I tried asking this in a health forum and didn't get any helpful information. So I thought maybe a food expert might know.
Do cashews and peanuts that are available for purchase around this time of year have any differences than those that are available from March to October? Like, are they processed differently or come from a different area/country or something?
As embarrassing as this is, the reason I ask is that when I eat cashews and/or peanuts in late December or early January, I sometimes end up with severe Pruritus Ani (anal itching). I never have a problem any other time of year even if I eat twice as many. Oddly, according to the allergist, I'm not allergic to cashews or peanuts. It's definitely the cashews and/or peanuts, rather than some other food causing the itching. I suspect it's the cashews or a combination of cashews and peanuts rather than just peanuts. I know that cashews are related to the poison ivy family so I thought maybe the way they were processed or gathered may have something to do with it.
I also found this in a medscape.com article, "While cashews purchased from a reputable store are free of risk, poorly processed cashews retaining traces of oil from the shells can cause allergic dermatitis".
So I'm thinking my itching really does have to do with the way they were processed, gathered, or grown. The itching is very intense and non-stop like the time when I had poison ivy so it most likely has something to do with the cashews being related to poison ivy.
Any thoughts? This whole situation is really driving me crazy. Doctors are so unhelpful with this problem that I don't even bother going to them anymore when I itch.
Do cashews and peanuts that are available for purchase around this time of year have any differences than those that are available from March to October? Like, are they processed differently or come from a different area/country or something?
As embarrassing as this is, the reason I ask is that when I eat cashews and/or peanuts in late December or early January, I sometimes end up with severe Pruritus Ani (anal itching). I never have a problem any other time of year even if I eat twice as many. Oddly, according to the allergist, I'm not allergic to cashews or peanuts. It's definitely the cashews and/or peanuts, rather than some other food causing the itching. I suspect it's the cashews or a combination of cashews and peanuts rather than just peanuts. I know that cashews are related to the poison ivy family so I thought maybe the way they were processed or gathered may have something to do with it.
I also found this in a medscape.com article, "While cashews purchased from a reputable store are free of risk, poorly processed cashews retaining traces of oil from the shells can cause allergic dermatitis".
So I'm thinking my itching really does have to do with the way they were processed, gathered, or grown. The itching is very intense and non-stop like the time when I had poison ivy so it most likely has something to do with the cashews being related to poison ivy.
Any thoughts? This whole situation is really driving me crazy. Doctors are so unhelpful with this problem that I don't even bother going to them anymore when I itch.