Is food triggering your symptoms?

Food intolerances and sensitivities are quite common in our society today – the result of our over-consumption of the same foods and too many processed, packaged unhealthy foods in our diet. Poor nutrition, along with foods that suppress the immune system such as sugars and refined carbohydrates, can lead to various symptoms and an unbalanced, inflamed gut in an otherwise completely healthy individual.

The first step in combating symptoms caused by reactive foods is identifying all your food culprits. Take this first step and it can make a significant difference in how you feel. However, many people are unaware that food intolerances can lead to symptoms and therefore haven’t explored this possibility. They may have struggled with the same physical complaints for years, not knowing that the answer may be as simple as removing certain foods from their diet.

If you’ve been battling uncomfortable physical symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, skin conditions (acne or eczema), digestive discomfort or mental fogginess, consider a food sensitivity blood test. Working with a naturopathic doctor (ND) to identify food intolerances is highly recommended. Your ND will explain to you the difference between food allergies and food sensitivities, and the different tests available to you.

Let’s discuss the difference between food allergies and food sensitivities. There are two main types of hypersensitivity reactions: Type I and Type III. If you experience a severe allergic reaction immediately after being exposed to an allergen (offending food), you’ve experienced a Type I hypersensitivity reaction (IgE).

Most people are aware of their Type I reactions because symptoms usually present themselves within minutes after eating the offending food, and they’re usually quite severe – even life-threatening. These individuals usually carry an EpiPen® and do not tolerate even small amounts of the food (e.g., peanuts) in their diet.

Type III reactions (IgG), however, aren’t as easy to identify because the symptoms are more subtle and can be felt hours or even days after exposure. Type III reactions – also referred to as food sensitivities or intolerances – are very common in our society. In fact, over 80% of my patients come to me with unidentified food sensitivities.

The AllerGSpot is just one example of a food sensitivity test that NDs offer. It tests 96 different foods and food groups such as dairy, eggs, wheat and nuts. It also tests for sensitivities to Candida Albicans, a yeast that may overgrow with regular consumption of a poor diet – one high in sugar, alcohol and yeast.

There are many tests available for identifying food intolerances, but remember – a blood test offered through a reputable laboratory has been shown to be the most accurate and most reliable test. Talk to your ND about the various blood tests offered: 96 foods, 120 foods, 200 foods or a vegetarian panel.

When the results from a blood test come in, patients are instructed to remove all reactive foods from their diet for a period of at least three months. In addition to removing the offending foods, patients are often prescribed a high-quality probiotic to restore good bacteria in their digestive tract, pharmaceutical-grade fish oils to treat inflammation naturally and glutamine/aloe vera to heal their gut.

I’ve had great success with glutamine/aloe vera in my practice, and regularly prescribe this combination to patients with food intolerances. It’s a good idea to work with an ND even after your food sensitivities are determined. Your ND will provide you with resources, grocery lists and food substitutes to make the whole process easier.

Removing foods from your diet that you’ve been consuming regularly for years can be overwhelming, and support during this period of change is important. In addition to the tasty, healthy recipes available at fitnessrepublic.com, there are many great cookbooks available that are also excellent resources for people looking for tasty, allergen-free recipes.