«My initial
inkling is that since they are not protein foods, and I thought it was
proteins that babies reacted to...even as I type this, I realize there is so
much about this that I just don't know.»

Bananas may not be "protein foods" like one would consider an egg or milk or
meat to be "complete proteins" but they do, as far as I remember, contain
*a* protein that is similar to latex.  A few years ago when a friend of mine
who had nursed 3 children successfully to 18+ mos ended up with hamburger
nipples with #4 who was not even a year yet, I delved into what might be
wrong in her nursing situation.  She was adverse to weaning at a young age
and yet was nearing the end of her tether, saying she was really not sure
how she'd continue on to 18-24 mos (her personal goal).  I was not living
near her at the time and was communicating daily via MSN messenger, asking
questions.  We discussed latching getting lazy with older children, possible
allergy to a new detergent, whether she was applying creams...a LOT of
things.  And I'm pretty sure it was here on lactnet someone suggested her
reacting to food her daughter was eating.  I brought it up and to begin with
she pooh-poohed the idea saying she had no food allergies.  But a couple of
weeks later upon further questioning she admitted her daughter ate almost
exclusively banana at that age (I think she was 9 mos old or so) and I again
suggested she was maybe sensitive to the banana...and mentioned how it does
contain a protein similar to latex.  A lightbulb must have gone on in my
friend's head because she basically said "d'oh!  I'm allergic to
latex...can't use latex condoms" etc.  She stopped giving her daughter
banana (poor thing wasn't too happy to begin with with that but did
eventually forget about it after a week or so) and within a day or 2 her
nipples were a lot better, and completely healed (from the bloody mess they
were) in a week or so.

Having read accounts from list members here before who are allergic to latex
as well, I have come to respect that latex allergies are very severe
sometimes and not something to be messed with so if I had a child who was
showing a severe reaction to banana I would be very cautious of it being
latex-related and would likely avoid banana myself.  I am not, however, sure
what becomes of the protein in banana when it is cooked.  Many people
dislike certain things uncooked (or react to them) but can eat them cooked.
My cousin has recently been diagnosed as "mildly allergic" to several food
items including banana, carrot, almonds, etc. but can eat cooked banana,
carrot and several others that she can not eat raw (stewed peaches=ok,
fresh=no...).  In her case, when I say "mildly allergic" I mean she is very
stuffy with spring pollens when she is also eating these items (ie the
pollen ends up being the proverbial "straw that breaks the camel's back"
with respect to pushing her body into histamine overload) but if she
eliminates them from her diet, her spring allergies are manageable and
minor.  So she is not at a huge health risk but has discovered she feels
much better for not eating certain things raw even if she enjoys the
flavour!  :-)

Fio

-- 
Maman to Sandrine, 8, Nyssa 5, and laat lametjie due 8/08.
«Love at first sight is easy to understand; it's when two people have been
looking at each other for a lifetime that it becomes a miracle.» -- Amy
Bloom

http://babystrology.com/tickers/baby-ticker-glass.swf?parent=Fio&year=2008&month=8&day=20&babycount=1
http://women.evenhealth.com/image/c/bg701712.jpg
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