Contents
- 1 Adverse effects of eating a lot of strawberries
- 1.1 What are strawberries and what do they bring us?
- 1.2 What contraindications do strawberries have?
- 1.3 Are strawberries high in sugar and should people with diabetes or obesity avoid eating them?
- 1.4 Is it bad to eat strawberries for dessert?
- 1.5 Allergy to strawberries and other fruits: allergy to LTP
- 1.6 What other fruits can people with a strawberry allergy not eat?
- 1.7 Tips for a strawberry allergy
- 1.8 Swelling and itching in the mouth when eating strawberry
- 1.9 Can strawberry be consumed in the migraine diet?
- 1.10 Can strawberries be eaten on the FODMAPs diet or irritable bowel diet?
Adverse effects of eating a lot of strawberries
What are strawberries and what do they bring us?
Strawberries (Fragaria vesca L.) are fruits that are obtained from herbaceous plants belonging to the botanical family of Rosaceae. Like all fruits, strawberries are high in water (hydrating food), rich in fiber and also contain numerous antioxidants, such as vitamin C and bioflavonoids.
What contraindications do strawberries have?
Strawberries have no major contraindications and are well tolerated by most people. They can be used in numerous recipes and are also part of many home remedies and natural treatments.
In certain cases it is very dangerous to consume them and there are people who do not agree. The main contraindications of strawberries are mentioned below to prevent possible adverse effects of their consumption.
Are strawberries high in sugar and should people with diabetes or obesity avoid eating them?
It is a myth that strawberries (or other fruits) contain a lot of sugar or that they are dangerous for diabetes or obesity, quite the opposite. Eating fruit is suitable in these cases, since they provide very adequate antioxidant and cleansing components.
Its sugar content is adequate, both for its medium impact on the blood sugar level, and for its great satiating capacity. You do not have to avoid fruit in case of overweight or high sugar, but control that the diet and lifestyle are adequate.
Is it bad to eat strawberries for dessert?
Strawberries can be eaten between meals or after eating, as it does not ferment in the stomach.
Allergy to strawberries and other fruits: allergy to LTP
The most important contraindication that strawberries present is that they cause allergies. People with an allergy to this fruit should not try it even in small amounts, as they can develop exaggerated immune reactions that can be very serious (swollen throat, inability to breathe or even anaphylactic shock).
Allergy to strawberries is very common in children and adults in the Mediterranean basin. The allergy-causing component in strawberries is a type of protein called LTP, which is found in all fruit, but mostly in its skin.
What other fruits can people with a strawberry allergy not eat?
People with this type of allergy usually also have an allergy to other fruits of the Rosaceae family, because of a phenomenon known as cross-reaction, in which phylogenetically related plants share very similar proteins.
For this reason, people with a strawberry allergy also have an allergy to other fruits such as apples, apricots, peaches, cherries, rose hips or plums. Therefore, people with a strawberry allergy will probably also not be able to consume these fruits.
However, they do tend to tolerate other fruits that are botanically distant from these species, because their proteins are also very different. For this reason, other fruits such as citrus fruits (orange, lemon, tangerines), bananas, custard apples or pineapple are normally tolerated. When in doubt, it is advisable to consult an allergist.
Tips for a strawberry allergy
People with “fruit allergies” should avoid the consumption of strawberries in any preparation, whether raw, cooked, in the form of jam, sterilized homemade or commercial juices, fruit yogurts, smoothies, etc.
Even the contact of traces of this fruit by people with hypersensitivity or allergies can produce serious consequences, so contact with bags or objects that have been in contact with strawberries or other fruits should be avoided.
Swelling and itching in the mouth when eating strawberry
There are a number of symptoms that can alert us to a possible oral allergy to strawberries. These are those grouped within the oral allergy syndrome (OAS), a type of allergic reaction that occurs in the oral cavity due to components of strawberries called profilins (this is different from allergy to LTP, seen above).
Unlike the allergy to strawberry or LTP, this type of reaction only has effects in the oral cavity, so they are considered less serious. However, it is advisable to be alert, especially the first 30 minutes after they occur, to avoid confusing it with an allergy with effects on the whole organism. Problems from impaired breathing can also occur.
Can strawberry be consumed in the migraine diet?
The food theory that treats migraine considers that it is on account of the accumulation of histamine and the inability of the body to eliminate it. Therefore, in migraine diet, what is tried is to reduce the foods that contain histamine or that cause its accumulation.
In this case, strawberries are not suitable as they cause the release of endogenous histamine, which can aggravate migraine in people with DAO deficiency.
Can strawberries be eaten on the FODMAPs diet or irritable bowel diet?
Strawberries can be consumed if you follow a diet low in FODMAPs, which is a type of diet used in diet therapy to treat irritable bowel syndrome. However, strawberry jam is not suitable.
More information on strawberries
