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Are You Allergic To Citric Acid?
If you are experiencing one or more of the symptoms above
Do You Have a Citric Acid Allergy?There is some debate on the internet about whether such a thing as an allergy to citric acid is a known medical condition or not. Some people, including many M.D.s and other doctors (such as naturopaths) suggest that there is no such thing as an allergy to citric acid, instead calling it a "food sensitivity" or "food intolerance". Regardless of the terms currently used, the fact is that some of us have adverse reactions when we eat citric acid, and sometimes when we put it on our skin. Citric Acid is frequently made from Corn, and I believe that often a reaction to corn is actually a reaction to the citric acid that is in the corn. Citric acid is found in MANY foods naturally, and not just citrus fruits. The Difference Between Allergies and IntolerancesSo what exactly IS the difference between an allergy and an intolerance? Well, here is what I have managed to gather from my studies. To be an allergy, technically, your immune system has to be involved. That is, something has made your immune system start to do its job and try to protect you. The problem with allergies is that too often, your immune system seems to start doing its job when it doesn't need to, because it reacts to things that aren't really very harmful to you, such as pollen. A food intolerance (or food sensitivity) on the other hand, is a body's inability to digest certain compounds in food, but does NOT involve the immune system. The reasons that this happens seems to be caused by several factors, and more research needs to be done to determine what all of these factors are. ImportantIt's vitally important to determine whether or not you do indeed have an allergy or intolerance, and the only way to do this is to see a licensed doctor, preferably an allergist or other specialist in that field. Allergies can be life threatening (hence me saying it's VITALLY important) and many people are now prescribed "epi-pens" which are syringes full of epinephrine, which they must administer to themselves (or have others do it for them) if an attack happens when they aren't near a physician (which is most of the time of course). Citric Acid IntoleranceI've spoken with several doctors about citric acid intolerance, or citric acid allergy, and it seems to be new to most of them. It may be that MANY people are suffering from this, but they simply aren't aware of what is causing the symptoms, some of which are described below. While this probably isn't a life-threatening condition, because of its symptoms, it can be quite debilitating, and extremely embarrassing.
Hives and EczemaRedness and blotches, particularly around the head and face, and sometimes along with scaly skin, especially around the wrists and elbows.
Blurred VisionThough temporary, this can be severe enough to make it difficult to drive safely. Your eyes may also water uncontrollably.
RashesThese worsen over the course of several days, leaving your skin dry, itchy and flaking, as though you were suffering the after-effects of sunburn.
Difficulty BreathingThis usually takes the form of tightness in the throat, as though there is some constriction of the airways and nose, rather than direct problems with your lungs.
Stomach CrampsCitric acid intolerance is also often associated with bloating and/or diarrhea.
HeadachesThese will no doubt vary in intensity from person to person, but generally they are a lot more frequent than average, sometimes as much as every day.
Other SymptomsIf you have ANY symptoms that your doctor cannot account for, there is a possibility that you are allergic to something. It COULD be citric acid, or it could be something else that you are eating, drinking or are exposed to in some other way. This site, however, is dedicated ONLY to citric acid allergy, and citric acid intolerance. Stay Informed About Your Citric Acid Allergy
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Allergies
Disease category
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