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You've probably heard of peanut or shellfish allergies. But a meat allergy? Not as common. Even weirder is what might be causing it—tick bites, according to a study in the Journal of General Internal Medicine. [Susan E. Wolver et al., A Peculiar Cause of Anaphylaxis: No More Steak?]
A few years back, folks started showing up in emergency rooms in the southeast U.S. with hives, swelling or worse—anaphylaxis—after eating red meat. For this study, researchers looked at three of those cases. And they found that tick bites, specifically those of the Lone Star tick, seem to be the cause.
The bitten victim’s immune system appears to become sensitized to a substance called alpha-gal. And whereas all the major food allergies are triggered by proteins, the culprit here—alpha-gal—is a carbohydrate.
Alpha-gal is found in the meat and fat of hooved mammals, like cows, sheep or pigs. So eating a burger can expose you to alpha-gal, which activates antibodies and leads to the release of histamines.
Researchers say something similar to alpha-gal in the tick saliva may set off the immune system—which then goes after the alpha-gal in meat. And leaves a steak lover ticked off.
—Christopher Intagliata
[The above text is a transcript of this podcast.]
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6 Comments
Add CommentCan someone tell me what does 'hooved mammal' mean? Thanks.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thiswinterbaby: Don't you know how to how to find things on the internet? Do you know what a hoof is? Its plural is Hooves. Now think of a mamal with hooves. example a goat or a cow.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWhat a great way to make the world Homo sapien population vegetarians.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisPS: I always use the term Homo sapien, since human implies beings with humanity and compassion. Not all Homo sapiens are human.
Hi scientific earthling, thank you very much.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisScientific earthling: You're right on target about the hooves but why would all homo sapiens from being vegetarians. The homo sapien brain could have never evolved to its present size and complexity without the high protein diet of our ancestors. We are by our very nature meat eaters. And by the way humanitarianism and compassion have nothing to do with being human. We are also by nature a species capable of great violence, especially when we feel the treat of dominance from a similar but separate group or individual. Look at other primate societies. No, homo means means "same" (as in like ourselves) and "sapiens" means "wise" (although not all homo sapiens are very wise).
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thischuckdarwin2: Yes Homo sapiens would most probably not have developed the brain we currently have without a high protein diet; but is this brain a good thing? We have brought on the sixth extinction using this brain, we are unhappy because of this brain, we have overpopulated this planet with this brain, invented god & religion with this brain, we have become the most evil force on this planet because of this brain, I think you and any other reader, can add your own reason why this brain is not that beneficial. This brain does a lot more harm than good. Our brains have made us the most vicious species on this planet bar none.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this"Humane" has attached to it notions of caring, nurturing, compassion, etc. Homo sapien as you point out has no such attachments, hence I refer to the ignorant species I am a part of as homo sapien. There are a minority amongst us who are also human, based on current notions of "human".