Allergy Foodie is so excited to have its first reader contribution – thank you Ali! I wrote an article about flax seed allergy a few months back and since then Ali has helped me answer the many questions other readers have had about this uncommon allergy. But for her I would have never known that microwaveable neck /back/foot wraps may contain flax seeds and cause a reaction in those people who are severely allergic to flax seed. Her input has been so invaluable that I requested her to write a guest post about flax seed allergy. What follows is her personal journey – the symptoms, the many missteps towards isolating the food that caused her allergic reaction, online resources and much more.
April of 2004 was my first encounter with (what would take nearly a year to discover) a severe food allergy. Back then, I actually thought that it was food poisoning and didn’t give it much credence.
At the time, I was in excellent shape, working at a women’s fitness center and trying to eat healthier. I would suffer from hideous menstrual cramps but didn’t like to take anti-inflammatories because they would wreak havoc on my stomach. Someone had told me that flax seed oil was a natural anti-inflammatory, and also had other health benefits, so I decided to try it. The problems to come weren’t immediately noticeable because I didn’t take the capsules all the time. However, I did observe that I would get nauseous for some unknown reason and but wrote it off as being related to having my periods. Then all of a sudden I started to get really sick after eating certain foods. I would get extremely nauseous and have violent pain in my stomach like a knife stabbing my gut and twisting. I was never able to throw up and had to take many trips to the emergency room, but each time, they said they couldn’t find anything wrong with me. When they asked me to describe the pain, I kept telling them that it felt as though I was being poisoned. I went to a gastroenterologist to have an endoscopy, among other tests, but again, he found nothing wrong. He then sent me to another GI specialist. The specialist said it looked as if I had idiopathic gastroparesis (http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/gastroparesis/), a serious stomach disorder. After seeing another specialist in Philadelphia, and then a surgeon, they suggested that I have a stomach pacer put in. At this point in time, I weighed only 104 lbs and looked anorexic because I had become fearful of eating anything that might make me sick and would send me to the ER. Thankfully, I had subscribed to a support group on line and after reading the stories from the other members; I insisted that this was not the disorder that I had, so I refused to let them perform the surgery.
When I got violently sick one day after having lunch at work which resulted in having to go to the ER yet again, I called the restaurant from which our lunch had come from. I knew that the salad could not have been the source of the problem, and, at this point, I already had my suspicions about flax seed. However, every doctor I would bring up the flax seed issue with would just wave me off and say they didn’t think that could be the cause. I don’t think any of them believed that something that is normally so good for you could be causing all of this pain. When the restaurant returned my phone call, and confirmed my suspicions about what was in the roll that their employee had originally told me was whole wheat, I knew I had found the source of my problems. The roll, as it turned out, was whole grain, and it did indeed contain flax seed. I went back in my head and thought of everything that had ever made me sick, and, one by one, the answer s led back to the same component - “flax seed”. My trips to the ER were caused by: a granola sample in Costco that stopped me in my tracks, when, within seconds of eating it, I got that strange metallic taste in my mouth; a peanut butter and jelly sandwich that I had made on 7 grain bread, instead of my usual white bread; the finger sandwiches at mom’s birthday party made of whole grain bread; the whole grain pretzels, the flat bread sandwich and so on…
When I finally went to an allergist, she confirmed it, and I was more than happy to go to my other doctors and tell them “I told you so!”. As a result, now, I have to read everything before I eat it, and if there are no listed ingredients available, I don’t eat it. There is a lot more to this story besides the pain and the year it took to discover my real problem. There was the medication I was given for a stomach disorder I didn’t have that caused me to spiral into a major depression (a “RARE” side effect), the loss of money from having to drop out of massage therapy school because of the depression. The anti-depressants that didn’t work because I was still taking the medicines that were causing the depression. Researching my medicines and finding the answer to my depression to be the medication I was given for the disorder I didn’t have. This was something that both my doctor and my pharmacist should have easily figured out if they actually knew what the side effects of the first medication was. I went through hell.
One of the biggest problems I had was that when I would look up flax seed on the Internet, all I could find were the benefits of taking it. Then one day, I finally had the clarity to look up flax seed allergy and found this under the heading of “Safety” in this article by the Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/flaxseed/NS_patient-flaxseed Nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain are reported in two individuals shortly after taking flaxseed products by mouth; these reactions may have been caused by allergy.
So, I hope by sharing this, someone will look up the words “flax seed allergy” and see this story, saving them months, or even years of unnecessary pain, misdiagnosis’, or, God forbid, something worse resulting from a misdiagnosis. I can offer this suggestion to you: If you feel like you may have an allergy to something that is uncommon, don’t wait, go to an allergist. If something unknown is making you sick, start a food diary and know everything that is in what you are eating so you have proof that there is that one common factor. And, if a doctor makes a suggestion or diagnosis that you are not certain about, get a second, third, fourth opinion until you are sure, and comfortable that what they are telling you is true. If I had not been so inquisitive and not done my own research, who knows what may have happened, or how much longer it may have taken to discover what was wrong. I wish you all the best of health.
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Wow! Ali, thanks for sharing your story. I am certain that there are a lot of undiagnosed allergies out there. This is the first I have heard of flax seed allergy.
i also have a severe allergy to flax seed and would like to have all the info i can gather so i stop ingesting it by mistake…its a rather hidden ingredient.
Thanks Elyse for visiting my blog
Flax seed has indeed bacome omnipresent – people (me included) add it to pretty much anything to enhance nutritional content. Wish you the very best.
I really don’t want to use my epi-pen so try very hard not to ingest flax by accident. I read ingredients carefully — especially on crackers, cereals, and breads. There are also flax chips out now. In restaurants I ask the server what is in the bread. And if I’m not sure about it but want to try it, I take a tiny bite and chew very slowly. My throat will start to tingle before I swallow and I can spit it out before anything major happens.
I hope this has helped people realize that not everything that is claimed to be “good for you”, actually is. And I hope this helps those people out there who may have this very real allergy be able to take the information to their doctor’s, who, sadly, may not believe they have this rare allergy. Thanks Anu for allowing me to share and also for having this invaluable web site.
Wondering if you have any alternative to flax seeds or flax seed meal – thanks!
I’ve also got the allergy to flax and I’ve learned to be VERY cautious when buying food or eating out. Anything that says “multi-grain” or “Omega-3″ is something that I scrutinize carefully.
Hi Daryl,
Thanks for visiting AllergyFoodie and sharing your story. You brought up 2 very important points:
1) Omega 3 should be a red signal for people with flax seed allergy. It has often been touted as the best vegetarian source of Omega 3 fatty acids.
2) Always carry Benadryl and Epipen. Mistakes are common with labeling, in restaurants and even in home-cooked meals. ‘Forearmed’ is the only way to stay safe.
Best wishes,
Anu
Bunny,
I’m not ceratincertain of the substitution that you’re looking for, but you can try grinding up walnuts since they are rich in Omega -3 and perhaps adding that to oatmeal in the morning.
Daryl, good idea! I know it can sometimes be a pain to have to dissect everything, but you get used to it. And, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Your posting here may have saved myself from the same misery. I started taking Flax seed powder to help pre-menopause symptoms. It seems I have developed this same allergy and today was excruciating, very similar pain to what you described. I didn’t think about the flax seed until this morning after I immediately had pain after taking it. But I am also having severe diarrhea and then dehydration. I am going to go to the doctor today but will print your posting. I will let you know how it goes!
Although it took me many months to figure out, I, too, have an allergy to flaxseed. In my case, about 20 to 30 minutes after ingesting, I get a pounding headache which is quickly followed by stomach pain, nausea, and vomitting. After vomitting, I feel completely better. It amazes me that even a tiny amount (less than 2% flaxseed in multigrain bread) causes this reaction. I am very cautious when buying anything labelled “multigrain” and scour the ingredient list to make sure it does not include flaxseed. I have never tried flaxseed oil for fear of a similar reaction.
I have been aware of my allergy to flaxseed since 2005 when I ate one of my husband’s Cliff Bars and became sick with diarrhea, vomitting, and stomach cramping. I had never had food allergies or GI problems before this, and I knew it was from the Cliff Bar. I read the ingredients on the package and remember seeing flaxseed listed. I didn’t think anything about it until a few months later when I ate a multi-grain bagel and became so sick that I had to leave work. All the symptoms from the first time, plus headache, and a racing heart rate. Since then I have been very careful, but even Quaker oatmeal packets that I have eaten for years are now “New and improved” with flax-seed added…multi-grain was easy to stay away from, but butter with flaxseed added to it will be more and more difficult to monitor. My doctor thought I was crazy for thinking it was an allergy to flaxseed, but I know what I eat! My last episode happened last Sunday after a whole year of being careful and not having a reaction. The restaurant claims that they do not use flaxseed, but I truly believe that they must have used butter or another cooking ingredient which contained flaxseed, because I know the feeling now. It comes upon me very quickly and is the same feeling every time. I believe that more and more people will find that they have this allergy/intolerance as time goes on, they just haven’t narrowed it down to the particular source yet.
Thanks for sharing your story, Ali. It’s amazing how similar your story is to my experience – symptoms, visits to ER, medical tests etc. I recently discovered my allergy to flax seed recently by being carefully aware of what I eat as you suggest.
I went to the ER twice before I figured out flax was the one thing I had done in common that day. My blood pressure went to almost stroke level both times.I was given a prescription for a very high blood pressure med and told I would have to take it forever. Thankfully I figured it out first before I became dependent on them. I cannot even smell large quantities of flax without my BP going through the roof. I have to carry Benydrl or else drink a lot of water which helps, also apple cider vinegar mixed with water helps get rid of the symptoms . I hate flax.
I too am VERY allergic to Flax seed and it took me 3 encounters over almost 2 years to pin it down. My first reaction was to a bare naked granola item (Banana Walnut flavored). My second was to a homemade pasta I made and third and final was a flax seed cracker. Each time the reaction was worse. Incredibly itchy throat and mouth, followed by wretching stomach pain/cold sweats and MULTIPLE trips to the bathroom. I too, never threw up though. I didn’t feel better for almost 48 hours the third time. I thought it might have been flax after the cracker episod, but I couldn’t figure out the homemade pasta dish I made. Then one day I was in the grocery store looking at pasta’s and I saw the (now dreaded) words High Omega 3′s on a Barilla pasta PLUS. That is when I put it all together. I went to the allergist and got tested. Sure enough, they confirmed it. Be VERY carefull because lately there are even more items with Flax Seed in them because of the benifits of Omega 3′s. I have seen them in regular cereals suddenly and even chicken nuggets! Anytime I see “high Omega 3′s” on the cover of the package that is a que for me to stay far, far away. I carry an epi pen now too and have to ask about pasta’s, rolls etc. I have a feeling more and more people will come forward with this allergy now that we are seeing it in more items. Good luck to anyone else dealing with this and my recommendation..KEEP the packages and keep a diary of your reactions and what you ate to try to determine what your allergy is.
So glad I came across this article/comments. I had an allergic reaction to a Naked drink a couple of years ago and I blamed it on red algae because I figured it was the 1 thing I hadn’t had before, but now I wonder if it had flaxseed in it. I take the supplements all the time but would get sick if I had pasta,bread with whole grain/flaxseed in it. I felt like my family thought I was crazy because I was always getting sick from the food. thank you so much for your input! Its nice to know I’m not alone.
I discovered my flax allergy quite a few years ago. Tonight I accidentally ingested flax in a “Whole Wheat Blend” pasta, which contained flax. My throat burned, then my stomach felt stabbed as the food hit. For the first time, my heart-rate accelarated as well. Thank you, Benadryl.
I’ve suddenly developed a red, itchy rash on my face and the only thing I can think of that I’ve changed in the addition of flax to my diet… But no stomach pain or anything like the nightmare others have gone through. Do I need to look for another cause? Thanks so much!
Hi, Nancy,
I was looking for a substitute for flax seed in recipes, since I am allergic to flax seed. Unlike the life-threatening reactions of others who have posted on the site, my reactions to flax seed have been more like yours: I also develop a red, itchy (and hot) rash, usually on my arms or back. From there the rash can develop into eczema, either a short bout or longer ordeal.
I hope you’ve long since confirmed that flax seed was/is the cause, or one of the foodstuffs, that causes you to develop a rash.
Regards,
Felicia
Thank goodness I came across this article! I thought I was going crazy! I have taken Flaxseed supplements for years for there health benefits. But I also started to get sick from certain foods and couldn’t figure out why. I had stomach pains, nausea. I too had narrow it down to flaxseed, whole grain. Which most whole grain items has flaxseed. I just had an endoscopy and I did tell my gastrointestinal doc about my suspicions but do not have the test results back yet. Do I need to see an allergist? Thank you for the article its nice to know I haven’t completely lost it.
the omega 3 issue is interesting I have gotten sick from salmon before could this be from the omega 3 in it?
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for posting this. (FYI, I actually searched “flax seed intolerance” and got here.) I have irritable bowel syndrome that is triggered by very specific things. One of those things seems to be flax seed, but I haven’t been able to get anyone to even agree that it’s possible. Internet searches, before this one, have likewise turned up nothing at all except benefits. I was beginning to think I was insane…
I avoided flax seed for several years but after recently being advised to go gluten-free, I bought a gluten-free cereal with flax-seed, reasoning that maybe it wasn’t the flax-seed that was bothering me, but actually gluten. Within twenty minutes of eating it, I was doubled over with stomach pain, nausea and abdominal cramps, just like before. I’m pretty certain it’s the flax seed at this point. Your post really helps me feel like I’m not insane.
I do wonder if there are other sources of omega-3s that might be safer…I took fish oil for a while, but I honestly can’t recall if my IBS was worse then or not. I hate the thought of trying it to find out and suffering through the effects if it doesn’t go well…I’d love to try chia as well but am similarly reluctant to risk the ill effects…
Another good source of Omega 3 is soy butter, sometimes called soynut butter (a peanut butter substitute). Be careful, though, some brands add flaxseed oil to it so read the ingredients carefully. The best I’ve come across is made by Hilton Soy Foods in Canada. It’s carried under several different labels, including Walmart’s Great Value brand. Unfortunately, few stores carry it, so I’ve been ordering it from Amazon. Fortunately, I’ve known about my flax allergy since I was a child. I’ve had a lot of allergies all my life and I was tested then. But now I think I’m going to be more careful to watch out for hidden flax in foods. I’ve had a few episodes that I couldn’t explain.
One day, I decide to give my daughter a healthy treat because she is intolerant to wheat, eggs, peanuts… (She also has dermatitis) So I gave her some ground flax… bad idea. Within a few minutes of ingesting, she started getting red around the mouth and her neck…
Luckily, it did not seem to go past those symptoms… But since then, I’ve added it to my list of things to avoid.
FYI…I’m filing a report today to the FDA safety program regarding the danger of additives like flaxseed being added to butterand other cooking ingredients. With flaxseed being added to this type of food, it will be increasingly difficult to monitor when eating out at restaurants, and homes of family and friends.
If anyone is interested, go to the Department of Health and Human Services.
You will find the FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program, a “MedWatch” questionaire only takes a few minutes to fill out and mail.
Did you get any results from the FDA. I called them today and discovered that they really do not look at allergies to flaxseed. They only look at the top 8 most common allergies. Companies are not required to list flax if it is part of other components.
Thank you
Cathy
I found out that I was allergic to Flax about two years ago after eating whole grain bread and having this terrible reaction. My mouth started to itch and burn, then my throat, and the nausea and vomiting were horrible. Every time after that that I ate something with flax such as whole grain pasta, pizza, and protein shake I has a reaction worse then the last. I finally found the common thing was the flax.
One time I ate a white pita bread that was sitting on a whole grain pita at a party at work. I even got sick then! I once saw a doctor who said “well if you think that is what you are allergic to then just avoid it.” Since my last two reactions had been so severe I thought I should probably carry an epi-pen. I am now pregnant and asked my OB doctor about it. Finally I am getting a referral to an allergist. People just discount your allergy sometimes since it is so uncommon. I read labels very carefully now and have not had a reaction in 6 months.
Our last allergy doctor couldn’t find a place to order flax from to test us (since it is uncommon) so had us bring in our own — he had us bring in flaxseed oil. I didn’t react to it even though I knew I was allergic to flax. We tried again with flaxseeds mushed up in a bit of water and I did react to that.
hi
i had the same reactions to flaxseeds for over a year till i observed the pattern and concluded it was because of flaxseeds.withing minutes of taking it i get this unbearable pain in my stomach .my doctors refused to beleive it was due to flaxseeds.im glad that im not alone.
Hi,
I have a reaction to flax-seed too. The first time several years ago a friend gave me a cookie. I ate it and loved it and asked for another. A half hour later I was doubled up in pain on the floor with chest tightening and pain all throughout my abdomen, chest, and back. My husband called to see what was in the cookies and the only ingredient I hadn’t had before was flax seed. I was in pain for several hours. The same thing happened few other times times when I accidentally ate a granola bar with flax or a multi-grain roll with flax. Then last night when I drank an Isagenix Shake. I had the same reaction and checked the ingredients and sure enough it contained flax. I am also allergic to almonds and have a similar reaction with those.
I also experience severe stomach pain when I eat foods containing flax seeds. They keep being added to more and more foods. Yesterday, I carelessly ate a new food without checking the label (MorningStar Farms Sesame Chik’n). I had read that it was vegan, so I didn’t bother scrutinizing the ingredient list. Big mistake! I was in excruciating pain for hours, and am still feeling mild stomach pain today.
I am very happy to see these posts! I discovered my flax allergy in 2005 when I started having severe abdominal pain after eating breakfast which included using ground flaxseed on my oatmeal (because it’s so “healthy”). I had been eating the flaxseed for months when the problems began, and once they started, each incident became worse. After multiple ER trips (the last one being in an ambulance because the pain was so severe my husband was afraid to drive me), visits to a GI specialist, an endoscopy, chest x-rays and every other diagnostic test you can think of, the medical professionals declared they had no idea what was wrong with me. When I suggested that I had developed an allergy to flax (which, by then, I had concluded after my own detective work), they blew it off. The GI specialist actually said to me “what kind of books have you been reading?”. Anyway, like others who have posted, at the time I did lots of internet searching to try to find supportive information about problems with flax, but could find nothing except articles that extolled the healthy benefits of flax. Thank heavens there is now more information, and thanks to all of you who have shared your experiences. For some reason, I just had the idea to look online again this morning because I have not done so for years. I just started being very careful about reading labels, and have not had problems for a very long time. It good to know that I am not alone! Also, the suggestion to report to the FDA is a great one…..flax is indeed showing up in so many different foods, and we need to be letting the FDA know that it is not a completely benign ingredient. I will be submitting a form and encourage others to do the same!
I have been experiencing eczema on my hands for the past few years, triggered by many components, food allergies included. Besides my eczema, I am completely healthy. Recently, it has started around my eyes, including an intense week when my eyes were almost swollen shut. I went back to eating brown rice, veggies and fish again… and it went away. I have never had stomach pain related to eating flax, but am pretty sure that it’s one of the main things my body is reacting to. Has anyone else experienced reactions to flax that don’t include intense stomach pain? In response to an earlier posting about what to use instead of flax– It’s hard to find a replacement! Eggs and chia seeds do the same thicken-&-stick action, but I suspect chia seeds would be an allergen to folks who react to flax. Try applesauce or mashed bananas as an egg-/flax-replacer in breads & crackers.
And lastly– here is a link to a facebook article I wrote about my experiences/learnings with eczema, thus far– maybe it will be of use to you fellow health & balance-seekers! http://www.facebook.com/note.php?saved&¬e_id=161203390562745 ~Peace and blessings~
In response to your ezcema problem: I had dry scaly patches on my elbows for over ten years, I started drinking aloe vera juice, less than one ounce a day and the patches cleared and my nails grew for the first time in my life.
My 14-year-old son presented with flaxseed allergy symptoms about four years ago. I have celiac disease, so we were eating a brand of frozen gluten-free waffles that have flaxseed in them. He developed fast-onset respiratory symptoms, but we couldn’t figure out what what has caused them. (I thought it might be something environmental, since it started at a church service.) Then it happened again after drinking one of those fresh, organic, smoothie-type power drinks. I did some cross-checking and realized that both of these contain flaxseed. Since then, he has had two reactions, each progressively more severe and now has an Epi-pen. The last reaction was to some home-baked crackers in an appetizer a guest brought at Christmas. The poor kid spent Christmas Eve sick as a dog – respiratory symptoms, chills, some facial swelling, mottling, sleepiness, and finally violent vomiting. He would have been at the hospital but we were only two blocks away and one of the guests was a doctor who kept an eye on him. But after that’s when we asked for the Epi-pen. He’s good about reading labels but this still makes a mom really nervous… BTW, I had stopped adding group flaxseed to my morning yogurt about a year earlier because I suspected it was giving me a rash on my face.
I have recently started to eat a more clean diet and have been adding ground flax to my food however have been experiencing some serious stomache pain as well as nausea. Curious to know if those who have had this pain noticed an increase in other allergy symptoms such as the accelerated heartrate and difficulty breathing or if you just have the same pain every time with no increasing symptoms.
Our 3-yr. old daughter has a horrific sensitivity to flaxseed. Her first encounter was when we introduced her to solid foods. We gave her a taste of Stonyfield farms yogurt for kids and barely did the spoon touch her lips and she was swelling, red, screaming, it was the most frightening event. She has horrible eczema which also means plenty of other allergies, but after going to the ER and then later running blood tests, her allergist called to say she had an “off the charts” reaction to flaxseed. It was then I went back to the yogurt ingredient list and found flaxseed oil concentrate had been added as an Omega-3 benefit to the kiddie yogurt. What a horrifying scare we had! I’m so sorry you had to suffer for so long but thank goodness you found out. I am so sad to say I took flaxseed supplements when I was pregnant and nursing, so I often wonder if I didn’t create this sensitivity in my daughter. Who knew? Flax is being promoted through the roof as a miracle food – not so miraculous for us! Thanks for your blog.
I also have a severe flaxseed allergy. I first took a flaxseed oil capsule and ended up throwing it back up violently and my nose and throat passages closed up. It is in so many things now… pastas, clif bars, and now even apparently yogurt and soy milk is fortified with it for extra DHA. I have had numerous encounters where just a trace amount goes in my mouth ( my husband bought the wrong yogurt ) or I inhaled vapors as my sister cooked multi-grain pasta and my throat instantly closes. The sad thing is I find little about flaxseed allergy… I wonder the statistics on it.
I just found out after 10 years that I’m 100% allergic to flaxseed according to my allergist. I thought it was just multi grain bread. My symptoms are kinda the same that I feel that my throat is closing and within 10-15 minutes I vomit but i don’t have the stomach pains. I’m so glad I found out what makes me violently sick and I will be looking very closely to labels know!!! And that I’m not the only one with this allergy.
I have an oral allergy to flax seed. And it causes my lips and tongue to break out in oozing blisters for about a week…. luckily my respiratory tract isn’t involved. But I still find myself reading every ingredient list out there. I don’t have any digestive tract symptoms, but it has also been a long time since I’ve actually ingested it. The last time I had a reaction was when I was oil painting, and holding the handle of the brush in my mouth… at least now I know that linseed and flax seed oil are one in the same.
THANK YOU… I have a severe flaxseed allergy. My first reaction was from a natural supplement for women that contained flax and primrose oil. Immediately after taking the pills I had severe stomach pain and vomiting with throat and mouth symptoms. My second severe attach was while in a car about an hour from home I ate a Cliff bar. My mouth began to tingle and had a taste that is hard to explain and my throat began closing while the nausa and stomach pain were intense. Two weeks ago I had a severe attach from a bite of sandwich that had flax, severe stomach pain nausa vomiting throat tighting, drooling and I felt like I was going to loose consciousness. My most recent reaction was last night. I was with my two young girls and their friend talking about lip balm, I used some on my lips and liked my lips because it had a great taste. Almost immediatly my lips and tounge began to tingle and swell, I became nausous my stomach had extreme pain. I was went up to my room, I laid there praying that I would live and make it through the attack. My pulse was not rapid but slow and spuratic. I could not belive that the lip balm could do this, but in the morning (thank God I made it) my friend looked up Hello Kitty lip balm and it had flaxseed. My smptoms are so severe and getting worse. I do not belive that the food and drug administration requires that food companys list flaxseed as an ingredient. It is my new mission to have this, deadly to some of us, ingredient listed so that we don’t have to go through this potentially deadly allergic attack anymore.
Thank you again for letting us know that we are not alone.
Cathy
I’m so glad I found this! I have a horrible reaction to flaxseed. It causes severe stomach pain, gallbladder attack, vomiting, hives, swollen lips, etc. I also reacted when I put one of those microwavable rice things on my knee because it contained flaxseed inside it. I broke out in a rash all over. I cannot believe that they are adding flax to everything and don’t have to list it on the ingredients. My reactions have been so severe that it is probably only a matter of time until it affects my breathing. Now omega 3 eggs are a danger, and who knows what all those could be put in without our knowledge. Scary!
I sure didn’t realize that those microwaveable packets (stuffed inside teddy bears or neck pillows, etc. and usually scented with lavendar) also contain flax seeds! I started looking at some of mine and–sure enough!–flax seeds was one of the ingredients. I’m going to give them away to friends right away. Thanks, Melissa, I didn’t realize that those things could be dangerous to use if you have a severe flaxseed allergy which has caused anaphylactic shock!
My hairdresser used a flax styling gel in my hair that I didn’t know about until we were done. I hurried home and shampooed twice and didn’t have a reaction. I had no idea that they were putting flaxseed in hair products!
Concerning Valerie and anyone with IBS:
1) I HIGHLY recommend you see an Allergist and ask for a complete testing of various food allergies…every single food you find aggrevates your IBS. Also, get a blood test done for Celiac Disease. You might be sensitive to gluten, like most IBS people are. When done, she may find that you do NOT have IBS, but instead have food allergies and sensitivities. Lastly, I would definately go on a Elimination diet and keep a food journal to figure out what other foods you may be reacting too, as this is still the best method for finding sensitivities.
Before the Gluten intolerance blood test, you will have to NOT be on a gluten free diet, or the test won’t be accurate.
Concerning Nancy and others wondering about their symptoms:
2) Only a food allergist can really know for sure if you are allergic to something or not, so I can only recommend you see them. For sensitivities, the elimination diet, is still the most accurate, in most cases.
Omega 3 allergy:
3) Cross-Reactivity is common. Usually, its a protein that the various food items have in common that you are reacting too. Omega-3, being a protein, you may need to avoid it. In my unprofessional opinion, if you are reacting to 2 known sources of Omega-3, then you may be wise to avoid all sources of Omega-3, including many so-called “whole grain” breads.
The only way laws will change in the USA is if we all banned together with the largest petition that congress ever saw, requesting them to change the laws so that all ingredients must be on ALL labels, and not just on food labels. Tell them that we are trying to protect our children so that they can be healthy tax paying citizens paying into Social Security. Sorry, but I’m not the one to organize this petition at this time.
ps. My website is still a WIP, that I hope to have more ‘done’ by January 1, 2011. It will contain many recipes eventually, that I’m creating off line.
I have read with great interest the posts at this site as I believe many food and chemical sensitivities go undiagnosed or are misdiagnosed. Obviously many people suffer needlessly because of lack of awareness by the conventional medical community about these issues. After struggling for years with food and chemical sensitivities, I have found the use of a pendulum (described below), related to the use of muscle testing technique by naturopaths, to be VERY helpful in identifying food allergies, such as those to Flax Seed as well as to other unusual ingredients found commonly in foods, shampoos and toothpastes, such as mint, guar gum or carageenan. This technique can also be used on supplements, herbs and prescription drugs and to emptied gel caps (to which you can be allergic!).
The “pendulum” can be a simple house key or any object with some weight, suspended on a piece of string (I have even used a wooden back brush for the shower suspended on a short piece of rope which is superb because of its symmetrical shape). This should be suspended over a pill or other substance in the palm of one’s hand (for liquids a few drops will do). Although held stationary, the pendulum will eventually swing on its own either from left to right or towards and away from you. The direction of the swing will indicate whether the substance is good for you or needed by your body (the swing will usually be towards you and away from you in this case) or if it is bad for you, not needed by your body, or even potentially harmful (in which case it will swing left to right, not move at all, OR, if really bad, it will go in counterclockwise circles). I have found that the strength of the test will be reflected by the distance of the swing and its vigor. Although I know it sounds very strange/bogus, I say that the “proof is in the pudding”: his technique has worked for me – and my mother- for about five years and is much much more sensitive than testing that can be done by an allergist. I have also used it with great success on my dogs, in which case I discovered an allergy to rice which is ubiquitous in most dog foods. The only weakness of the technique is obviously being able to identify a single culprit out of something which has many ingredients, e.g. breads, cereals, or shampoos. In that case the swing may start in one direction and then change. Don’t let this dissuade you, however, as once you have it narrowed down somewhat, you can use the pendulum to test the item in question individually if you can obtain it, e.g. rice, flaxseed, gluten, etc.
I sincerely hope this technique may help some of you. Please feel free to email me with any questions at lilie1ar@cmich.edu. GOOD LUCK!
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Read your posts on flaxseed allergy & I can only say AT LAST! Decades ago I tried adding flaxseed oil to my diet after reading how healthy it was. Well, yeah! Maybe for some people! I suffer from a form of rheumatoid arthritis. I get along great when I avoid certain foods. I tried flaxseed oil because it was supposed to be so healthy—omega threes and all that. The next day, I experienced excruciating joint inflammation. Boy, did I throw out that bottle of flaxseed oil fast!!
My current problem is that my favorite bakery, NATURE BAKE, does not make my favorite multigrain bread. Instead, they now have two with flaxseeds. I have called and complained to no avail. Anyone know where I can get a locally made (Oregon) whole grain, multi-grain bread WITHOUT flaxseeds? Thanks
My only advice is to try and recreate the bread yourself. Making bread isn’t that hard, as long as you don’t have to be GF too, or EF. (gluten free, egg free).
Alternatively, you could check out the breads at health food stores and co-ops to see what they have. However, my google search didn’t net much. However, if you go to the stores and ask around. Someone might know of a place.
Best Wishes! Unfortunately, my friend in Oregon didn’t know of anyplace. I asked. And, I don’t live in that state, otherwise, I’d go around and do the foot work because I like going to co-ops and all.
My 11 year old daughter has a severe flaxseed allergy that we just found out about (the hard way). I am looking for any and all info about this that I can find. It is scary knowing something that says its good for you can kill my daughter.
Hi Kat,
As mom to a child with multiple food allergies, I can understand how hard it must be. I wrote a new post yesterday on Flax seed allergy. Hope that helps and would love to have any other input that might help other allergy sufferers.
Thank you!
Anu
I am so glad I saw this site! I have suspected a flax seed allergy for quite some time. I have had the same violent reactions as you have had, Horrible stomach pains and vomiting withing minutes of eating something. The first time it happened with a Luna Bar, a few times from smart pasta and finally a gronola bar that I ate on a cruise excursion in Mexico (that was really not fun!). The only ingrediant I noticed they all had in common was flax seed. I say I have suspected that I have had an allergy, becasue like you any time I have mentioned it to a doctor they have laughed it off and said it couldn’t be flax seed. I knew that wasn’t true! So for the past couple of years I have just been label crazy (especially with any breads ands and things that say “natural”. Funny thing. . . .no bad reactions without the flax seeds. Glad to see that I am not crazy after all:o)
I wish we could get through the heads of all doctors that just because a food allergy is rare, doesn’t mean that the person sitting before them can’t have that allergy!
I also wish that congress would stop believing that they have the right to chose who to protect and who society as a whole doesn’t need to care if they protect or not.
It may be helpful for some who read this blog and the replies to understand the difference between a food allergy and a food intolerance. A food allergy involves the immune system and is the cause of anaphylaxis. A food intolerance does not. From The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (http://www.foodallergy.org/page/commonly-asked-questions):
“Many people think the terms food allergy and food intolerance mean the same thing; however, they do not. Food intolerance, unlike a food allergy, does not involve the immune system and is not life-threatening. Lactose intolerance, trouble digesting the milk sugar lactose, is a common example. Symptoms may include abdominal cramps, bloating and diarrhea.”
“A food allergy occurs when the immune system reacts to a certain food.”
Also, from this source (http://www.achooallergy.com/food-allergy-faqs.asp):
“A food intolerance occurs when your digestive system cannot handle a certain type of food, normally due to a missing enzyme. An intolerance may present some of the same gastrointestinal symptoms as a food allergy, such as abdominal pain and diarrhea. A food allergy, however, involves an allergic response from the body’s immune system.”
The difference is crutial. However, some people have found that their so-called intolerance has turned, without warning, into ‘anaphylactic’. Which means that, in my opinion, both needs to be taken so seriously, that the food is avoided at all cost and that we treat it as a potential life threatening food because in reality it can be. We just never know when a intolerance will become anaphylactic.
I think what is really going on is that the test aren’t 100% accurate and that some people who have been diagnosed as having an “intolerance” really have an allergy to said food. I could be wrong here though.
I was intolerant of Radishes, cinnamon… but have anaphylactic reaction anyways. We now call it an allergy.
I am so happy to find this site! We received confirmation today that my 6 year old son is allergic to Flax Seed. He is also allergic to Soy, Corn, Onions, Garlic, Fish (all), Peas, Shrimp, Walnuts, Squash (winter), and Hazlenuts.
I need help, as I honestly am not sure what to feed him. My heart is breaking… If you look at the list of items he is allergic to, most share 1 common element – they are natural sources of Omega-3. 2 Allergists have said “you can’t be allergic to Fatty Oils such as Omega-3, it is just a coincidence.” Any advice out there? Can he be allergic to Omega-3 and be getting false positives on some of these things?
thanks.
CBLove:
What changes this pattern with certain allergens is the same doctor finding more than 1 patient with the same pattern.
Get a new Allergist specialist, or educate him! Seriously! You can be allergic to ANYTHING! If people react to protein in foods, and Omega 3 IS a protein, then your son most definitely can be allergic! Anyone who tells you differently needs to learn the truth. The problem is that your allergist is probably thinking “4% has an allergy, and out of that only 10% have a rare allergy, thus my client can’t have a rare allergy, especially one that no one has seemed to have before.” The problem with such logic is that no one is allowed to have any rare allergies because everyone is refusing to diagnose it because no one else has diagnosed it before.
True, 1 in 250 people have a rare food allergy. That is based on math done using the Medical Society’s own figure and the current USA population in February, 2011. Whats also true is the people with severe EE/EGID disorders tend to be allergic to everything. Seeing an Allergist who is skilled in EE/EGID disorders are less likely to see an Omega 3 allergy as impossible. They see people who react to the oddest things, like 1 particular natural flavor but not others, or all foods but not artificial flavors, etc.
Just wanted to clarify that Omega-3 is not a protein – it’s an essential fatty acid. Kytriya, you are right, the immune system reacts to proteins. In a perfect world, things like flax oil or walnut oil wouldn’t have any trace of proteins in them, but they can! If you react to flax oil, it’s not the omega-3′s, it’s that the oil is contaminated with the flax protein. No one should avoid ALL sources of omega-3 fatty acids – they are essential to health and actually HELP the body decrease the immune/inflammatory response to foods. Just avoid the sources which you are allergic to.
A fantastic source of omega-3′s is grass-fed beef, interestingly. However, if you are not allergic to fish, fish oil or cod liver oil (a high-quality brand) is probably your best bet.
(BTW, great post – and it’s great to see everyone sharing their experiences with what has been touted a “rare” allergy!)
My 16 month old has a flax seed allergy! He developed hives after eating Stonyfield Yotoddler meals and we had him skin tested (omega 3 additives included fish oil and flax seed). I brought in flax seed oil for skin testing and he did not test positive it. Then he had hives after eating Living Well Chicken Nuggets which also has flax seed and this time I brought in ground up flax seeds which he strongly reacted to. So the flax seed oil is not allergenic for some reason (processing method perhaps).
Anyway, my husband jokes that we should avoid whole foods and other healthy food lines since they seem to be culprits for enhancing foods w omega3 fatty acids.
Anyone with flax seed allergies that have cross reactive allergies to other things like sunflower seeds, nuts, coconut? I’m wondering what are potential things to avoid with my son. Thanks!!!
Our son has a high level four allergy to flax seed. It took months to figure this out. I saved every package when he would have a reaction, cross referenced, then did lots of blood work. Nate was 7 at the time, it was horrible and mentally scarring.
I am so glad you were able to zero in on what Nate was allergic to. Hope he has forgetton the traumatic ‘figuring out’ process. Wishing him safe eating always.
-Anu
I have gone into anaphylactic shock (which necessitated days in Intensive Care) from eating blackberries one time, and flaxseed another. Both time, I almost died. I can eat one or two blackberries now without passing out, but I cannot ever eat anything with flaxseed in it. I am allergic to many other things, too, but the two near-death experiences were due to blackberries and flaxseed. I now carry Epi-Pens (twin pack) and drink Gastrocrom (mixed with water) every day. The Gastrocrom neutralizes my reactions. There is nothing more terrifying than anaphylactic shock.
That is so traumatic. It must not be easy enjoying food after such extreme reaction. Wishing you safe eating always.
i found out I was allergic to flax seed about 3 years ago. I too suffered anaphalctic shock, and spent several days on a respirator. The case manager from my insurance company, told me i could not possibly (even though an allergist confirmed it) be allergic to flax and encouraged me to add it to my diet. I did not have the GI sxs. but at first felt welts on my tongue
That is so traumatic. Wishing you safe eating always. Thanks for sharing your story because it reminds me to be careful always.
-Anu
Marie, that sounds about exactly what happened to me, although I had the GI symptoms, too. I actually bought the flaxseed to try because one of my doctors encouraged me to do so, as part of a healthy diet, after I had surgery. When I landed in the emergency room, I remember one of the doctors saying, “I have flaxseed in my cereal for breakfast every morning, because it’s so healthy,” as if he didn’t believe anyone could be so deathly allergic to something as “healthy” as flaxseed! I guess I’d better stick to junk food, as I get so sick from supposedly “healthy” items like flaxseed and blackberries.
A quick question…I think someone on this thread possibly mentioned getting a rash from one of those “Muscle Relaxant” pads that you warm in the microwave, then put on your skin, because the pad contained flax seeds. I have a never-used teddy bear (from Avon) which has a small removeable pad inside it that you take out and warm in the microwave, then put back in the bear and hold it close to the part of you that’s hurting! I’m wondering now if I should give the bear away (he’s awfully cute!). What does everyone think about the flax seeds being a danger to someone allergic to flaxseed if they used the bear as a soother for sore muscles? The pad would not be exposed, but would be inside the bear.
I searched this about a year ago and found nothing. Happy to see more information. My daughter had some stomach troubles when she was little and my sister made her flax seed cookies. I threw up about a half hour after eating one. Two weeks later, she made me a grilled cheese on multigrain bread. (Thanks Sis!)I threw up while driving home and called to see if flax seed was in it and sure enough it was. All of the symptoms did get worse with each reaction, so I highly recommend staying away from it if you have the slightest idea of an allergy. The last time I had a reaction I had a sub sandwich and my lips started to itch within minutes. I only had a few bites when I realized flax was in the bread, and ended up laying in a hot bath almost all night due to the violent pains and vomiting. The benedryl did not seem to help except for the itchy mouth. I came very close to having my husband drive me to the ER.
I also have a flax allergy, but my symptoms are different than those listed here. Interestingly, even though I have Celiac and other GI problems, the flax doesn’t cause GI issues. What it does to me is cause severe arthritis and fatigue. I do not normally have arthritis – only when I ingest flax.
When I have allergic reactions, they tend to be on an immune system level rather than on a histamine level, and I guess this is true for my flax allergy, as well. This is probably why my symptoms are different.
I am glad that people have mentioned all the other things contain flax, like cosmetics and those muscle packs. I wouldn’t have thought of that.
I also feel that I have problems with Omega 3′s in general. I have similar but less severe symptoms with salmon and omega 3 eggs.
I have had many doctors imply that they thought I might be a little bit crazy because they couldn’t find anything wrong with me. I have persevered, and eventually found the ones who could help me feel better. Amazingly, everything I have ever complained about ended up having a real, scientifically-explainable cause that would never have been helped by the Prozac they wanted to give me.
Laura, that is so interesting. I have noticed lots of achiness and fatigue after eating certain foods, too. I take Gastrocrom which curbs the anaphylaxis but still get the achiness and tiredness. Doctors have told me that I have lupus, but now I am thinking that all my problems (immune AND histamine-level) stem from severe allergies to most (if not all) foods.
@Lyriclemon
Good luck figuring out your specific sensitivities. I certainly understand how frustrating it can be.
I’m not familiar with Gastrocrom. I’ll look that up.
We discovered this week that my 6 year old daughter is allergic to flax seed. We knew that she has allergic reactions to peanuts, tree nuts and carrots — can you believe it — carrots??!!! And then after a two week period of eating flax in her morning waffles, she had an anaphylactic respiratory reaction. At first I thought she must now be presenting asthma, but the next morning after eating some flax, it happend again. Thank goodness for benadryl and epi-pens!
What I like about the Gastrocrom is that, by taking it prophylactically before I eat anything, I’m being proactive instead of reactive. (Using my EpiPens after I’m already in anaphylactic shock is sort of like locking the barn doors after the horses have bolted.) What I don’t like about the Gastrocrom is how super-expensive it is (and my insurance company won’t cover any of the cost), so I can only take two vials once a day instead of 4 times a day, as prescribed. However, even just taking it once a day really does help. Of course, I stay away from known triggers like blackberries and flax seeds, but for the times when I accidentally ingest something that I’m allergic to (but don’t even know yet), Gastrocrom is wonderful at muting (diluting) a full-blown anaphylactic reaction.
Wow, it’s so good to see so many people with this issue…I discovered my allergy to flax seed during my last year at college. My parents have been taking it ground up in their breakfast food for years, and at the time I decided I wanted to try eating healthier. After severe stomach pain, nausea, and violent vomitting once after eating out (and having a smoothie, which I added a tablespoon of ground flaxseed to), I thought I had food poisoning…the next week it happened again and I knew it had to be something else. I figured it out very quickly on my own. I didn’t even think to search the internet to see how common it was, but this is a very informative post. I’m very thankful now that I discovered it quickly, on my own, since Ali’s ordeal sounds terrible. I also don’t think my allergy is quite as severe, as I eat multi-grain products all the time with no effects; it was just when I was adding a tablespoon or more of ground flax seed to my food.
I also have found I am allergic to flaxseed but with different symptoms. In my case even a very small amount seems to inflame my intestinal tract causing symptoms similar to hemrrhoids.
I’ve known about my flax seed allergy for a bit now, but thought I was the “only one” until I tried to find out if chia seeds would cross-react with flax seeds. Does anyone have information to share about this? We definitely need better standards for food labeling!
I have determined that I definitely have an oral sensitivity to flaxseed. My reaction includes an intensely itchy mouth, throat, ears, and what I can only describe as itchy Eustachian tubes (a deep itch between my throat and ears). It lasts about 10 minutes. I try to be very careful about checking labels, however, this morning I tried a new brand of oatmeal and as I was eating the first few bites I was casually reading the ingredients and to my surprise flaxseed was listed. I immediately stopped eating and had only a minor reaction. I am so afraid that one day I will go into full-blown anaphylactic shock and I don’t have an Epi-pen.
Thankfully I do not have the stomach symptoms with flax. However, I DO have a severe intestinal reaction after I eat whole-wheat pasta – horrible pain and cramping, sometimes with vomiting. This took several times to figure out. The pasta only contained whole wheat flour – nothing else. I am fine with all other wheat products. It just seems to be the pasta that is a problem. My best guess is that it’s too dense for my digestive system to handle. I can’t think of any other explanation.
My only other food allergy/sensitivity is with pineapple and pineapple juice. I get the horrible pain and cramping that lasts about 6 – 8 hours. This started in my early 20′s – I used to eat pineapple all the time until then. It took a long time to figure that one out!
Hi Erin,
Thanks for sharing your experiences – people developing food allergies in adulthood is becoming extremely common. Have you considered getting an epipen prescription since your reaction seems to be so immediate? i have heard people mention that they are ok with refined wheat flour but not whole wheat flour – will research more on this subject for a future blog post!
regards,
Anu
O my goodness! I just discovered by reading this blog that the last 3 weeks of stomach and intestinal cramping and nausea were (and are today!) being caused by flax. I started eating a “healthy” cereal Kashi with whole flax seed as a main ingredient just a few weeks ago. I would get what I erroneously thought was heart burn. It has become so bad that I’ve wondered if I’m not having a heart attack. I was working this a.m. at the church library when the same old pain started up again. One of the women working with me asked me if I had started any new foods. I told her about the cereal. She said to stop eating it to see if the pain would stop. I get the pain about an hour after eating the cereal, which I never eat till 10 a.m. I’ve been suffering this unknown allergy from around noon till 5 p.m. Ruins my days. So, I’m going to not eat the cereal tomorrow morning and see what happens. I SSSSOOOOOOOOOO hope I have found the answer. If not, I guess it’s a visit to the doc. Thank you!!!
So glad that you found the information on the blog useful. Hope the pain subsided after you stopped flax.
Best wishes,
Anu
I am allergic to flax seeds but not to flax seed oil. Unfortunately they are starting to put flaxseeds in all “healthy” foods.
It is usually the protein in flax seeds that people react to. Flaxseed oil is the fat part of flax and most people will not react to it. The oil, deepending on the method of extraction will contain small traces of protein and unless a person is extremely allergic to the source, they will not react to it.
OMG, I have been either in bed or bathroom the past 36 hrs thinking I had stomach flu. However, I now am thinking I might be experiencing an allergic reaction to a new flax wrap bread I bought the other day which I enjoyed very much:)))) I am also sweating, sleeping a whole lot and very weak so I’m not really sure. I don’t want to test my theory because I don’t ever want to feel these stomach explosions again!!! I just won’t eat flax again!!
I have the same thing! I was able to figure it out on my own though, thank god! We have to be very careful especially when eating out. The pain is indescribable and comes on within minutes. I printed out the ingredients of the flat bread at Dunkin Donuts and am bringing it to my gastro doctor tomorrow. And I loved the piece about the microwavable wraps/bags! They make me sneeze uncontrollably! I can’t use them. Thank you Anu for sharing and posting.
thank god im not crazy.it really is an aleregy.thank you all
I have the exact same problem as you.. Flax seed doesn’t sit right with me and I am so glad to see you write this.. Thank you very much!!
I too, have a severe allergy to flax seed. It also lands me in the hospital every time it’s accidentally ingested. It DOES feel just like being poisoned, as the stomache and intestinal pain associated with this allergy is so severe. It also causes my esophagus to swell up so I cannot breathe.
My mother makes homemade lotion out of flax seed, and as a child it used to raise hives and horrible blisters on my skin. If you suspect a flax allergy see an allergist! Don’t let a dr. tell you that it’s not an allergy to flax until it is confirmed by an allergist. It’s not the worth the danger or the pain of consuming flax when you are allergic to it. Read labels FAITHFULLY, as flax is in so many things now. Whole grain breads, pastas, granola bars, supplements, colon cleansers, etc. If your allergy is severe enough it could lead to an anaphalactic reaction. We’ve discovered that the more flax I consume, the worse the allergy becomes and the more vigilant I have to be. So get it checked out if you have a suspicion, and be careful. This is not an allergy to mess around with.
Thank you for this! I’ve been sick for ages and just started suspecting flax seeds as the culprit. After reading your experience, I’m sure of it. I’m going to stay well away from them and then see how I feel. I’m pretty positive the pain and lethargy will vanish.
I’ll see if this helps my allergies
Wow. Thanks everyone. I added 4 Tbsp Flax seed to my regular breakfast of fruit and soy milk. Within an hour I was feeling so nauseaus I went home and went to bed. I slept for 16 hours. I am still nauseaus this morning 24 hrs later. I have R.A. and thought I would benefit from flax seed. My headache is gone but my joints ache much more than usual. I also take Natrol Omega 3-6-9 Complex. It doesn’t list flax as an ingredient but label reads “…combines fatty acids from both grain and marine sources…” hmm, I am wondering now, are my frequent mild stomaches due to food allergies. This is a little depressing. Thank you for the insight. Oh, BTW I am unemployed and have no insurance, so there will be no visits to the dr.s for me. I thank God this allergy does not affect my beathing.
I have had 3 or 4 serious reactions after ingesting food with flaxseed. A Kashi bar, whole wheat pasta and most recently a sandwich with whole grain bread catered in at work. Each episode is getting worse — severe abdominal pain, redness across my chest, diarrea, etc. Vomiting in the only thing that makes me feel temporariliy better. Is an Epi Pen the only thing to treat once I’ve been exposed? someone said Benadryl? I am reading all my labels and stearing clear of breads and grains in social settings but wondering what I can have in case of an emergency?
I took a flaxseed pill on an empty stomach…….and that was a bad idea, an hour later I was sitting in class and I couldn’t finish my words, Its like something was hold my throat and it felt like my throat swelled up. It was a scary experience,……What was weird is that if I stood up and talked to someone it would be ok, but as soon as I sat down and talked, it wouldn’t work….anyways……Whatever you do, don’t take it on an empty stomach so you don’t ever end up in a situation like this.
I began to suspect–and I still don’t know for sure–that I was allergic to flax many years ago when I started adding it to my diet in a effort to eat healthier. I would get an annoying sore throat when I ate it–nothing severe, and no so bad as to make me start checking labels, but enough to stop intentionally adding flax seed to my diet. So this year I visit my sister-in-law, and she has a breakfast cereal with flax seed. I mention that I think I might be allergic, but it looks tasty, and, well, I don’t know for sure, so I go ahead and have some. No sore throat. BUT…a few hours later, I notice my dyshidrotic exema is flaring up on my hands, which doesn’t happen very often (I can go years without a flare-up). Because the symptoms aren’t severe, I don’t expect I’ll go to the effort of getting tested any time soon, but I’ll continue to avoid flax seed when I know it is there.
So if eggs state they have Omega 3′s and you find out that the chickens were fed Flax, could that cause a reaction? I have a variety of stomach issues, but seem to know my triggers. I have learned that usually if my stomach is very distended, I have ingested Flax. A few days ago I purchased what I thought were the healthier eggs, Cage Free, Grain Fed, etc but my stomach is distended and uncomfortable. It seems to be a reaction to flax, but I don’t know if that is possible from just eating these eggs. Anyone have experience with this?
So glad to have found this! Flax had been an occasional part of my diet for years before it became so popular. A few years ago, I started experiencing a metallic burning sensation in my mouth when I ate certain foods, but not much more than that. Then, one day, I bit into a sandwich with whole grain bread, experienced the metallic and sligtht burning, but ignored it and kept eating. After about 1/4 of the sandwich, I had to rush to the restroom to throw up. For several hours after that, I threw up frequently. I finally was able to make my way home and down a handful of benadryl – figured it was an allergy, but not sure to what. After a couple more similar episodes, including one where it felt like my throat was closing up (liquid benadryl fixed that quickly – I had started carrying a bottle with me everywhere) and I spent the next 12 hours throwing up on a regular basis, I did some investigation and came to the conclusion that all of this had happened after eating something with flax. I went to an allergist where my suspicion was confirmed – I tested mega bigtime allergic to flax, and now carry an epipen with me as well as the benadryl. As with many of the others here, I’m horrified at how pervasive flax is now everywhere! I’ve even had a burning skin reaction when I used hand lotion that turned out to have flax oil in it. My allergist told me to avoid Omega-3 eggs because the chickens are fed flax and there could be flax artifacts in the eggs. Sigh. I had no idea that some peanut butters now contain it!
I can take Omega 3 capsules without dying, but just a whiff of flaxseed puts me in Intensive Care for days with anaphylactic shock, fighting for my life. Eggs are a common allergen/food intolerance. Could you have developed an allergy to them?
I am actually waiting for the results of a food intolerance test, but I eat eggs pretty frequently and just changed the brand I was using. But it could be a reaction to the eggs, I guess I will have a better idea when these test results come back.
thanks!
I’ve been pretty sure I have a flax seed allergy for about 7 years now. The strange thing is that I used to eat it ground up and sprinkled on food for about 2-3 years before I started having any allergic reactions to it. The first time I had a problem was on a whole grain wrap that contained flax. I felt sick to my stomach and was miserable for several hours. The same week I had a hot breakfast cereal that contained flax and this time I was throwing up in the bathroom for several hours. Every time I would think I was past the worst of it, I would start throwing up again. The most recent time I’ve had flax was in a Clif bar. I ate about half of it before realizing there was flax it in. My airway started to close up but I was able to wait it out until the flax was out of my system. That was about 6 years ago. Since then, I’ve been reading labels very carefully and asking restaurants when there is something I’m not sure about. It is hard b/c flax is in EVERYTHING these days! So glad to read other’s experiences as I haven’t met anyone else with this allergy. My husband was sure it was in my head. Now I know that it is not!
My daughter just had second reaction to flaxseed. She has other food allergies, so i bought her “enjoy life” snickerdoodle cookies, ( wheat free, egg free, nut free cookies) and one bite…hives..could not figure out how being so careful, she was allergic!! Just handed her a apple slice of mine with ground flaxseed and she reacted with puffy eyes/ head to toe hives imstantly..thank u for your site…the only one!!!!
I stay away from any flax products l a plague. I have a severe allergy to flax and have to read all the fine print on labels. This I discovered when we used flaxseed as a wave set during my cosmetology days. My hands would swell up like a toad, and I cannot even think about ingesting it. I know of one girl that advertises her hair product as the best thing going, which is flaxseed. Buyer beware!!!! All allergies have the potential of being life threatening. I am a soapmaker and discovered that Shea has some of the same properties as latex. (Latex has sent me to the emergency more than once.
That is just absolutely invaluable information you have shared with us. I for one had no idea that flax could be used in a beauty salon. also, did not know that Shea has properties similar to latex. I am going to write a separate post on this topic. Thank you so much!
Aveda had hair styling products with flax. I don’t know if they still make it.
Thanks for the input Beth. Will stop at an Aveda store today and check.
Wow…I’m glad I found this page, though it has made me more nervous in some ways.
First, flax in cosmetic products can be listed as linseed oil (there are other names for linseed oil as well. So Google it and make sure you are aware) as linseed oil is used in some body washes, natural creams, hair care products, etc.
I have suspected a flax allergy for a while. I had bought linseed oil (that you had to refrigerate) when I was making health smoothies in the morning). I would drink the shake and feel some tingling in my mouth…nothing severe, but just a sense that something was reacting. I’ve also experienced this when I used a hand cream with linseed and also a hair care product with it.
Yet, at other times, I have had it without knowing and would find out afterwards and seem to have no symptoms…so at times I have wondered if it’s more in my head or if it’s real. For example, in a margarine that contained it or bread or muffins that had it in and nothing happened those times.
I have never had anything more than the slight tingling in my mouth and sometimes ears. But I always fear I could experience something worse.
The other day I tried a hand cream that had linseed oil, figuring I would find out if it was a true allergy or not. I had a little tingling in my mouth again and within an hour I washed my hands and didn’t seem to have any issues. Nothing else happened. That evening I woke up overnight (many hours later) and went into the bathroom and thought my eyes looked slightly swollen. Nothing huge, but just a little bit. Could have simply been from sleeping at a weird angle, I don’t know. Woke my husband up and he thought they weren’t swollen…to me, the area underneath and just above was slightly puffy….but I felt fine…until I saw that and panicked and sent myself into a full panic attack. Suddenly, I became very scared of getting the symptoms of a full blown allergy attack, so for me, could be more an anxiety issue, than an allergy, I’m just not sure.
That morning I seemed to feel very slight itching in my ears, throat and eyes…but nothing severe…I drank some tea and had an apple (I had read online both contain antihistimine) Shortly after I felt better.
My main problem is I also am suffering from some anxiety (due to a lot of life pressures right now) and it’s hard to discern if it’s the anxiety (which can cause a lot of the same symptoms) or a true allergy.
Due to this I’ve become overly worried and feel intense fear of having some sort of reaction. I’ve never had a severe reaction (I’ve reacted to several medicines…rash, severe flu like symptoms and abdominal pain, but nothing more)…but now every new cream I put on my body or soap I try or food eat, makes me nervous. At this point, it seems irrational, but reading your stories I know it can be a real concern for those with true food allergies.
I got this wonderful natural body care for my birthday…shea butter, body lotion, etc. I scanned the ingredients and most were ones I had used before…the first day I tried it I had myself very nervous. I tried them again today and they seemed fine…but there is this soap in there…smells amazing, like peppermint, but it includes wheat grass and barley grass…and that concerns me…not sure if I should even try it as I’ve heard of people having bad reactions to wheat grass…though I’ve used wheat germ in the past with no problems and don’t have a known allergy to wheat.
So, after that long story…
Not sure what to think about the flax issue for myself and am afraid to go and get testing because of the expense, but mainly because I am afraid of the testing itself and having a reaction….I have heard that epi pens have some kind of sulfa drug and I am allergic to sulfa drugs!
I’m also not sure what to think about the wheat grass and the soap. In moments of bravery I think….just try it and you’ll know…then I worry that if I get a bad reaction or even a slight reaction (which I will then go into panic worrying about it getting worse)….
I don’t really have a reasonable reason to be this nervous about it…because the reactions I’ve had, if indeed caused by flax, have been very mild, but I don’t want to expose myself to it in case it would get worse.
Any suggestions?
Unless you have a needle phobia, standard testing is easy – they put a drop of the allergen on your skin, prick it with a needle (I hardly felt it) and watch. I had an immediate reaction, like a hive. They then wait for some set amount of time and measure the size of the hive. Then they give you an antihistamine cream which stops the swelling.
I’m also deathly allergic to sulpha drugs, and have an epipen. They don’t contain sulpa, but I read somewhere they might have a small amount of sulfites as a preservative (I’m not allergic to those, they’re a different breed than sulfa drugs). Of course, it would be an issue if you are allergic to sulfites also.
I just looked and my cats’ food has flaxseed in it as one of the top ingredients…and I feed them daily, twice a day with a scoop in their food and am thinking that maybe I would be having a reaction if I were allergic to it?
I used a powdered food supplement that contained flax for my cats for years….I wonder now if that could have contributed to my allergy. However, I don’t know how much contact you have with the food – with the powder, whenever I sprinkled it on their food, some got airborne and landed on me or I inhaled it. After I developed my allergy, I had to stop using it because of that.
Heard of the greatness of flax seeds and oil. Bought a bag today and took two raw spoons. Now, My whole skin is itching, Lips swollen, My muscles feels as if cramped by lactic acid. Big mistake
After reading the extreme allergic reactions described here, I would say I have a mild case of flax seed allergy. I first discovered it after buy flax seeds and adding them to my oatmeal each morning. I developed a rash on my legs and arms which itched terribly. I tried to treat it before scratching with hydrocortisone cream which also contained aloe. It took about a week for it to get out of my system.
Recently I ate some Smart Balance peanut butter which tasted terrible. When I read the ingredients I discovered that they had removed the peanut oil and substituted flax seed oil which touched off a rash and itching. I wonder if it is the oil that causes the allergy, the seed hull or both. Even though only the oil was listed, they may have ground up the hulls and added it for filler. Either way, it tasted so vile that I threw it away.
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I am also aanaphylactic to flax and buckwheat. I will be traveling to Bangkok in January, does anyone know if flax even exists in Thai cooking? I’m pretty sure they have buckwheat, and know I will have to be very very careful of what I eat…. but flax, do they use it there?
I did a web search of authentic Thai recipes, and found that flax seed isn’t as common, but is used with apples in a dessert on one website. Also, vegetarian Lentil burgers might contain Flax Seed. I would still watch out for breads though.
Rule of thumb: Global society means that any country and any restaurant can use any food item whether its common to a place or not.
Hope this helps.
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My daughter has a Class 4 allergy to flax seed. It seems like they are adding it to EVERYTHING these days! :/
So glad to have found this! Flax had been an occasional part of my diet for years before it became so popular. A few years ago, I started experiencing a metallic burning sensation in my mouth when I ate certain foods, but not much more than that. Then, one day, I bit into a sandwich with whole grain bread, experienced the metallic and sligtht burning, but ignored it and kept eating. After about 1/4 of the sandwich, I had to rush to the restroom to throw up. For several hours after that, I threw up frequently. I finally was able to make my way home and down a handful of benadryl – figured it was an allergy, but not sure to what. After a couple more similar episodes, including one where it felt like my throat was closing up (liquid benadryl fixed that quickly – I had started carrying a bottle with me everywhere) and I spent the next 12 hours throwing up on a regular basis, I did some investigation and came to the conclusion that all of this had happened after eating something with flax. I went to an allergist where my suspicion was confirmed – I tested mega bigtime allergic to flax, and now carry an epipen with me as well as the benadryl.
As with many of the others here, I’m horrified at how pervasive flax is now everywhere! Like others here, I’ve even had a burning skin reaction when I used hand lotion that turned out to have flax oil in it. My allergist told me to avoid Omega-3 eggs because the chickens are fed flax and there could be flax artifacts in the eggs. Sigh. Don Jones, I had no idea that some peanut butters now contain it! I already read food labels for breads, cereals, soy milks (yeah, some soy milks now contain flax) – going to now read all labels. This is my only food allergy – I am fine with other sources of Omega-3s (fish, walnuts, etc).
I can’t find the reference right now, but a few years ago I found an article that said that the first officially reported food allergy in the US was to linseed/flax, in the 1930′s. Will keep looking and see if I can find it again.
I also have a severe flaxseed allergy which started out like many here. However, mine seems to be getting worse. The first time I ate it I experienced mild discomfort and some tingling in my mouth. Recently when I ingested it (on accident) I ended up needing an ambulance. I read every label now and if I’m not sure, I don’t eat it.
I also have a wheat bran allergy–not wheat, just wheat bran, so be on the lookout for that as well. I joke tha tmy body rejects all things healthy. They discovered both allergies when I went to the allergist and, fortunately, he believed me (and there was a grcoery store next door!). He tested me with the actual foods I though I reacted to and then had me come back with ingredients from those foods. So don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself.
I am also growing a bit concerned that there are flaxseeds or things derived from flaxseeds in other foods, because I’m having some discomfort when I eat anything organic, even when I know I’ve checked the label.
I had been using flax seed oil daily for the last 2 months, and now I have cold like symptoms due to it.
I overtaxed my immune system eating that “healthful” oil. So I have a headache, stuffiness and general weakness. I stayed cold free for decades … so it finally clicked as I was eating lunch today that the flax was doing it. Lesson learned on rotating foods better and an oil is tough to digest by nature.
Thanks for any comments you may have!
I’ve known of my reaction to flax seed for 7 years. EMS has been to my home several times. The embarrassing part is that by the time they get here I’m fine. I can tell within 5 minutes that it’s going to be a rough next 20 to 30 minutes. The first symptoms is my clothes start to feel tight. Then the pain in my stomach and it increases to my back and upper chest. Then I all I can do is take shallow breaths. It brings me to my knees. All I can do is cry and crawl on the floor to the bathroom hoping I can throwup. EMS explained to me that my smooth muscles are cramping. All I know to do is storm it out and wait for it to pass. I really have to look at labels. Flax is in almost everything now.
Be careful, everyone. Spectrum now makes an “Omega 3″ olive oil – and the Omega 3 comes from flax oil. I’d like to slap whoever thought of the brilliant idea of adding flax to olive oil. Now we have that to add to the list of foods that you’d never suspect of containing flax – Omega 3 eggs, some peanut butters, some soy milks, and now this.
Debbie S., thank you for mentioning this. I use Olivado brand avocado oil and I recently picked up their avocado/flax/olive oil mixture instead of plain avocado oil. I’ll have to be more careful.
So glad you all took the time to post these matters.I will not have anymore flax seed. I would eat a cereal with flax seed in it. It sure taste good. Well bout 20 months ago I got sick with bleeding ulcers.I won’t talk about the E.R. trips, but will say this hospital was horrible. They actually told me to drink a pop!
I did not want to use modern medicine so we tried natural herbs, change of diet and such to heal the ulcers. About eight months later I was getting better. To try to speed healing up we read the flax seed is great for ulcers. So my daughter made me some homemade flax cookies and then I would add some into my food and almond butter. By the next day, I noticed my face would get real itchy and tinkling. We even made a slush so to speak of flax seed and water. I then got cold sores all my lips. The itchy and tinkling just got worst. It took about 2 to 3 weeks before those feeling went away.
Well at ten months I was getting better. We took a vacation that we have not had in like 10 years. On our way home, the truck just stopped on the highway. When my only daughter got out of the truck a truck doing 65 hit her. Her head had multi fractures, broken neck, 3 broken back bones, femur broken. Her major organs such as spleen, liver and one kidney she about lost. The spleen and liver both lacerated. She had to be brought back twice and had two blood transfusion.
So needless to say, those ulcers opened back up. She is truly a miracle as thousands of people prayed for her all over the world (we have a fee world wide ministry) and she is a live and doing great. However, I’m not.
The bones stick out as I only weigh 103 to 105. I started food combing 4 weeks ago (some of you if not all of us should be doing this). So last week to try to get better faster I started putting flax seed into my food again.
After taking it my entire stomach was gurgling, and cramping. Still took some more the following day. This day I started having stabbing and cramping pains right in the upper right part of the stomach. This pain I had 2 to 3 hours after eating. By day three I was in bed. We were thinking it was my gallbladder. But the entire time my face was all itching and tinkling. So I thought I will lay off the flax see as maybe it is just old. The next day, the itching and tinkling stopped and did not have those horrific pains in my right side. I took a week’s dose of echinacea tea.
After being in bed for 8 days as my side is still sore. I had my daughter make me some non-gluten pancakes. Thank goodness I only had a very small one. 1 hr. post eating my face again started to get itching and tinkling.And then I found this wonderful blog. it has been two hours and still feeling like that. I pray I do not get the right sided pain again. (I am currently taking cabbage juice trying to cure these horrific ulcers.
So no more FLAX SEED for me!
We had a three day fast at our church and the pastor decided to break the fast with a bread that contained flax…….being aware that I was allergic I didn’t eat any, but because I was there and I breathed it, my blood pressure went up to 200/? and my heart rate was 140. felt like i was going to pass out. went home and took apple cider vinegar with lots of water and benedryl. I am posting this to make people aware that you don’t have to actually eat it to get a reaction if you really are allergic.
Most people are usually shocked when they react by smell. Anaphylactic reactions by smell is not that common. However, if you are reacting by smell, then I’d watch for signs of a reaction if you touch anything that might inadvertently have a flax seed protein on it. I’d also discuss this with your allergy specialist. I react by smell to… Anaphylactically –> Cinnamon, Chicken; Severe vomiting –> Wasabi, Daikun and Horseradish.
I’ve had such severe anaphylactic shock reactions to both blackberries and flax seed that I’ve ended up in Intensive Care in the hospital, near death. (And both times I would have died, if I had been alone at the time.) The New Year’s Eve before last, we were at a neighbor’s house celebrating, and she had mango fruit sitting out on the table, as well as some other snacks, including peanut butter. I picked up a piece of mango and accidentally dropped it on the peanut butter jar lid, which was lying (with the side up that is usually inside the jar when screwed on) on the table. I didn’t think anything about it, and popped the piece of mango in my mouth. Within seconds my face was blazing red and I was in the middle of an anaphylactic reaction. Turns out that the peanut butter had flax seed in it! There didn’t appear to be any residue on the bottom side of the jar lid, but there were probably some microscopic particles there.
I’ve also gone into anaphylactic shock from different meds, including Septra and Zestril.
I thought of your post in the middle of the night. Since your body reacts so severely to flax, perhaps you should keep in mind that linen fabric is made from flax.
Wow! I made 2 trips to the ER this past fall and spent several days in bed with nausea, cramps, abdominal pain and a stuffiness under my right breast. In the ER my blood was drawn and I had an ultra sound to check out my gall bladder. I mentioned the flax seed capsules I had been taking, but she dismissed the idea, telling me she thought I was lactose intolerant. I still suspected the flax and totally stayed away from it.
I was searching today to see if flax could be an allergen because I just started making natural hair and body products in January and I use flax seeds and flax seed gel. It didn’t occur to me that I could have external problems as well, until I noticed that the yogurt/flax seed facial mask gave me great results but made my face a little puffy. The second sign came over the past weekend. I scrubbed my scalp with a mixture containing flax and was miserable all night. My scalp was inflamed and horribly itchy yet sensitive. Incorporating flax has been a bad romance for me. The only upside is that I’m quickly losing weight because now I stay away from everything with flax in it, as well as all dairy products. Now I see that the flax has been the culprit, but I don’t want to try dairy again because the abdominal pain was so intense. I’ll just leave it all alone. By the way, I’m using virgin avocado oil as a replacement for flax oil and the benefits for me have been supreme.
Hi I have a 4 year old who I give flax seed oil to off and on and it just seems like every time I start giving it to him he starts being “ill” mostly getting high temps. No nausea etc. Could it be the flax seed oil?
I, too, have a flax seed intolerance. Fortunately I was able to deduce what it was very quickly on my own and avoid it all costs. I do want to caution other sufferers to be mindful of fruit drinks/smoothies with “boost” features. I recently bought a bottled fruit juice for a hike and read the list of ingredients on the side panel. All appeared well. I drank the juice at the midway point an in minutes recognized the unhappy gut feeling coming on. I re-examined the list mentioning the issue to my hiking partner. Again, list was good but my friend noticed ANOTHER ingredients list on the other side of the bottle. This was the “Boost” ingredients and, you guessed it, flax was there. I did reach out to the company to share my experience. They acknowledged my note, defended their position, and sent me coupons for more product. Uh, no thanks… Be well!!!