One of the most common reasons people seek out my services is to identify food allergies/sensitivities and other triggers that may affect their digestion, skin, headaches, hormones and other undiagnosed symptoms.
Food allergies are IgE mediated reactions that are emergencies e.g. eating peanuts with a peanut allergy. A food allergy happens when the body’s immune system, which normally fights infections, sees the food as an invader. This leads to an allergic reaction — a response from the immune system in which chemicals like histamine are released in the body. The reaction can cause symptoms like breathing problems, throat tightness, vomiting, abdominal pain, hives, swelling, or a drop in blood pressure
Whereas, food sensitivities or intolerances are IgG mediated reactions that is more similar to lactose intolerance. A food sensitivity will not cause you to have a life threatening reactions, but it is a reaction from the body not properly digesting the food that is eaten, or that a particular food irritates the digestive system by a low grade immune reaction. Symptoms of food intolerance can include nausea, gas, cramps, abdominal pain, diarrhea, skin rashes, irritability, nervousness, or headaches.
Ways to test food sensitivities include blood testing and diagnostic screening test, but the 100% gold standard is elimination and challenge. If you think you may have a food sensitivity start by removing that food group from your diet for at least three weeks and then try it again in its purest form and watch for your body’s reaction. If unclear, consider a food sensitivity screen and/or blood testing through my clinic.
My goal with food sensitivity testing is not to put you on a super restrictive diet where you feel like all you can eat are rocks and sticks. My goal is to help identify a few key foods to eliminate that will take away the majority, if not all, of your symptoms. When the food sensitivity is properly identified and removed, you will likely be able to tolerate more foods that may be a lower grade food sensitivity. Ultimately my goal is to help improve your overall digestion to support your body function the best that it can, without alienating you from one of life’s greatest pleasures, eating yummy nutritious food.
For more information, please call 778-478-0048 to schedule an appointment or book a naturopathic appointment online here.
(Images sourced from here.)