A Somerset runner says eating an apple before exercise triggered a rare allergic reaction that nearly killed her. Dea Gagoshidze was running on a track with a friend when her eyes and lips suddenly began swelling.

The reaction happened in August last year, when Gagoshidze was 29. She initially believed her symptoms were caused by hay fever, but her condition quickly became far more serious.

Gagoshidze went to reception to ask whether any antihistamines were available. Before she could get help, she collapsed to the ground and began drifting in and out of consciousness.

Paramedics arrived and gave her a shot of adrenaline. She soon started to recover from the frightening reaction.

Tests conducted in September revealed that Gagoshidze has a rare allergy known as food dependent exercise induced anaphylaxis, or FDEIA. The condition means particular foods can act as triggers when followed by exercise.

Gagoshidze, who runs four times each week, admitted that the explanation initially sounded “ridiculous” to her. The connection between food and physical activity had not been an obvious one before her diagnosis.

“Exercise-induced anaphylaxis is a rare but serious allergic reaction that is brought on by exercise,” Anaphylaxis UK says.

“When there are additional factors involved, such as certain foods, the condition is called food-dependent, exercise-induced anaphylaxis.”

The organization advises people to seek medical guidance if they experience possible allergy symptoms connected with exercise. “As reactions can be serious, speak to your GP if you have had allergy symptoms during or after physical activity.”

Gagoshidze explained that her form of the allergy depends on food acting as a trigger. “There's two types of exercise-induced anaphylaxis and I have the second type where it's food dependent so there will be a group of foods that you're allergic to that act as triggers when I eat them and then exercise,” she said.

She now has to avoid lipid transfer proteins, known as LTPs, before exercising. These proteins are commonly found in fruit, vegetables, nuts, cereals and grains.

Gagoshidze believes the food she ate before her track session contributed to the reaction. “At lunch that day I'd eaten a wrap with paneer and lots of veggies and apples. Given my trigger is lipid transfer proteins it would've been the veg and the apple.”

She particularly suspects the apple played a significant role because of its protein content. “Apple is particularly high in LPTs so I assume it especially would've contributed.”

Her eating habits before running have now changed sharply. If she is preparing for a longer run, she will choose a plain bagel with some butter.

Despite the serious allergy, Gagoshidze was still able to run the Paris marathon in April 2026. However, she now has to be extremely careful about anything she consumes before exercising, including something as small as a sip of a smoothie.

“The other day I was meant to go on a run with a friend. In the morning I tried someone's smoothie and I was like 'I can't even risk exercising because that might be enough to send me into anaphylaxis',” she continued.

The restrictions have affected both her training and her ability to exercise spontaneously. “It's just really annoying and sometimes it feels a bit isolating.”

Marathon preparation became especially challenging because avoiding food before exercise offered her the best way to reduce the risk. “It made marathon training really difficult because the best thing I can do for myself is exercise fasting just to minimise all risk.”

Even forgetting what she has eaten can force Gagoshidze to abandon her plans. “If I, for example, forget or I'm not super conscious then that's written off a whole evening of exercise for me.”

Gagoshidze is now using her TikTok page to raise awareness of the condition. She wants others to understand that allergies can develop at “any time,” particularly when symptoms emerge during or after physical activity.