trigger to your allergic reactions, under the supervision of your doctor.
Foods To Be Avoided
Foods and ingredients to be avoided include:
- Maize
- Glucose
- Maize flour
- Baking powder
- Vegetable starch
- Corn malt
- Corn meal
- Maltodextrin
- Corn starch
- Modified food starch
- Corn sweeteners
- Popcorn
- Corn syrups
- Lactic acid
- Dextrin