{"id":1646964,"date":"2022-09-19T10:09:58","date_gmt":"2022-09-19T14:09:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1646964"},"modified":"2022-09-19T10:10:59","modified_gmt":"2022-09-19T14:10:59","slug":"the-tick-bite-that-makes-you-vegan-eating-in-a-restaurant-was-out-of-the-question","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-tick-bite-that-makes-you-vegan-eating-in-a-restaurant-was-out-of-the-question\/","title":{"rendered":"The Tick Bite That Makes You Vegan: \u2018Eating In A Restaurant Was Out Of The Question\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">32<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fthe-tick-bite-that-makes-you-vegan-eating-in-a-restaurant-was-out-of-the-question%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1646964&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>\u201cYou\u2019re sick, you\u2019re starving, you\u2019re scared.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s how one woman explained the first stages of suffering with alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), a rare, tick-contracted disease that can cause an infected person to become highly allergic to mammalian meats \u2013 even just their fumes \u2013 and dairy.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou need to sit with the suck a little bit,\u201d Courtney from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=MxY0c4sEBMg\">Alpha-Gal On A Dime<\/a> told newbies. \u201cThis does suck. It\u2019s going to be a life-changer. But it\u2019s doable.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>And that\u2019s what AGS seems to be: a life-changer.<\/p>\n<p>What is alpha-gal syndrome?<\/p>\n<p>AGS is a type of food allergy to red meat and other products made from mammals, often caused by a Lone Star tick bite, as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/alpha-gal-syndrome\/symptoms-causes\/syc-20428608\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">described<\/a> by the Mayo Clinic.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>A bite from the Lone Star tick can transmit a sugar molecule called alpha-gal, or galactose-\u03b1-1, 3-galactose, into a person\u2019s body, which triggers an immune system reaction that later produces mild to severe allergic reactions to red meat \u2013 such as beef, pork, or lamb \u2013 or other mammal products, according to the medical center.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Though some folks say they have found relief from the allergies with things like acupuncture, the Mayo Clinic says there\u2019s currently no proven treatment for the syndrome, aside from food restrictions.<\/p>\n<p>The emerging syndrome has been reported in 17 nations worldwide, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fcimb.2021.680264\/full\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Frontiers<\/a>, one of the world\u2019s largest research publishers. Data show the number of cases in the United States has risen from just 12 confirmed in 2009 to 34,000 by 2019.<\/p>\n<p>What are the food restrictions?<\/p>\n<p>People suffering with AGS have varied symptoms and reactions, but, overall, it seems red meat is effectively off-limits. Some people, though, also develop an intolerance to dairy.<\/p>\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/dietitiansondemand.com\/rare-conditions-with-nutrition-implications-alpha-gal-allergy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">post<\/a> from Dietitians On Demand noted the food restriction challenges. \u201cOnce alpha-gal allergy is diagnosed, all mammalian meats and by-products should be avoided,\u201d the post outlined. \u201cAgain, this includes, beef, pork, lamb, venison, mutton, goat, and bison, plus any food that contains red meat extracts. Some individuals with alpha-gal allergy must also avoid dairy products made from cow\u2019s, sheep\u2019s, or goat\u2019s milk.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/ticks\/alpha-gal\/products.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">noted<\/a> that some people with AGS can also be allergic to products made from or cooked with mammalian fat \u2013 such as lard, tallow, or suet \u2013 as well as meat broth, bouillon, stock, and gravy.<\/p>\n<p>Fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, legumes, poultry, eggs, and seafood are acceptable food sources.<\/p>\n<p>Daily Struggles\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Digging a little deeper on open <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/alphagalsyndrome\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">online support groups<\/a>, it seems those with severe allergies have much more to worry about.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>One woman <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/2025804830995966?multi_permalinks=3265003180409452&amp;hoisted_section_header_type=recently_seen\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">described<\/a> the struggles of eating out at a restaurant, noting that even a veggie burger prepared on the same grill with meat patties is problematic.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEating out at restaurants has got to be the hardest problem for us with Alpha-gal,\u201d the woman said. \u201cUsually there is very little I can have. And if there is something, half of it has to be taken off.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am also shocked that most restaurants grill veggie burgers on the same grill as regular meat hamburgers. Dangerous for us,\u201d she added. \u201cI feel totally out of control.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Another person described a severe reaction from just fumes of mammalian meat.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJust breathing it in causes a reaction,\u201d the person said. \u201cMy fume reactions were almost immediate and respiratory. So I could not go into a grocery shop or a store with ready-to-go food. Eating in a restaurant was out of the question.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn our town we have a bike path that goes by restaurants,\u201d the sufferer continued. \u201cI would have a reaction from just riding by the area.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFinal straw was when my son opened a can of chili in the house (to cook it outside) and I had a reaction,\u201d the person recounted. \u201cI wasn\u2019t even in the same room.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Others in the support group echoed their struggles with \u201cfume reactions.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>There were also shared struggles about medications and vitamins being intolerable.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJoint pain? I have removed all red meat, dairy, and pork from my diet,\u201d one woman explained. \u201cThe only thing I can think of, which I have just recently found out, is the gelatin in my medicine I take. I take daily vitamins\/fish oil and they have a lot of gelatin caps. If I remove it, will it go away? Should I take anything for it?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>One group member replied \u201cYES,\u201d adding that they \u201cgo vegan on the vitamins.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Another post discussed struggles with blood pressure medicine that wouldn\u2019t cause a reaction.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodrx.com\/well-being\/diet-nutrition\/medications-that-contain-animal-byproducts\">According<\/a> to GoodRX Health, there are medications that \u201cmay contain animal byproducts that are important for their effectiveness or production.\u201d Though, there are alternatives in some cases.<\/p>\n<p>Sugar can be a struggle, too.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Radical Animal Rights group PETA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.peta.org\/about-peta\/faq\/are-animal-ingredients-included-in-white-sugar\/\">said<\/a> some sugars, including white and brown, can be processed through animal bone char. Folks in support groups online expressed reactions to some sugars, with some completely cutting it out of their diets.<\/p>\n<p>Can it ever go away?<\/p>\n<p>The Mayo Clinic says no cure is currently available for the life-changing allergy, but some<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cYou\u2019re sick, you\u2019re starving, you\u2019re scared.\u201d That\u2019s how one woman explained the first stages of suffering with alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), a rare, tick-contracted disease that can cause an infected person to become highly allergic to mammalian meats \u2013 even just their fumes \u2013 and dairy. \u201cYou need to sit with the suck a little bit,\u201d &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1646966,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1646964","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1646964","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1646964"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1646964\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1646966"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1646964"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1646964"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1646964"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}