Allergic to lentils?

[Anonymous]

I made an amazing lentil soup tonight (the recipe is on the "basic questions about lentils" thread )

Within 30 minutes of finishing, I was having stomach pain (both just a general uncomfortable feeling and a bit of stabbing pain), felt very gassy and was visibly bloated. I thought I just ate too much, but 1. I didn't eat that much and 2. it felt different from that kind of discomfort.

The only thing in the soup I don't eat on a regular basis is lentils. Last time I ate them was 6+ months ago and I can't remember if I had this kind of reaction.The way I felt reminded me of the way I have heard it described when people who are allergic to wheat eat it - bloating, gas, and pain. I did a bit of googling but everything I found described anaphylactic reactions to lentils because they are a legume. Is it possible that the lentils are what made my stomach hurt, or just a fluke?

[Anonymous]

What kind of lentils?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What kind of lentils?

Red

[Anonymous]

It could also be just plain gas from the lentils. Did you try an over the counter gas relief pill?

[Anonymous]

I have the same reaction to quinoa and couscous. Its pretty random but I figure it doesn't sit well with me. The only other person I've met with the same problem is my brother.

I'd avoid it...

[Anonymous]

I get the same thing from red lentils. I dont think it's an allergy, just bean bloat, but I tend to pass on red lentils. I have no problems with other kinds of lentils. I do also have a similar reaction to quinoa.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I can't eat a lot of beans or lentils. Makes me very gassy.

[Anonymous]

That sounds like bean bloat. It doesn't sound like an allergy to me. My dd is allergic to peanuts, and her reaction is hives, sneezing, coughing, lots of mucous and some stomach discomfort.

[Anonymous]

this happened to me the first time I ate lentils after not eating them for years. It's just bean bloat. The more you eat them, the more you'll tolerate them. I was SO uncomfortable that day that I swore I'd never eat them again, but they're soooooooooo delicious, so I gave it a whirl. Now, a year later, I eat them regularly without a single issue.

[Anonymous]

We eat plenty of beans and grains without issue, but lentils really do a number on my DH's gut. I would suggest eating them sparingly - I.e as a side not a main.

We now use recipes that include beans, brown rice, or vegetables in an50/50 ratio with the lentils.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like severe gas, which is not uncommon after eating a whole lot of high-fiber food, especially if you are unaccustomed to it.

There IS such thing as being allergic to lentils. My son is. His face breaks out in hives and his eyes swell shut when he eats them. Terrifying to see.

[Anonymous]

Weird - I had a similar allergic reaction to lentils last night/this morning. I eat lentils fairly regularly, usually at least a few times a month. But last night, I ate a prepared lentil packet from Trader Joe's with their brown rice, and it caused me intermittent cramping pains, gas, and bloating up until a few hours ago. I've had both independently without problems - I wonder if it was just some fiber overload?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like severe gas, which is not uncommon after eating a whole lot of high-fiber food, especially if you are unaccustomed to it.

There IS such thing as being allergic to lentils. My son is. His face breaks out in hives and his eyes swell shut when he eats them. Terrifying to see.

+1

Sounds like gas. My cousin is allergic to lentils and gets hives, etc.