Tag: Tick bites

Over 34,000 cases of alpha-gal syndrome, a tick-borne allergy to a specific carbohydrate, have been identified in the United States alone. This unusual condition raises a critical question for many: does meat have galactose, the very sugar responsible for triggering these allergic reactions?

According to a 2023 study by the CDC, an estimated 450,000 Americans may have been affected by a mysterious tick-borne illness between 2010 and 2022. This condition, known as alpha-gal syndrome, is a leading reason why some people can't digest meat, triggering a delayed allergic reaction to red meat and other mammalian products. However, this isn't the only cause behind difficulty digesting meat, which can range from specific medical conditions to simple dietary imbalances.

According to the CDC, over 110,000 cases of suspected alpha-gal syndrome were identified between 2010 and 2022, a meat allergy linked to specific tick bites. This condition can explain why you can't eat meat when you have Lyme disease, as both illnesses are transmitted by ticks.