Food Allergies and Men's Health

Adult-Onset Allergies Are More Common Than You Think

Shellfish is the classic example. Shrimp, crab and lobster allergy is one of the most common food allergies in adults, and it frequently appears for the first time in adulthood, even in people who have eaten shellfish all their lives. Food Allergy Research & Education notes that shellfish allergy is usually lifelong, so a first reaction is worth taking seriously.

Other allergies that commonly show up in adult men include fish, tree nuts and, increasingly, red meat.

Alpha-Gal Syndrome: The Red Meat Allergy

Alpha-gal syndrome is an allergy to a sugar molecule found in beef, pork, lamb and other mammal products. It's linked to tick bites, especially the lone star tick, which makes it more common in men who hunt, hike, fish or work outdoors. What makes it tricky is the delay: symptoms like hives, stomach pain or swelling often start three to six hours after eating, sometimes in the middle of the night, so many people never connect them to dinner.

Exercise Can Trigger a Reaction

Some adults only react to a food when they exercise within a few hours of eating it. This condition, called food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis, is most often linked to wheat, though shellfish and other foods can be involved. A man who has a reaction during a run or a workout, but can eat the same food on a rest day without trouble, should bring that pattern up with an allergist.

Medications Can Change How Reactions Play Out

Men managing high blood pressure or heart disease are often on beta-blockers or ACE inhibitors. These medications can make allergic reactions more severe or harder to treat with epinephrine. If you take them and have any food allergy, make sure your allergist and your prescribing doctor both know.

Inflammation, Blood Vessels and the Bigger Picture

Food allergies don't cause erectile dysfunction, but the two topics meet in an important place: overall vascular and metabolic health. Diet, chronic inflammation, blood pressure, blood sugar and weight all affect blood vessels, and the same blood vessel health affects erectile function. The Mayo Clinic lists heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure among the leading causes of erectile dysfunction, and ED can be an early sign of cardiovascular problems.

That's one reason it pays to look at men's health as a whole rather than one symptom at a time. If you're cutting foods because of suspected allergies, make sure your diet still supports heart and metabolic health. And if you're noticing changes in energy, libido or erectile function, it's worth getting checked. A primary care doctor, urologist or men's health clinic can check hormone levels, blood pressure and blood sugar and help sort out what's behind the symptoms.

When Men Should Get Tested

• You've had hives, swelling or vomiting after a meal, even once.
• You've reacted to shellfish or fish after years of eating them without problems.
• You get delayed, middle-of-the-night hives or stomach pain and spend time outdoors.
• You've had a reaction during or after exercise.
• You're on blood pressure or heart medication and suspect any food allergy.

Not sure whether your symptoms point to an allergy, an intolerance or a sensitivity? Start with our guide to the differences between food allergies and sensitivities. If your reactions happen with raw fruit and stay in your mouth, read about oral allergy syndrome and fruit allergies. For the other half of the household, see how food allergies affect women.