CORN ALLERGY



Living with Corn Allergy

Corn allergy is generally a hard to identify allergy. The symptoms from corn allergy can be similar to other food allergens even if reactions will vary significantly from person to person. Once you identify that you have this problem, you need to remove all corn from your diet. While some people are allergic to corn directly some react to corn protein as well.

Some Foods With Corn Content

All snacks like corn chips, corn tortillas, corn flakes and most importantly foods that are made with corn syrup, cornstarch or cornmeal can activate your allergy. While some of these food products are obvious of corn content, some are not which leaves one no option but to read the fine print in order to avoid a reaction.

Corn allergy also will get activated by corn flour, corn alcohol, corn gluten, corn sweetener, corn oil or corn popcorn. While processing corn oil, the corn protein is removed. If you know you only react to corn protein you will be safe to have corn oil.

Reading the labels can be tricky at times. Terms like "dextrose" (which is nothing but corn sugar) or glucose, dextrin, malt dextrin, caramel or malt syrup are also sources of corn that can introduce a corn allergy.

Yet another area to watch out for is soft drinks as many contain corn syrup as sweetener or coloring. Iodized salt and white vinegar may contain corn that can activate the corn allergy.

Other Products That Can Cause Corn Allergy

You need to watch out for a lot more then just food products if you are a victim of corn allergy. Some toothpaste is made with corn oil in enough quantities to set a corn allergy in motion. Also a large number of cream companies use corn oil as a texturizer agent and that too can and will set on an allergy.

You will be surprised to learn that corn is frequently used in adhesives for stamps and envelopes; plastic wrap, paper plates and cups too are coated with corn oil which can at times effect the very sensitive to have a severe corn allergy reaction.

Drugs

The corn allergy victims have to be careful and read every label. The very commonly used aspirin, suppositories, ointments, lozenges, laxatives, some vitamins contain corn starch or corn syrup.

It may look like the whole world is out to get the corn allergy victims but, if you read the labels carefully and always take your medications there is no reason not to avoid setting on a corn allergy reaction.