Beets are considered one of the he althiest vegetables. But it happens that some people are allergic to beets. What to do in this situation? What are the symptoms of this disease? And in general, is it possible to take beets with allergies? You can find answers to all these questions in this article.
About the benefits of beets
This vegetable helps to strengthen the walls of not only blood vessels, but also capillaries. In addition, it has healing and anti-inflammatory properties. Beetroot also helps in removing radionuclides and toxins from the human body.
This vegetable is also known for its diuretic and choleretic properties. It is he who is recommended to be eaten by experts for anemia. This root crop prevents the development of malignant neoplasms.
Beets are eaten both raw and pickled, stewed.
The daily diet of a person with this vegetable provides his body with all the necessary trace elements and vitamins.
But, unfortunately, it happens that a reaction to it is revealed, namelybeetroot allergy. What are the symptoms of this disease? The answer to this question can be found in the next section of the article.
Symptoms of an allergic reaction to a vegetable
To begin with, you should monitor the body's reaction to eating beets. If an adult is allergic to beetroot, it should be excluded from their diet.
So, the signs of the disease are the appearance of a rash or redness of the skin, tearing and loose stools. Beetroot allergy symptoms such as angioedema and anaphylactic shock are very rare. As a rule, the most common are a rash on the cheeks, as well as intestinal upset.
How does the disease manifest itself in children?
Can babies be allergic to beets? Of course, yes.
If a nursing mother ate this vegetable, then with individual intolerance to this product, newborns have redness on their cheeks. In this situation, you should temporarily abandon the vegetable. And after a certain amount of time has passed, try to introduce it again into your diet. Other symptoms of beet allergy have been discussed above.
Baby root can be given only after 8 months. It is allowed, in the absence of an allergy to beets in a child, to give the baby a couple of drops of the juice of this vegetable, diluted with water. This is used to eliminate constipation.
Recommendations for illness
Please remember to introduce complementary foods carefully.
As was said, beets can begive after 8 months. And if there are allergies in the family, then only after they reach 18 months.
Until the age of 3, the child should only be given boiled beets. And fresh beetroot juice must be diluted with water.
Before use, the root crop should be carefully processed. Remember that a large amount of nitrates, which cause individual intolerance, are found in the peel.
Also, for starters, the vegetable can be diluted with products similar in composition. And then, in the absence of a reaction, try to introduce it into the diet yourself.
How to find out beetroot causes allergies or not? It's pretty easy to do this. After all, it is the mother of the baby who monitors the reaction of her child to a particular product. A blood test or a skin test will help confirm or refute.
If your child is allergic to beets, then you will have to exclude from the diet not only this vegetable, but also all those products that contain the dye of this root crop.
What are the causes of an allergic reaction?
One of the factors that is to blame for this disease is hereditary predisposition.
Other causes of beet allergy are hormonal problems, metabolic problems and poor nutrition.
In addition, it should be remembered that excessive consumption of sweets, as well as alcohol abuse and smoking can lead to the development of this disease.
Allergy to beets can occur in a baby who is inmother's womb.
Symptoms of this disease in a child before reaching the age of 1 year appear against the background of the fact that at that moment his digestive system is still poorly developed. As soon as it "ripens", problems of this kind should disappear.
Above, it was discussed how an allergy to beets in infants manifests itself, but there was no question of the reasons. So, sometimes the fault of this reaction is the parents. Because they're the ones feeding the wrong food. They give the vegetable in large quantities, although the required norm is 25 grams. Yes, and the root crop in the child's diet should be present only twice a week and not more often.
As a rule, the cause of individual intolerance to this product in adults is oxalic acid or an excess of vitamin C.
How is the diagnosis made?
This stage is necessary before the treatment itself. It is the diagnosis that will determine what is the allergen.
This vegetable is not always the cause of individual intolerance to the human body. It may be another product that is very similar in composition to beets.
Laboratory tests are done to determine the cause of an allergic reaction. These include elimination tests. Also, the doctor may send for a biochemical blood test. In this case, the blood is tested for antibodies.
There is another way to diagnose. To do this, an incision is made in the forearm, and the allergen is placed. After that, the body's reaction to it is checked.
About treating an allergic reaction
If the child hasor an adult has an individual intolerance to this product, then you need to contact a specialist. Only he can prescribe the only correct treatment.
The vegetable itself is excluded from the diet, as well as citrus fruits, dairy products and nuts. The latter, in turn, can also cause an allergic reaction. As a rule, a specialist prescribes a diet.
After the doctor prescribes antihistamines. They help block the production of histamine and eliminate the manifestation of reactions.
And in order to improve the functioning of the stomach and remove all toxins, it is necessary to take enterosorbents.
If there is a rash or redness on the skin, the specialist prescribes ointments or creams that help eliminate symptoms.
What can replace the root vegetable?
Can I use beets for allergies? As a rule, this question is often asked to a specialist. Of course not. But what can replace it? After all, it contains a huge amount of trace elements, as well as vitamins.
This root crop contains fiber, zinc, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, calcium and potassium. In addition, beets contain acids such as oxalic, malic, citric, folic, tartaric, lactic.
All these nutrients are also found in carrots. It is he who can become a substitute for beets. Carrots can be eaten both raw and cooked.
A little about preventive measures
Convinced that it is the beets that cause allergies, you can ask yourselfthe question: "How to prevent yourself from this?".
To do this, you must follow a few simple rules.
So, vegetables should be introduced only from 8 months. Do not give the vegetable separately, it is best to mix it with porridge. Portions, in the absence of a reaction, should be gradually increased.
If any of your relatives have an individual intolerance to this product, then you need to introduce it into the child's diet much later.
Children under three should not be given a fresh vegetable. Only boiled beets should be consumed.
After a child eats a root vegetable, you should carefully observe it for several days so as not to lose sight of the appearance of an allergy.
Under no circumstances should young children be given fresh beetroot juice. This is explained by the fact that it causes irritation. It is recommended to dilute it with carrot juice.
Be sure to thoroughly process the vegetable before cooking.
If you follow all the above tips, the risk of an allergic reaction to beets will be much lower.
Conclusions
If a child or an adult has an individual intolerance to beets or any other product, you should immediately contact a specialist. The doctor will help identify the allergen, as well as prescribe the right treatment.
In addition, remember: when a symptom such as Quincke's edema or anaphylactic shock appears, you can not self-medicate. In this case, you need to urgently seek an ambulancehelp, and give an antihistamine.
Parents should remember that your child is not allergic to beets, complementary foods with this root crop should be introduced gradually. And then the risk of individual intolerance will be the least.
