Our bodies are full of enzymes, proteins that help break down food. Alcohol intolerance is a problem with the specific enzyme that helps your body metabolize alcohol. Even drinking a small amount of alcohol (ethanol) causes unpleasant symptoms. Do you suffer from terrible hangovers or feel unwell after drinking just a small amount of alcohol? You may be intolerant – or even allergic – to alcoholic drinks. Sue Quinn explores the telltale signs of intolerances and allergies, the difference between them and what to do if you think you’re affected.
How can one differentiate between an alcohol allergy and alcohol intolerance?
- It was estimated that an American drank on average over 2.51 gallons of ethanol in 2021.
- There are also certain whiskeys made from sorghum (a gluten-free grain).
- Hodgkin lymphoma is a blood cancer that can affect a person’s lymphatic system.
- Additionally, certain alcoholic beverages, such as wine, may contain sulfites and other additives that can trigger allergic-like symptoms in sensitive individuals.
- Alcohol intolerance is a genetic condition where an individual’s digestive system cannot properly break down the substance.
- People with an alcohol allergy should exercise caution when eating or drinking anything that they have not prepared themselves.
Consuming alcohol can also increase the risk of severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) from other causes such as food. “True allergic reactions to alcohol, that includes wine, spirits, beer and the like, are not common,” Clifford Bassett, the medical director of Allergy & Asthma Care of NY, explained to me. Similarly, he said he’s treated people who were actually sensitive to barley, hops, or malt rather than beer, or to fruits mixed into cocktails rather than the alcohol itself. Genetic predisposition plays a significant role in the development of alcohol allergies and intolerance.
Sulfites intolerance
These compounds occur naturally in varying amounts in almost all foods, but are more prevalent in aged or fermented foods (like alcohol) since the histamine content in food increases over time. Consuming foods high in histamines on the regular “can worsen all underlying allergies by increasing inflammation in the body,” says Purvi Parikh, MD, allergist with Allergy & Asthma Network. Additionally, alcohol blocks the production of diamine oxidase (DAO), the enzyme in your body that helps break down histamine, says Alana Kessler, RDN and founder of Be Well.
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While a mild allergic reaction could be treated by over-the-counter antihistamines, according to Healthline, it is best to contact a doctor for guidance. They can range from mild to severe, according to Richmond, and may include runny nose, coughing, wheezing, itching or hives. More severe symptoms include swelling of the face, mouth, or tongue; nausea and vomiting; diarrhea; or lightheadedness.
- You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.
- Yeast is used in all fermented alcoholic beverages, including beer, wine, hard cider, and sake.
- You might also react to certain alcoholic beverages if you have a histamine or sulfites intolerance.
The highest prevalence (35-40 percent) is among in people of East Asian descent. Maria Azzurra Volpe is a Newsweek Life & Trends reporter based in London, U.K. Her focus whiskey allergy is reporting on everyday life topics and trending stories. Maria joined Newsweek in 2022 from Contentive and had previously worked at CityWire Wealth Manager.
“Some types of alcohol, such as wine, can contain sulfites which can worsen allergy symptoms,” Dr. Parikh says. Sulfites might sound sketchy, but they’re just natural by-products of wine fermentation. However, some people are sensitive to sulfites and experience symptoms like seasonal allergies when consuming them.
If in doubt, ask your allergy specialist for advice about the types of alcoholic beverages you can or cannot drink. People with mold or yeast allergies may have an allergic reaction https://ecosoberhouse.com/ to the brewer’s yeast used to make fermented beverages like beer, wine, and hard cider. A reaction to high-histamine foods could be a sign of histamine intolerance.
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