What are the symptoms of a chickpea allergy?
Everyone experiences symptoms a little differently. Some of the most common chickpea allergy symptoms are:
- Skin reactions like itchy skin, redness, hives or swelling.
- Diarrhea, abdominal cramps and vomiting.
- Changes in blood pressure.
- Coughing or wheezing.
- Tightness in your throat.
- Itchiness or burning in your mouth.
People with severe allergic reactions may experience anaphylaxis. This is a medical emergency that requires immediate care. Symptoms of anaphylaxis include:
It’s important to note that there’s a difference between an intolerance and an allergy. An intolerance mainly affects your stomach and digestive system. It may cause symptoms like bloating, diarrhea and passing gas. An immune system allergic reaction affects multiple organ systems, including your respiratory system, skin, cardiovascular system and others. So, symptoms affect many different parts of your body.
What causes an allergy to chickpeas?
An allergic reaction happens when your body thinks a food or substance is harmful to your body. It reacts by making antibodies called IgE antibodies (immunoglobulin E). These antibodies cause your body to release a variety of chemicals, including histamine, which gives you allergy symptoms.
For chickpeas specifically, researchers believe your immune system reacts to chick pea globulin, prolamin or albumin, which are proteins in chickpeas. The proteins remain in chickpeas even when they’re roasted or cooked.
Who gets chickpea allergies?
Anyone can be allergic to chickpeas. But, you may be more likely to have an allergy if you:
- Have an allergy to a legume like peanuts or soybeans. One study found that 1 in 20 people with an allergy to one legume also had an allergy to another type of legume. This is because all legumes contain similar proteins.
- Have other allergies.
- Have asthma or eczema.
- Live in areas of the world where chickpeas are more abundant in the cuisine, like India and countries around the Mediterranean.
Do chickpeas trigger a peanut allergy?
No. The two are related because they’re both in the legume family and contain similar proteins. Your healthcare provider is the best person to discuss potential allergies with.
Am I allergic to chickpeas if I’m allergic to peanuts?
No, not necessarily. While they contain similar proteins, you don’t automatically have an allergy to chickpeas if you have a peanut allergy. You should let your healthcare provider know if you have a peanut or soy allergy as this could help with your diagnosis.
What are the complications of this condition?
The most serious complication of a chickpea allergy is going into anaphylactic shock. This involves a severe drop in blood pressure, severe shortness of breath and possible loss of consciousness. If you experience symptoms of anaphylaxis, visit an emergency room immediately. Most allergic reactions to chickpeas are mild and not life-threatening.
FAQs
How common are chickpea allergies? Chickpea allergies aren't one of the more common legume allergies. Peanut and soybean allergies tend to be the most common. The exact number of people with a chickpea allergy is unknown, but researchers believe it's more common in countries where eating chickpeas is more prevalent.
Is chickpea a peanut allergy? ›
Peanuts grow underground and are considered legumes. Most individuals with peanut allergy can tolerate other legumes, such as peas, soy beans, lentils and chickpeas. Fewer than 5-10% of peanut allergic people have an allergy to other legumes.
Who should not eat chickpeas? ›
People with the following digestive tract diseases are advised to avoid chickpeas:
- Crohn's disease.
- Ulcerative colitis.
- Diverticulitis.
- Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction.
- Lactose intolerance.
- Hirschsprung disease.
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease.
- Irritable bowel syndrome.
Chickpeas contain oligosaccharides, which are a type of carbohydrate that the body cannot digest easily. This can lead to bloating, gas, and discomfort in the stomach. Some people may also be intolerant to chickpeas, leading to digestive issues. Why do cucumbers cause stomach pain?
What's the rarest food allergy? ›
10 Rare Food Allergies to Watch Out
- Bananas. It is less likely that you find a person allergic to bananas within your circle. ...
- Avocados. The trend of avocado toasts led to people discovering they're allergic to the fruit itself. ...
- Coconut. ...
- Corn. ...
- Mango. ...
- Gelatin. ...
- Red Meat.
Legumes are a broad category of beans, lentils, and peanuts. The following legumes don't have a lot of histamine but have high levels of histamine-like chemicals: Chickpeas.
Why can I eat Chick Fil A when I'm allergic to peanuts? ›
For customers concerned about peanut allergies, it may be helpful to know that our peanut oil is refined, bleached and deodorized, which means the proteins in the oil are stripped out during the processing.
What is the allergen in chickpeas? ›
Unfortunately, it can be more difficult to test for chickpea allergy compared to other legumes. The Molecular Nutrition and Food Research journal notes that there are no registered allergens associated with chickpeas. However, the proteins in chickpeas can have significant potential for allergen activity.
Can you eat hummus if you are allergic to nuts? ›
Sesame Seeds
Allergy to sesame seed occurs in some children with a nut allergy. If your child has an allergic reaction to sesame seeds these should be avoided. Hummus dip and tahini are made from sesame seeds and should be avoided in sesame seed allergy.
What allergens are in hummus? ›
The ingredient in hummus that most concerns parents is tahini. A paste made from toasted, ground sesame seeds and oil. As with a peanut allergy, a sesame allergy can be also be severe. Sesame seeds are one of the top ten most allergenic foods.
People should not eat raw chickpeas or other raw pulses, as they can contain toxins and substances that are difficult to digest. Even cooked chickpeas have complex sugars that can be difficult to digest and lead to intestinal gas and discomfort.
Why can't I eat chickpeas? ›
Chickpea intolerance. Even if you don't suffer from chickpea allergy, you may experience symptoms because of chickpea intolerance. Chickpeas intolerance arises when we lack the enzyme required to digest it. This leads to fermentation in the large intestines and gastrointestinal symptoms like bloating and stomach ache.
How do I know if I'm allergic to chickpeas? ›
Symptoms of a chickpea allergy include:
- Burning or tingling in your mouth.
- Itchy mouth.
- Trouble swallowing.
- Shortness of breath.
- Wheezing.
- Swelling in your mouth, throat, face, or other areas.
- Nausea.
- Throwing up.
High FODMAP foods that you should avoid include:
Galactans: Legumes, such as beans (including baked beans), lentils, chickpeas, and soybeans. Polyols: Sugar alcohols and fruits that have pits or seeds, such as apples, apricots, avocados, cherries, figs, peaches, pears, or plums.
Why am I so gassy after chickpeas? ›
So, what foods cause gas and bloating? Legumes (beans, peas, lentils, chickpeas, broad beans) are at the top of the list of foods that cause bloating. The reason for this is raffinose, a complex carbohydrate composed of glucose, fructose, and galactose.
Is chickpea difficult to digest? ›
People should not eat raw chickpeas or other raw pulses, as they can contain toxins and substances that are difficult to digest. Even cooked chickpeas have complex sugars that can be difficult to digest and lead to intestinal gas and discomfort.
Can you eat hummus if you have a nut allergy? ›
Sesame Seeds
Allergy to sesame seed occurs in some children with a nut allergy. If your child has an allergic reaction to sesame seeds these should be avoided. Hummus dip and tahini are made from sesame seeds and should be avoided in sesame seed allergy.
Is being allergic to peas rare? ›
Outside of the top food allergies (i.e., milk, egg, wheat, soy, peanut, tree nuts, fish, shellfish), allergies to other legumes including peas are thought to be the next most common allergy. People are usually not allergic to all legumes, but allergy to more than one legume often occurs.
