How to Prevent Alpha-gal Syndrome Naturally?
Alpha-gal syndrome treatment involves studying deeply about the disease and eliminating its root cause. In this blog, we will share with you some natural ways to prevent alpha-gal syndrome.
Galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal) is usually found in the cells of many mammals that humans consume like cows, pigs, sheep etc, sometimes the hormones get injected into poultry as well. Alpha-gal syndrome or red meat allergy is caused due to the consumption of red meat and it can also be considered a food allergy.
When we consume these meats, our immune system considers them as a trigger and starts producing antibodies against them. This is how one can get inflammatory reactions in their body. Sometimes we may not be aware of the symptoms and ignore the warning signs and knowing the exact root cause of the disease is a must to Prevent Alpha-gal Syndrome.
So, we will get to know the symptoms and causes of alpha-gal syndrome then it would be easy to get rid of it naturally.
Symptoms of alpha-gal syndrome
- Hives or rashes
- Itchy skin
- Nausea and vomiting
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Difficulty in breathing
- Swelling of lips
- Drop in blood pressure
- Dizziness
Causes of alpha-gal syndrome
Alpha-gal syndrome can be caused due to two factors: Prevention of Alpha-gal Syndrome involves the elimination of the causative factors, which can be either the tick bite or dietary adjustments.
Due to tick bite
Lone star ticks, which usually inhabit mammalian animals, store alpha-gal in their saliva and when the ticks bite us, they transfer the alpha-gal to our bodies, our body considers it as the consumption of mammalian food and allergic reactions start to occur.
Due to meat intake
Another way one can get alpha-gal syndrome is by consuming mammalian foods to which our body produces antibody reactions leading to allergies.
Prevention of Alpha-gal Syndrome
This allergy can lead to reactions when consuming red meat, including beef, pork, and lamb, and sometimes even dairy products. So as we discussed above, it can be due to two reasons and our primary focus would be removing the root cause.
Tick Prevention
- Wear protective clothing:- When spending time in tick-prone areas, wear long sleeves, long pants, and closed-toe shoes. Tuck pants into socks to prevent ticks from crawling up your legs.
- Perform tick checks:- After spending time outdoors, thoroughly check your body and clothing for ticks. Pay close attention to hidden areas like armpits, groyne, and hair.
- Avoid tick-infested areas:- Be cautious in wooded, grassy, or brushy areas where ticks are more prevalent.
Tick prevention aids in the alpha-gal syndrome treatment.
Tick Removal
If you find a tick, use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp it as close to the skin’s surface as possible and pull upward with steady, even pressure. Avoid twisting or jerking the tick to prevent its mouthparts from breaking off and remaining in your skin. Clean the bite area and your hands with soap and water. Save the tick for identification in case you develop symptoms later.
Dietary Awareness
If you live in a tick-prone area or have a history of tick bites, be aware of the potential risk of alpha-gal syndrome.
Monitor your health for any unusual allergic reactions after consuming red meat. It would be better if you could avoid the red meat intake for Prevention of Alpha-gal Syndrome.
Recognize Allergic Reactions
Learn to recognize the symptoms of allergic reactions, especially after consuming red meat. Common symptoms of alpha-gal syndrome can include hives, itching, swelling, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, and in severe cases, anaphylaxis.
Maintain a Food Diary
Consider keeping a food diary to track your dietary intake and any allergic reactions or symptoms you experience for Prevention of Alpha-gal Syndrome. This can help you identify patterns or triggers.
Check on red meat intake
If you are concerned about the risk of alpha-gal syndrome, you may choose to reduce your consumption of red meat altogether or you can limit its consumption and watch out for the symptoms after the intake of red meat.
A quick wrap-up
The alpha-gal syndrome is a food allergy also known as red meat allergy. It is not a common allergy people are familiar with but it’s on the rise recently. It’s a discovery and still, research is going on.
Research studies show that this allergy is common in places where the lone star tick bites are common. The symptoms are common to any other allergies and the primary cause can be a tick bite, another cause is consuming mammalian meat.
The above are some of the ways you can get rid of alpha-gal syndrome naturally. Although you can not completely get rid of it initially, you can limit or stop the worsening of the disease by avoiding tick bites and the consumption of red meat.
Prevent Alpha-gal Syndrome with our natural tips. If you’re still suffering from related symptoms or if you’re unaware of the symptoms, we would suggest consulting a healthcare consultant and getting treated instantly as delaying allergic reactions can cause life-threatening anaphylactic reactions.
