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Alpha Gal Syndrome Allergy Symptoms, Foods to Avoid, Hidden Sources of Mammal Products by The Allergy Chef

Alpha-Gal Syndrome: Allergy Symptoms, Foods to Avoid, & More

  • 13 min read
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You may have heard of Alpha Gal Syndrome, sometimes called Alpha-Gal Allergy, Tick Bite Meat Allergy, Mammalian Meat Allergy, or Red Meat Allergy. No matter which name you’ve heard for alpha-gal syndrome, today I’ll be sharing some helpful information with you, so you understand how to manage your food allergy.

Some patients experience a range of symptoms, that aren’t quick and obvious, and that makes it a lot harder to get a proper diagnosis. They may go to their primary care doctor with a range of symptoms that look like X or Y, when in reality, it was Z all along. One easy thing a patient can do is keep a detailed food journal (sometimes called a food diary).

Living with food allergies can be overwhelming and difficult at times, but have hope. As you navigate your diagnosis and become more comfortable over time, life does get easier and you’ll start to thrive.

What is a Food Allergy?

A food allergy is a response by your IgE antibodies (produced by your immune system) that’s triggered by a protein that your body sees as a threat. In the case of an alpha-gal allergy, a person has an allergic reaction when mammalian meat is consumed. This is not the same thing as a food intolerance or an autoimmune disease.

If you suspect you have a food allergy, ask your healthcare provider or doctor to refer you to an allergist where a blood test and/or skin prick test can be ordered to determine if you have an allergy. Know that tests are not 100% accurate, but are still a good diagnostic tool.

A “true” food allergy allergic reaction is IgE mediated, and the immune system usually elicits a reaction within immediate ingestion to four hours. Outside of that time frame, it’s usually suspected that you have a food intolerance.

However, there are some types of allergenic diseases that are “true” food allergies and the reactions happen outside of the four hour window (FPIES is a great example of this). Additionally, a person can have a more rare or complex case and suffer from a delayed allergic reaction (which can still be caused by “true” food allergies).

Food allergies can be life threatening and should always be taken seriously. Work with your allergist and health care providers to create an action plan that will meet your needs. if you’re experiencing symptoms of a meat allergy and are having a medical emergency, it’s important to use your epinephrine auto-injector (the most common types are an Epi-Pen and AvuiQ) if you have one and seek immediate medical treatment and followup.

Symptoms of an Alpha-Gal Allergy

Symptoms of an allergic reaction can vary person to person, as no two people are the same. Some alpha gal syndrome allergic symptoms can include:

  • Swelling of the Lips
  • Swelling of the Tongue
  • Swelling of the Throat
  • Itchy Mouth and/or Throat
  • Shortness of Breath
  • Difficulty Breathing
  • Wheezing
  • Skin Rashes
  • Itching
  • Hives
  • Racing Heart Rate
  • Decreased Blood Pressure or Low Blood Pressure
  • Impending Doom/Dread
  • Dizziness
  • Fainting/Loss of Consciousness
  • Severe Stomach Pain
  • GI Distress
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting (including projectile vomiting)
  • Diarrhea
  • Blood in Stool

These alpha-gal allergy symptoms are more on the severe side of the allergic reaction spectrum, and can indicate anaphylaxis. It’s critical that if you see these allergy symptoms that you seek immediate medical help. If you have a known allergy, follow your action plan.

There are hundreds of symptoms a person can experience, but it’s important to know three things about allergy symptoms and reactions:

  • Not every reaction is anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction). People can have a “non-traditional” alpha-gal allergy reaction to food and still have a case of AGS.
  • Should a person experience anaphylaxis, it’s important to seek immediate medical treatment (use your epinephrine injector if you have one). When left untreated, anaphylaxis can lead to anaphylactic shock, which can cause death.
  • Previous allergic reactions don’t predict future reactions (or the severity), and in some patients, continued exposure to known allergens can cause more severe reactions each time.

I’ll also add this: if you’re managing a child with any type of allergic condition, they may talk about reactions differently. They’ll use language that sometimes seems like they’re telling you an odd story or playing pretend. A phrase such as “there’s a snake in my stomach” could actually mean “I’m experiencing extreme abdominal pain”.

What is Alpha Gal Syndrome

Commonly called a red meat allergy, alpha-gal syndrome is when the body produces an allergic reaction to the galactose-alpha1, 3-galactose (that’s where the name alpha gal comes from). Essentially, IgE antibodies are produced by your immune system when you consume mammalian meat.

One hallmark feature of alpha-gal in many patients is that the reaction is a delayed reaction. Delayed allergic reactions happen outside of the traditional four hour timeframe, but is still a true allergy. In the case of alpha gal, researchers believe the delayed reaction is because it takes alpha-gal molecules longer to be digested.

It’s suspected that here in the United States a lone star tick bite can cause this allergy to develop, however, there may be other contributing factors. It also doesn’t appear that other tick species are suspected as a cause of alpha gal syndrome. This particular diagnosis is not something we have loads of scientific data on, and as time goes on, I’m sure we’ll know a lot more.

Related Resources

Pork Allergy Foods to Avoid and Hidden Sources of Pork by The Allergy Chef Hidden Sources of Milk and Dairy

Mammal Meats to Avoid

Whilst this isn’t an exhaustive list, here are the types of meats you’ll need to eliminate from your diet. I’ve included the meats you’re most likely to find in grocery stores. Also know, you won’t be able to use the terms “red meat” and “white meat” when understanding what to eat and what to avoid. That’s because those terms refer to the amount of myoglobin within the meat, not if the meat comes from a mammal.

  • Beef
  • Bison
  • Boar
  • Camel
  • Deer
  • Elk
  • Goat
  • Lamb
  • Mutton
  • Pork
  • Rabbit (though the meat is white, rabbits are mammals)
  • Venison

What Does Management of Alpha-Gal Syndrome Look Like?

The treatment for alpha-gal syndrome is the avoidance of all meat products. In some cases of AGS, patients must also avoid by-products of mammals such as dairy products and gelatin, as those have been known to cause allergic reactions in some. If you’re new to the diagnosis, it’s a good idea to keep a detailed food diary (aka food journal) so you’ll know what type of mammal by-products you can consume, should you choose to keep them in your diet.

Those who manage alpha-gal syndrome can still consume avian animals (chicken, turkey, etc.) along with fish and shellfish. In the early days, you can look to “vegan” products specifically, as they eliminate all forms of mammalian products.

For those who can’t consume gelatin, you won’t be able to rely on the term “vegetarian” when shopping for food products since the vegetarian diet allows for animal by-products (dairy products, eggs, gelatin, etc.).

Creating an Alpha Gal Friendly Meal Plan

If you’re new and wondering what to eat, let’s talk about how you can create a meal plan. First, it’s important to remember that you still have access to a lot of ingredients. You have all fruits, vegetables, beans and pulses, chicken, turkey, fish, shellfish, nuts, seeds, spices, and herbs. With those ingredients, you can do so much, trust me.

Here’s an example of a 3 day menu when managing alpha gal syndrome.

Monday

  • Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs (cooked in vegan butter) + Toast + Fresh Fruit
  • Lunch: PBJ + Fruit + Veg
  • Dinner: Peanut Chicken & Rice

Tuesday

Wednesday

  • Breakfast: Turkey Bacon + Oven Roasted Potatoes + Peas
  • Lunch: Beet & Chicken Chili + Chips for dipping
  • Dinner: Tuna + Veggies + Rice

Need alpha-gal friendly recipes? Check out the Advanced Recipe Search RAISE where you can use more than 125 filters for food allergies and special diets, including alpha-gal syndrome.

Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Egg Free Maple Peanut Chicken Recipe by The Allergy Chef Gluten Free Dairy Free Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup Flavoured Rice Recipe by The Allergy Chef
Dutch Oven Beet and Chicken Chili Recipe by The Allergy Chef (Allium Free, Top 9 Allergy Free) Dutch Oven Creamy Legume Free Potato Stew by The Allergy Chef (Gluten Free, Vegan)

Hidden Sources of Mammalian Products

It’s obvious that you’ll need to avoid anything made with red meat, however, animal/mammalian products can be used in a wide range of ways that don’t scream red meat. And remember, not everyone has to avoid these products. Here are several to look out for:

  • Artisan Ice Cream (ice cream flavoured with bacon will be the top culprit)
  • Baked Goods (usually as lard)
  • Black Pudding
  • Broth & Stocks (some are made with animal parts, look for Vegan Broth to avoid this)*
  • Bone Meal
  • Butter
  • Carbonara
  • Cassoulet (a bean forward stew made with meat)
  • Collagen
  • Cracklings
  • Caul Fat (sometimes called lace fat)
  • Cured Meats (pepperoni, salmi, etc.)
  • Cutlets (a generic meat term that usually refers to chicken or pork)
  • Drippings
  • Fatback
  • Gelatin (usually beef derived, can be pork derived, and gelatin is found in a wide range of ingredients including fruit snacks and gummy bears)
  • Ghee (clarified butter)
  • Gravy & Sauces (usually as lard or fat)
  • Grease
  • Lard
  • Natural Flavoring
  • Medical Products
  • Milk, Casein, Whey
  • Milk Derived Products (cheese, cream cheese, heavy cream, sour cream, kefir, yogurt, etc.)
  • Organ Meats
  • Paleo Breadcrumbs (some are made from pork rinds)
  • Pie Shells (some are made with lard rather than butter or shortening)
  • Personal Care Products (you’ll often see collagen used in products)
  • Rennet
  • Tallow
  • Terrine (more common in fine dining, but can include a very wide range of ingredients, including red meat)
  • Tortillas
  • Shared Grills and Shared Fryers
  • Southern Style Foods including Cornbread (can be made with animal products)
  • Sugar (most sugar is processed with bone char, purchase vegan sugar, most organic sugar is also vegan)
  • Vitamins & Supplements

*It’s important that you look for vegan broth, not “vegetable broth”, as vegetable broth can contain animal parts. Additionally, vegetarian broth can also contain mammalian products.

For those who need a collagen supplement, Further Foods sells a fish based collagen option.

Answering Your Alpha Gal Syndrome Questions

Do I need to avoid all mammal meat if I have Alpha Gal Syndrome?

Yes, you’ll need to avoid all mammal meat if you have alpha-gal syndrome. If there’s something you’d like to do a food trial of, work with your doctor(s). They can assess your unique case and see if there’s anything worth trialing.

Can I still drink cow’s milk if I have Alpha Gal Syndrome?

In some cases of AGS, yes, you’ll still be able to have cow’s milk, and milk from other mammals (buffalo, camel, goat, sheep). In other cases of AGS, you won’t be able to consume any dairy products, and possibly other mammal products.

You’ll want to keep a detailed food journal and work with your medical team to assess what (if anything) should have a food trial to see how your body responds to these products. Unfortunately, there’s no hard and fast rule as to who will be able to have mammalian products and who won’t.

Will new tick bites make my condition worse?

According to the CDV (U.S. gov website), new tick bites may reactivate allergic reactions to alpha-gal. What this means is you’ll want to be cautious and do what you can to prevent new tick bites. There are lots of websites dedicated to the topic of protective gear, and those are a great starting point if you plan on spending ample time outdoors.

A few ways to aid in prevention bites from ticks: cover up exposed sink in grassy and wooded areas, use insect repellant, and always check yourself (and your children and pets) for tick bites when you come in.

If you are an avid outdoors person, make sure you visit specialty clothing stores that have gear and garments that can better protect you.

How do I know if I’ll have a severe allergic reaction?

Unfortunately, your allergy test results (even if you have high numbers) can’t predict the type of allergic reactions you’ll experience. If you’ve had a reaction in the past, this medical history can give some insight, but can’t predict 100% what future reactions will look like.

Since no two people are the same, I can’t tell you what to expect. Some allergy patients only ever have GI symptoms whilst others always experience several of the severe symptoms of alpha-gal syndrome.

The best thing you can do for yourself is document your experiences. I’m going to assume you’re only managing alpha-gal rather than multiple food allergies. Anytime you think you may be experiencing symptoms of an allergic reaction, seek medical treatment, but also document everything as best as you can. This allows you to figure out the trigger food, but also keeps a record of the types of reactions you’re prone to having.

From my own personal experiences I can tell you that with some foods, the symptoms are always the same. With other foods, bell pepper as an example, continued exposure to bell pepper made the reactions more severe each time. Except for me, it was all contact and airborne reactions (I wasn’t even eating the bell pepper). So even in me, one person, the reactions can change. Additionally, with my test results, some items that had high numbers had mild reactions and some foods with low numbers produced the most severe allergic reactions for me.

Since a severe allergic reaction is of concern for you, make sure you have a solid action plan and an epi-pen available for a worst case scenario.

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