Have you or a loved one recently been diagnosed with alpha-gal syndrome? Here are eight important lessons I learned the hard way that I wish someone had shared with me when I began living with alpha-gal.
The information provided on this site is based on my personal experience living with alpha-gal syndrome. I cite and link to expert sources as often as possible, but because I have an MBA (and not an MD), nothing published on this site should be perceived as medical advice as I’m clearly lacking the letters required on my diploma to be a physician.
Alpha-gal syndrome is a tick-borne illness linked to the Lone Star tick, the nasty little bloodsucker with a white dot on its back (female) or white spots around the edge of its body (male). So, it’s no surprise that alpha-gal allergy is more common in people from the eastern and midwestern United States where this insect makes its home.
I was diagnosed with alpha-gal syndrome in March 2021 after experiencing symptoms for more than a year. Based on my experience living with alpha-gal syndrome, and with two daughters and several friends who also suffer from the disease, these are the lessons I’ve learned, most of them the hard way.
1. If You Suspect You Have Alpha-Gal, Request a Test
A few years ago, while out on one of our regular walks around the lake, my friend Michelle pulled up the bottom edge of her t-shirt and showed me a nasty tick bite. It was red and swollen, and I encouraged her to get it checked out. She did. Her doctor ran a few tests and wasn’t concerned.
Over the next six months, she battled intermittent gastrointestinal demons that would often have her spending the night on the bathroom floor where she had easy access to the toilet for alternating vomiting and diarrhea. I suggested that she might have alpha-gal syndrome and encouraged her to get a test, but her primary care physician (a long-time friend of hers) brushed it off.
Unable to pinpoint the cause of her abdominal pain, Michelle stuck to a bland diet of mostly toast, cottage cheese, applesauce, green salad, and chicken. Growing tired of this diet, she insisted that her doctor write her an order for an alpha-gal test. When the nurse called to share that the blood test results came back positive, Michelle said, “Please tell the doctor that Michelle says ‘I TOLD YOU SO!’”
You know your body better than any medical professional. If you suspect you have alpha-gal, request a test. A blood draw will easily confirm (or deny) your suspicions. Be sure your physician orders the right test – and not the similarly named tests for a different condition, Fabry disease – by sharing these lab codes:
- Quest Alpha-Gal IgE Test Code: 95241
- Labcorp Alpha-Gal IgE Test Code: 650001
2. See an Allergy Specialist
Primary care physicians tend to be generalists who know a bit about a whole lot of medical conditions. But they aren’t typically experts in any specific area. And when you are diagnosed with a condition that is still relatively new to the medical community, it’s even more likely your doctor will only have limited advice.
When my oldest daughter’s test results came back positive for AGS, her doctor simply told her to avoid red meat.
Incorrectly thinking of pork as “the other white meat,” Juliette continued to eat sausage, pork chops, and bacon, only to discover the hard way that she reacts more strongly to pork products than to beef. After all, alpha-gal syndrome is an allergy to all mammalian products, not just red meat. Had she met with an allergy specialist, she would have received much more specific information and care.
3. Meet with a Dietician
Most physicians trained in America – including allergists – spend little to no time studying nutrition in medical school. With limited knowledge, they tend to dispense limited advice. In my experience, I’ve received infinitely better nutritional advice from my mother’s world-class online research efforts than any MD.
When I was diagnosed with alpha-gal syndrome, my doctor told me to stop consuming mammalian meats and dairy. That was it. There was no handout of good plant-based protein sources, no reminder of how much calcium a midlife woman should be consuming, and no heads-up about symptoms of a vitamin B12 deficiency.
I spent the next year incorrectly thinking I was consuming enough protein by eating two eggs for breakfast and making smoothies with almond milk. But two eggs are only 25% of my daily protein needs, and almond milk is mostly water and only contains one gram of protein per cup. Fast forward to my annual checkup a year later, and my doctor informed me that I had a serious protein deficiency.
Unlike a primary care physician, a dietician is a food and nutrition expert. When a tick bite changes your life forever, a registered dietician can help you navigate the vegan + eggs + poultry + fish diet that’s been forced upon you.
Related Article: Best Milk Alternative for Alpha-Gal Syndrome
4. Understand Your Tolerance Level
While all alpha gals need to stop eating mammalian meats, not all alpha gals need to avoid other allergy triggers which can include dairy products, carrageenan, and NSAID drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen.
According to this article, alpha-gal expert Dr. Scott Commins states that most people with alpha-gal can tolerate “moderate, lean dairy” (like skim milk) but may need to avoid dairy products with a high fat content like ice cream. At the same time, some alpha gals cannot tolerate dairy products at all and must give up cheese, yogurt, ice cream, and other products made from cow’s, goat’s, or sheep’s milk.
To help you understand your tolerance level, use the form below to print out a free food diary. Simply record everything you eat or drink and when you consume it. Also document any allergy symptoms or anaphylactic reactions like:
- Hives or an itchy rash
- Heartburn or indigestion
- Gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, severe abdominal cramping, or diarrhea
- Swelling, especially in the lips, tongue, or throat
- Shortness of breath
5. Leverage Helpful Apps
Fig: Food is Good
First discovered at the University of Virginia in 2007, alpha-gal is a relatively new diagnosis that is often missing from food allergy lists and tools. But the Fig app specifically covers alpha-gal.
As you create your account, select your level of alpha-gal sensitivity by ticking the foods you need to avoid:
- Mammalian meats
- Mammalian by-products
- Gelatin
- Dairy products
- Carrageenan and algae
- All of the above
Then search a list of ingredients or scan the bar code of any grocery store item to quickly identify foods that are alpha-gal friendly (or not so much) using a stop light system of green (can eat), yellow (limit this), and red (avoid).
Barnivore
Did you know that your favorite beer, wine, or spirit may not be alpha-gal friendly? Unfortunately, many brewers, winemakers, and distillers use gelatin and other animal ingredients during the clarification or filtration process. And, because they aren’t required to list these ingredients on the label, you may not realize your boozy beverage isn’t alpha-gal friendly until it’s too late.
Thankfully, there’s the Barnivore Vegan Alcohol Directory. Although its database of more than 56,000 products is focused on identifying vegan options, it’s still an invaluable resource for alpha-gals. Just remember that while they’re not vegan, clarifying agents like isinglass (a gelatin prepared from the bladders of fish) and egg whites are alpha-gal friendly. So always read the details provided before automatically turning down an item flagged as red.
For example, Bonterra’s cabernet sauvignon is my favorite new “everyday” red wine. While it’s not vegan, it is alpha-gal friendly because Bonterra Vineyards fines all red wines with egg whites.
6. Dining Out with Alpha-Gal is a Whole New Adventure
Before my alpha-gal diagnosis, I followed a predominantly pescetarian and vegetarian diet. A few times a year, I’d crave a burger or steak. And a few times a year I’d eat my fill of the world’s best barbeque. When you subscribe to a specific diet without a life-threatening food allergy, nothing bad happens to you if you eat refried beans whipped with lard, French fries cooked in beef tallow, or French onion soup made with beef broth. But when you have alpha-gal, these dishes could result in a life-threatening allergic reaction.
It’s easy to automatically rule out the cheeseburger, pork spare ribs, and lamb chops from the menu. But I also can’t automatically order the chicken sausage, bean burrito, or mussels because the:
- chicken sausage may be stuffed into a pork casing,
- whole black beans may have been cooked in beef broth, and
- mussels may contain chorizo or bacon bits not called out specifically on the menu.
In order to safely dine out with alpha-gal syndrome, be sure to let your server know about your food allergy and work with them to be sure they don’t forget that pork, bacon, and other pork products are not actually white meat.
Sage Advice: The soy milk at Starbucks contains a seaweed extract that can cause a reaction in some alpha gals. This article explains why you should avoid carrageenan.
7. Servers May Not be Very Helpful
Let me preface this lesson by admitting that I wouldn’t survive a day in the restaurant business. Whether you’re seating guests, cooking food, serving meals, or cleaning up, it’s demanding work without any downtime. And, just like many of your friends and family members, most restaurant workers haven’t heard of alpha-gal syndrome.
That said, be prepared for situations like this…
Recently I was at one of Kansas City’s delicious barbeque restaurants. Unfortunately — “thanks” to a stupid tick bite — I don’t get to eat burnt ends, beef brisket, or ribs any more. But I was set to order the turkey platter.
Me: Hi! I have an allergy to beef and pork. I’d like the turkey platter, but I have a few questions about the side dishes.
Guy Taking My Order (handing me a laminated card): Here is a list of food allergens.
Me (silently in my head): Nice!
Me (scanning the list, silently in my head): Gluten, dairy, soy, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, MSG. Uh, oh.
Me: I don’t see a column for beef or pork.
Guy Taking My Order: Each allergen is listed in a column and an “x” means it has it.
Me: Right. But I don’t see beef or pork. I just need to be sure there aren’t burnt ends in the baked beans or ham in the cheesy corn.
Guy Taking My Order: This column is gluten, this column is dairy, this column is soy…
Me (silently in my head): Oh, boy, we are soooo talking past each other.
Ultimately, he passed me off to the next person in the ordering line process who confirmed that the beans were unsafe (burnt ends as anticipated), the cheesy corn was fine (as long as you can tolerate dairy), and the French fries, sweet potato fries, onion rings, and hush puppies were all cooked in soybean oil (rather than beef tallow).
8. You Might Feel Surprisingly Sad Bidding Farewell to Now Forbidden Foods
I didn’t eat a lot of meat before I contracted alpha-gal, but a few times a year when I craved a juicy cheeseburger or a big platter of burnt ends, I could enjoy them without consequences. In a world where so many people are dealing with real problems – war, famine, drought, social injustice – I was surprised (and often feel a little guilty) at how devastated I sometimes feel at the thought of never enjoying these foods again.
9. Alpha-Gal Triggers May be Lurking in Unexpected Places
Alpha-gal is more than a mammalian meat allergy, and being vigilant about the ingredients in the food you consume isn’t enough. Chewable and vitamin gummies may contain carrageenan or gelatin made from animal products. Lanolin, a natural moisturizing wax extracted from sheep’s wool, is commonly used in a range of skincare products, including lip balm, soap, and moisturizer. Glycerin (also known as glycerol), a common ingredient in shampoo, shaving cream, and toothpaste, can be derived from animal fats. And if you were counting on collagen to keep you looking as young as Jennifer Aniston, you’ll have to opt for a marine-based alternative.
10. You Must Be Vigilant Against Future Tick Bites
One bite from a Lone Star tick can change your life forever, but once you have been diagnosed with alpha-gal syndrome, it’s still important to avoid tick bites. Subsequent bites can increase your reaction to mammalian meats, dairy products, and personal care products with ingredients derived from animal products. Where you once had to simply abstain from eating a burger, additional tick bites may cause you to experience an allergic reaction from airborne particles when someone is grilling them up for others. So be sure to apply good quality tick spray before heading outdoors, maintain flea and tick medicine for your pets, and consider a form of tick control in your yard.
What Are the Biggest Lessons You’ve Learned Living with Alpha-Gal?
Did you experience any of these lessons? Which ones were toughest for you? Are there other lessons learned that you want to pass along? Share your experiences in the comments section below.
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What is Alpha-Gal Syndrome? The ABCs of AGS
In Western Kentucky where I live, a lot of folks, including my daughter and myself get a wheat/gluten allergy with the Alpha Gal. It’s a very rough life for sure. It affects your whole family and even the holidays.
Oh, I’m so sorry that you’re dealing with additional food allergies beyond alpha-gal. It alone is enough for anyone! Sending you (and your daughter) a big hug from Kansas City!
Thanks for the information, I just found out I have alpha-gal to red meat. I already avoid dairy, but now stressing bc know have to avoid beef and pork.
I am so sorry! It can be a shock and will be an adjustment. The good news is that you should still be able to eat eggs, chicken, other poultry, fish, and seafood. I know in my case, I still mourn having to say goodbye to the amazing barbeque that surrounds me here in Kansas City. But there are at least options! Good luck! Sending a big hug your way, and I hope you’ll find this site helpful as you navigate life with alpha-gal!