# Developing allergies in later life? Argghh, chocolate!!!! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 29, 2015, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/developing-allergies-in-later-life-argghh-chocolate/716260 "2015-03-29T03:54:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/developing-allergies-in-later-life-argghh-chocolate/716260/1 "2015-03-29T03:54:10Z")
So I guess the deities have decided to have a bit of fun with me for being a naughty atheist or something. I’ve developed an allergy to freakin’ CHOCOLATE. Well, maybe not an allergy as such (nothing like anaphylaxis or hives or anything) but it now makes me violently ill. WTF? I like chocolate. I LOVE chocolate. Chocolate and I have been through some special (and not so special) times together. Chocolate dances upon my tastebuds and gets me in the groove. I’m a better person for chocolate, really!! Not anymore! For the last few months I’ve suffered episodic gastric distress. Waking up in the middle of the night with pain and an urge to upchuck…violently. It took me some time to make the connection, but it’s fuggen CHOCOLATE that does it. ☹ Have you developed a food intolerance to something that you were previously more than fine with? Bloody chocolate. Why couldn’t it have been carrots or brussel sprouts? :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/developing-allergies-in-later-life-argghh-chocolate/716260/2 "2015-03-29T04:04:29Z")
Man, that’s rough. I’m not sure I would want to live in a world without chocolate. ☹ But have you confirmed this with a doctor? ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/developing-allergies-in-later-life-argghh-chocolate/716260/3 "2015-03-29T04:13:41Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Man, that’s rough. I’m not sure I would want to live in a world without chocolate. ☹ > > But have you confirmed this with a doctor? I will in due course. In the meantime, not eating chocolate seems to work fine! But yeah, of all things, chocolate?? Bummer eh? ---
**Author:** ![keturah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e95f7d/32.png) [@keturah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/keturah)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/developing-allergies-in-later-life-argghh-chocolate/716260/4 "2015-03-29T04:19:28Z")
About a year and a half ago I developed a real, doctor confirmed, anaphalactic allergy to crustaceans. I am still devastated. ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/developing-allergies-in-later-life-argghh-chocolate/716260/5 "2015-03-29T04:23:50Z")
Could it be a combination of age AND … that you’ve eaten too much? I never had allergies until I hit 40, and then one day tried to eat a whole bag of walnuts - instant surprise walnut allergy, complete with throat closing up (N.B. eating a whole bag of anything at 30 was business as usual) Same deal with strawberries - now I have to stop after 10, or face the music. ---
**Author:** ![MissTake](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misstake/32/3189_2.png) [@MissTake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissTake)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/developing-allergies-in-later-life-argghh-chocolate/716260/6 "2015-03-29T04:26:53Z")
TheKid’s all time favorite fruit is pineapple. Loves it. Fresh, canned, juice only - doesn’t matter. She became allergic to it about a year ago. She has anything pineapple, her tongue swells and she gets hives. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/developing-allergies-in-later-life-argghh-chocolate/716260/7 "2015-03-29T04:35:10Z")
> [@Isamu](#): > > Could it be a combination of age AND … that you’ve eaten too much? I used to be able to scoff a whole block of chocolate without repercussions (well, without IMMEDIATE repercussions, I’m sure my bathroom scales would tell a different tale!) 😃 But last choc intake, I ate two small squares to test my tolerance, and yep…come 1:00 am, I was driving the porcelain bus as the old saying goes. The amount doesn’t seem to be critical. Oh woe is me…☹ ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/developing-allergies-in-later-life-argghh-chocolate/716260/8 "2015-03-29T04:49:02Z")
Well, look. Don’t give up hope yet. There could be a drug that cures or controls the malady. Get thee to a doctor posthaste. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/developing-allergies-in-later-life-argghh-chocolate/716260/9 "2015-03-29T05:00:38Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Well, look. Don’t give up hope yet. There could be a drug that cures or controls the malady. Get thee to a doctor posthaste. It’s Easter next week. Due to work (and holiday) commitments, I won’t be able to see a doc for at LEAST two weeks. And Easter? Sans CHOCOLATE? Oh kill me NOW! :o ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/developing-allergies-in-later-life-argghh-chocolate/716260/10 "2015-03-29T05:17:01Z")
That’s a shame, and appalling timing. Still let’s hope it remains restricted to chocolate and everything else is OK. If you had to have something I guess you could try white chocolate maybe? It isn’t really chocolate is it? ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/developing-allergies-in-later-life-argghh-chocolate/716260/11 "2015-03-29T05:30:54Z")
> [@kambuckta](#): > > Have you developed a food intolerance to something that you were previously more than fine with? Yep. At 18 I developed an allergy to basil. I can no long eat anything that contains any sort of tomato sauce that wasn’t cooked in my own home because nearly all of them contain basil. I haven’t had a professionally cooked pizza in 15 years because the last one I ate earned me hives inside my mouth and throat ☹ Unfortunately, I get hives at even trace amounts that could come from contact with utensils that recently touched basil, so I can’t order anything even made in a pizza shop let alone try a white pizza. I’ve gotten hives from someone eating pizza and using my mouse before washing their hands, so every time my coworkers suggest pizza it fills me with the same unhappiness it would most people if I suggested we all rub poison ivy on the tables and doorknobs. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/developing-allergies-in-later-life-argghh-chocolate/716260/12 "2015-03-29T05:43:22Z")
Gastric distress? Is it chocolate or is it a reaction to the milk products in the stuff? If I dare say it (being a chocoholic myself, by the way), have you considered substituting carob? Oddly enough, I like that stuff as well as chocolate. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/developing-allergies-in-later-life-argghh-chocolate/716260/13 "2015-03-29T06:11:50Z")
I’ve had to learn to avoid soy lecithin; there are other things which give me asthma as well, but that one is the worst since it’s everywhere and it’s hidden, you really need to read lists of ingredients carefully. Avoiding mustard isn’t a problem; avoiding cod is ok although it’s pretty much taken Portugal off my list of places to visit ☹ (kidding, I’m sure I’ll be able to find something to eat so long as I don’t insist on picking restaurants called “the House of Cod”), but… why is there soy lecithin in yoghurt, ice cream, or chorizo? Chorizo needs thickener now? DaFUQ? I’d been merrily chugging milk by the bottlefull until then one day I could not. My first “hint” that I needed to start being careful about milk and milk products came from a pizza that… didn’t go down well. Age 34. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/developing-allergies-in-later-life-argghh-chocolate/716260/14 "2015-03-29T06:17:05Z")
> [@kambuckta](#): > > It’s Easter next week. Due to work (and holiday) commitments, I won’t be able to see a doc for at LEAST two weeks. > > And Easter? Sans CHOCOLATE? Oh kill me NOW! :o At least you still have peeps. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/developing-allergies-in-later-life-argghh-chocolate/716260/15 "2015-03-29T09:11:24Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > At least you still have peeps. 🙂 I’d rather have chocolate! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Girl\_From\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Girl\_From\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_From_Mars)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/developing-allergies-in-later-life-argghh-chocolate/716260/16 "2015-03-29T09:36:41Z")
I’ve developed an intolerance in the past 2 years to pineapple, falafel (not sure why but it’s not the chickpeas, as those I can still eat) and quinoa. The last 2 are real buggers as I don’t eat meat, and those are the go to vegie dishes around if you eat out. I get horrible stomach cramps about 2 hours after ingesting any of the above, even a tablespoon or so is enough. But assume it’s not a full allergy as I don’t get any other symptoms? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/developing-allergies-in-later-life-argghh-chocolate/716260/17 "2015-03-29T10:14:09Z")
You don’t have to have anaphylaxis (hives, breathing problems, swelling, etc.) to have a real allergy. They can manifest as gastric distress/vomiting. Also as skin rashes. Adult acquired allergies for me include lentils, green peas, and barley. The peas weren’t hard to give up, never cared much for them anyway, but no more lentil stew and _barley?_ Used to cook it as a side dish like rice, make pilaf, and _no more beer!_. I _loved_ barley, now, no more ever. Also, that means nothing with barley flour, barley malt, etc… all too damn common in bread and bread-like baked goods. ---
**Author:** ![kiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@kiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiz)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/developing-allergies-in-later-life-argghh-chocolate/716260/18 "2015-03-29T10:29:35Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Gastric distress? Is it chocolate or is it a reaction to the milk products in the stuff? I was going to ask this too. I’m a wholehearted, drop-dead chocoholic and I’ve discovered I can’t indulge with as much gusto now compared to, say, when I was in my 20s or 30s. I have a slight lactose intolerance to begin with, but for some reason lactose + a healthy chunk of chocolate sends me to the loo post haste more than once, depending on how much chocolate and who made it. > [@](#): > > If I dare say it (being a chocoholic myself, by the way), have you considered substituting carob? Oddly enough, I like that stuff as well as chocolate. I haven’t had carob in ages. To me, it’s a sort-of-kind-of-substitute and not a very good one at that, especially if you expect it to taste exactly like chocolate. ---
**Author:** ![Octarine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/22d042/32.png) [@Octarine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octarine)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/developing-allergies-in-later-life-argghh-chocolate/716260/19 "2015-03-29T12:02:56Z")
You could try a square or two of white chocolate and then, a few days later, a pinch of unsweetened cocoa powder. If you’re allergic to some additive in the bar, but not the actual cocoa, you might be able to find some specialty chocolate that doesn’t have it. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/developing-allergies-in-later-life-argghh-chocolate/716260/20 "2015-03-29T13:02:41Z")
Or even make your own chocolate goodies, if the problem isn’t the chocolate but something else that’s in it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/developing-allergies-in-later-life-argghh-chocolate/716260.md?page=2)