Allergies

Over 20% of Americans suffer from some form of allergy. This is more than any other illness. Allergies occour when the individuals immune system overreacts to a substance that it perceives as a threat. This reaction can come in many different forms including hives, rash, swelling and breathing complications. Each year more than 17 million allergy related doctors visits are reported in the U.S. alone, occuring mostly in the spring and fall due to seasonal allergens. Although allergies are often perceived as a non-life threatening illness, that is not always the case. Over 400 Americans die every year due to allergies from doctor perscribed drugs, and nearly as many from food allergies each year.

Sesame Information

Sesame seeds have been used for many different reasons for thousands of years, most of these involving cuisine. While many people are only aware of sesame seed use, sesame oil is often extracted from the seeds and used in the perparation of food, mostly in Asian cuisine. Sesame is also used in many cosmetic make up brands, including lipstick, chapstick and eye shadow. Sesame seeds are most commonly used as a garnish for hamburger and sandwhich buns.

Sesame Allergy Information

Sesame Allergy was first documented in 1950, and has seen a rise in documentation and prevelance ever since. Sesame seeds are the primary cause of sesame allergy, as sesame seeds are often placed on top of breads and buns in many restaurants. In a recent study, it was found that sesame allergy is the worlds fourth most common allergy behind egg, milk and peanut. This is surprising, since before 1950 there was relatively few documented cases out of sesame allergy. In a similar study, it was found that sesame allergy in Israeli children is actually more prevelent than peanut allergy.

Symptoms of Sesame Allergy

Symptoms of sesame allergy include hives, swelling, hay fever, asthma, rash, and nasal congestion. Depending on the severity of their reaction, these symptoms can become quite debilitating. Many people who suffer from sesame allergy do not even realize they are suffering from a form of allergy for quite some time. This may because they aren’t able to make the connection between the symptoms and the consumption of sesame.

Sesame is also similar in chemical structure to peanut allergens, and this leaves individuals who suffer from sesame allergy with an increased risk for developing peanut allergies as well. There also appears to be some correlation between individuals who suffer from sesame allergy and rye, kiwi, and various treenut allergens (including walnut, hazelnut, and macadamia) as well.

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