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Those with an allergic reaction to grain suffer from a sensitivity to gluten. Gluten--the protein found in all forms of wheat and certain grains--can cause reactionary symptoms such as gas, diarrhea, bloating and abdominal pain. Celiac Disease, a more serious gluten intolerance, is an autoimmune condition resulting in far-reaching, consequential effects if left untreated.
Corn exists in many forms used in common foods. In addition to the actual vegetable form, there is the widespread use of cornstarch and corn syrup that may be in foods when we aren't even aware of it. For people with corn allergies, this can make life miserable. The many symptoms, the traditional and the unusual, can drastically affect a person's day-to-day life until he eliminates all corn and corn products from his diet. Recognizing the signs of corn allergies can help a person identify a problem with this popular veggie.
An allergy to corn is typically diagnosed in predisposed children and adults with existing allergies to other foods, such as wheat, soy, eggs, shellfish and peanuts. A corn allergy causes symptoms of digestive discomfort, migraines and topical skin irritation.
Corn syrup is a glucose syrup derived from corn. When corn syrup is refined further and the glucose is converted to fructose, the result is high fructose corn syrup. Because both pure corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup are derived from corn, people with corn allergies may exhibit allergic reactions to corn syrup. Some people may have a corn syrup intolerance. While corn syrup intolerance can produce many unpleasant symptoms affecting digestion, a true corn allergy involves the immune system and ingesting corn syrup can be life threatening.
Corn allergies are still relatively rare, but as with most food allergies, they are becoming more and more prevalent. A corn allergy can be especially hard to pinpoint because of how many food products contain either corn or a corn-derived product. Thousands of processed foods contain corn syrup, cornstarch or corn meal, which all must be avoided by people with a corn allergy. A corn allergy can be diagnosed with simple allergy tests. The best treatment option is to simply avoid corn and all food products that contain it.
