Allergy to indian cuisine?

Question

My husband has a bad allergic reaction to Indian cuisine. We don't quite know what it is...

Is anyone else out there familiar with what spice may be causing his reactions - (SEVERE - throat closing up; can't breathe; respiratory distress...)

Answer 1

Sounds very serious and I would not reccomend any at home experimentation.  See a doctor for allergy testing and tell them what triggers it so they can narrow down the potential candidates.

For the record, MSG should never be a component of any type of Indian food whatsoever.  If you are purchasing ready made indian food that states MSG as an ingredient, you should find another product because MSG is only used to enhance the flavor of inferior cheap products.

General Indian spices include:

Mustard seeds and oil

Coconut

Cumin

Corriander

Turmeric

Fenugreek

Fennel

Cloves

Cinnamon (and Cassia)

Cardamom

Nutmeg (and Mace)

Chili

Ginger

Garlic

Onions

Star Anise

Most indian foods will contain some of these spices.  If you are making food yourself, you will know which you are using, it is not so easy if you are eating at a restaurant or using pre-made pastes, powders and sauces.  Note that many commercial curry preparations contain tatarazine (or similar) which is an artificial colouring agent that has been implicated in allergenic reactions.

Answer 2

there's not LOADS of spices in any particular Indian dish as people keep saying but yes there are spices in Indian food. It would help if you told me what the dish was that he ate so I could pinpoint the exact spices used to make the food.

If anything it could be lal mirch (also known as red chili) - that's the main spice used in every dish and I know it's a bit harsh for some to handle due to the sensitive taste buds.

Answer 3

If you husband is allergic to peanuts or any nuts, that could be the issue.  For the record, Indian food does NOT use MSG.  It is also rare (but not impossible) to be allergic to spices or herbs.  

Is he allergic to seafood or shellfish?  Does he have this problem with other cuisines such as Thai, Malay, Indonesian, Moroccan, Persian...?

I would visit an allergist first.  Hopefully the allergist will be able to determine the root or source of the anaphylaxsis.  Then if he gives you a green light, try other Indian restaurants or try making your fav Indian dishes at home.  Keep an epi pen handy.  If all else fails, stay away from Indian food!

Answer 4

actually there r loads of spices, the thing is to find out to which spice his stomach gets upset, may be if he's smell or rub them individually on his skin, might kinda help!

gud luck)

Answer 5

there r a loads of spices in indian food

u dont hav a habit of eating ..................maybe so

or then u mite hav eaten it at a bad place

but otherwise it is awesome