ALCOHOL

Alcohol reactions can affect more people than is commonly understood. For example, some people may feel tired, bloated, have a headache or suffer with reflux after drinking beer or wine while others have no problems at all.

Depending on the type of alcohol, hypersensitivities can arise from whatever the alcohol is made from or what it is mixed with that may initially be the culprit for the reaction when drinking alcohol. Sensitivities to things like rice, wheat or barley, fruits, corn, potatoes, sugar, or sulfites may lead to a hypersensitivity to alcohol.

Main symptoms associated with alcohol

• Gastrointestinal symptoms such as heartburn, acid reflux, bloating, abdominal pain, nausea, gas or diarrhea
• Skin conditions such as eczema and urticaria
• Sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion
• Headache
• Tiredness, drowsiness
• Diarrhea

Main types of alcohol

• Beer
• Whiskey
• Wine
• Bourbon
• Tequila
• Gin
• Vodka
• Rum
• Brandy
• Liqueurs

Foods that may contain alcohol

• Sweets and cakes with alcohol-extracted vanilla extract
• Flambéed steaks and desserts
• Marsala chicken or veal marsala
• Marinated meats and stews
• Pure or artificial flavor extracts such as vanilla, rum, and almond
• Cooking wines
• Malt vinegar or  wine vinegar
• Some brands of dijon mustard
• Many sauces such as béarnaise or bordelaise use wine in preparation
• Fondues
• Desserts such as liqueur filled chocolates, cherries jubilee, mousse, flambé desserts, some pastries or cakes such as black forest or fruit cake
• Wine flavored cheeses or pates
• Cooking spray
• Kombucha
• Alcohol extracted herbal tinctures

Common allergens in alcoholic beverages include:

• Barley
• Egg protein (usually in wine)
• Gluten
• Grapes
• Histamines
• Hops
• Rye
• Seafood proteins
• Sodium metabisulfite
• Sulfites
• Tannins
• Wheat
• Yeast